The Gap is Narrowing

The first thing Daniel De Angelis, IJF Kata Commission Director, noted at the end of the day is that the gap is closing more and more at the top of the rankings.

"The journey since the first Kata World Championships in Malta in 2009 has been impressive. When you look at the scores today, you see that the gap between the medallists is getting smaller and smaller. The very best are in a pocket handkerchief!

It is also interesting to note that the four categories of the day were won by four different countries: the Netherlands, Spain, Japan and Germany. This shows that we are witnessing a real world championship and that kata is becoming more and more universal.

Each year the level increases, the difference being only small details, a movement, an attitude, a control better realised than another. The teams have worked a lot and those who have a national coach often make the difference. Kata is becoming more a widespread discipline, more professional.

More and more, kata is also perceived differently. Often it was only approached from the angle of a dan grading necessity but today the demonstration is made that the kata are a fantastic tool for learning judo in all its dimensions. This world championship is an illustration of how far we can go with kata, it is only one aspect."

FINAL RESULTS

Nage-no-kata

1. FAES, Erik - NEUMANN, Niels (NED) - 396.0 points
2. SARALEGUI VALLEJO, Unai - REGUILLAGA EIZAGUIRRE, Unai (ESP) - 393.0 points
3. SCHMIDT, Immo - SCHMIDT, Hendrik (GER) - 392.5 points
4. MARIN GOMEZ-NIEVES, Antonio - AYALA TORRADO, Eduardo (ESP) - 386.5 points
5. GHEGEDBAN, Louis - GHEGEDIBAN, Paul (FRA) - 386.5 points
6. GOULARD, Cedric - CAILLARD, Thomas (FRA) - 381.0 points

Nage-no-kata U23

1. REGUILLAGA EIZAGUIRRE, Joseba - ETXARRI SARASUA, Joseba (ESP) - 372.5 points
2. GAYARRE MOMPEL, Alvaro - GAYARRE MOMPEL, Alberto (ESP) - 365.5 points
3. VINCENT, Julien - VINCENT, Hector (FRA) - 362.5 points
4. CAVINA, Alex - CAVINA, Luca (ITA) - 358.5 
5. OSZ, Regina - KAMPEL, Eszter (HUN) - 342.5
6. MAINVILLE, Zachary - WAROLIN, Thomas (CAN) - 341.0

Katame-no-kata

1. KABATA, Ryuji - ODATE, Toshiji (JPN) - 410.5 points
2. FREGNAN, Andrea - CORCIONI, PIETRO (ITA) - 407.5 points
3. GILON, Nicolas - GILON, Jean Philippe (BEL) - 400.0 points
4. FOURMAUX, Nicolas - NGUYEN VAN LOC, Jean Daniel (FRA) - 387.5 points
5. SIKORA, Miriam - STEINERT, Christian (GER) - 384.5 points
6. WENZL, Vanessa - HEINRICH, Matthias (AUT) - 376.0 points

Ju-no-kata

1. DAX ROMSWINKEL, Wolfgang - LOOSEN, Ursula (GER) - 423.5 
2. TARABELLI, Giovanni - TARABELLI, Angelica (ITA) - 398.5 
3. ZAHARIA, Alina - CHERU, Alina (ROU) - 397.0 
4. COULON, Mathieu - HERAS, Carole (FRA) - 397.0 
5. BUGO, Laura - BRUNI CERCHIER, Barbara (ITA) - 390.5 
6. CHEUNG, Hoi Yuen - TANG, Wing Chi (HKG) - 380.5