British Judoka Attend Kodokan Masterclass in Berlin

On 19-22 October, four British judoka (Jim Crompton, Tony Prosser, Roland Fugh and Jordan Fugh) attended the annual Kodokan kata seminars in Berlin.

Delivered by senior Kodokan teachers Motonari Sameshima 8th Dan, Shuji Oshima 7th Dan and Kento Iwanaga 5th Dan, the seminars covered Nage-no-Kata, Katame-no-Kata, Kime-no Kata, Kodokan Goshin-jutsu and Ju-no-Kata, as well as technical tachi-waza and ne-waza sessions and, delivered for the first time by Kodokan instructors in Europe, Seiryoku-Zenyo-Kokumin-Taiku.

Organised by the Berlin Judo Association (Judo-Verband Berlin), and enabled by Llyr Jones of the BJA Kata Commission, the event provided expert kata training and an opportunity to meet kata coaches and competitors from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Luxembourg. Catering for all levels of kata development, the seminars are open to all and delivered in Japanese, German and English.

At the end of the four days, Jim Crompton reflected,

“We learned so much last year from the Kodokan seminars and Astrid and the team from the Berlin Judo Association were so welcoming that I really wanted to come back to learn more and to show the Kodokan instructors how much I had improved. I was really fortunate to be chosen as Oshima Sensei’s uke for the whole katame-no kata, which was an incredible experience, from which I learned a great deal.”

Tony Prosser, of High Wycombe Judo Centre, added:

“I learned so much. The Kodokan instructors are incredible and the teaching was excellent. We met some brilliant coaches from Germany and I love visiting Berlin.”

The next key date for the British kata competition calendar will be 9-10 November at the World Kata Championships in Las Vegas, where British pairs will compete in Katame-no kata, Ju-no kata and Kodokan Goshin Jutsu.

If you are interested in learning more about kata, the National Kata course will be delivered in Aldershot by Yoshihiko Iura Sensei, Kodokan 8th Dan on 23-24 November. Click here for more information