(Colorado Springs, CO) – For the first time, prize money will be awarded to gold medalists at the USA Judo Kata National Championships on May 24 in Ontario, CA.
Gold medalists in each of the five Open and five U23 kata events will receive a $500 award ($250 per athlete) thanks to the generous donation of a member of the USA Judo community.
In order to be eligible for the prize money, athletes must win one of the following events with at least two teams competing in each event:
U23 Divisions:
Nage No Kata
Katame No Kata
Ju No Kata
Goshin Jutsu
Kime No Kata
Open Divisions
Nage No Kata
Katame No Kata
Ju No Kata
Kime No Kata
Goshin Jutsu
A team may win more than one $500 prize if they placed first in multiple katas, or in both U23 and Open divisions. There is no prize money reward limit per athlete or team, as long as they enter and place first in a category with two or more teams.
If there are divisions that do not qualify for awarding prize money due to not having at least two teams competing, those funds will be applied to the general kata budget and allocated by the USA Judo Kata Committee.