Judo WA was proud to host a comprehensive three-day kata seminar from 22–25 November, led by Judo Australia Kata Commission Chair and IJF Kata Judge Ernie Wakamatsu (5th Dan). Delivered in collaboration with Judo Australia, the seminar was open to coaches, senior athletes, and kata enthusiasts alike, and was an excellent opportunity to deepen technical understanding and refine kata instruction.

The seminar began on Saturday, 22 November at Ern Halliday Recreation Camp, where Ernie led participants through a Katame-no-Kata masterclass. Following the formal session, Ernie also delivered a special 90-minute introductory kata session as part of the WA Futures Camp, where he introduced the concept of katame-no-kata to junior athletes in a fun and accessible format.

On Sunday, 23 November, the seminar continued at UWA Judo Club with a focus on Nage-no-Kata. Ernie broke down the sequencing, posture, and mechanics behind each throw, while also highlighting common errors and tips for clearer demonstration in both grading and competition settings.

The final session took place on Tuesday, 25 November at SouthWest Judo Academy and focused on kata instruction and judging. This session offered attendees a rare insight into the criteria used by IJF-level kata judges and explored best practices for teaching kata effectively at club level.

Judo WA sincerely thanks Ernie Wakamatsu for generously sharing his time and expertise throughout the seminar, as well as Judo Australia for supporting his visit. This was a valuable step forward for kata development in Western Australia and helped reinforce the role of kata as a core component of judo education.

📸 View photos from the weekend here: https://judowa.smugmug.com/2025/2025-Kata-Seminar