A report on the conference was submitted by Pacific Southwest Judo Association
The 21st USJF National Kata Conference was held August 9, 10, and 11, 2024 in San Diego, California at the University of San Diego. The Pacific Southwest Judo Association welcomed about 50 judoka from all over the USA. Faculty member and judo program instructor Dr. Steve Levkoff was our host.
The main theme of the conference was “Between the Pictures: From Picture Walking to Riai.” Many-time world medalists and kata champions from Germany, Ulla Loosen and Wolfgang Dax-Romswinkel, led the event. Koshiki no kata and ju no kata were chosen as examples.
Sensei pointed out something that every judoka has experienced. We look for instruction in books, and often we look at the pictures, which will remain in our visual memory. This leads us to attempt to (re-)create the memorized sequence of pictures. In kata it is also often true that observers are expecting to see the picture shown in their books to judge the execution of the kata.
Sensei noted that what was most important is what comes in between the pictures; what is going on between those frozen moments. How we perform the correct waza that creates the picture is the key. Not the other way around.
One highlight of the conference was “Ju No Kata on the Beach.” This is something that San Diego locals enjoy at least a couple times per year. It was nice to share with judoka from around the world.
Many thanks to those who attended for your support. More thanks to those who pitched in to help. If you lifted one mat, and just about everyone did, you lessened the load for others. That’s judo, right?
A summary of the presentations has been provided by Ulla Loosen and Wolfgang Dax-Romswinkel
Photo attribution to Yeely Yang, Bruce Knight, Mary Wakabayashi and Jerry Hays