President Josipović attends judo seminar on Croatian Military Academy
President of the Republic of Croatia and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Ivo Josipovic visited today, March 5, the Croatian Military Academy “Petar Zrinski” on the occasion of organization of the International Judo seminar “Kodokan Kata” organized by the European Judo Union and the Croatian Judo Federation.
Besides the President, the seminar was attended by other government and military officials, including representative of the Minister of Defence State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Pjer Simunovic and Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric, advisor to the President for Defence Zlatko Gareljic and HVU Director Major General Mirko Sundov. Today’s program was also attended by the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Croatia Yoshio Tamura.
International “Kodokan Kata” seminar began on the Croatian Military Academy on the 2 of March and lasts until 7 of March and this has been the first seminar of this kind organized in Europe. It brings together about 400 judo masters from more than 20 countries in Europe and the world, who will train and take the exam for Kata forms, and after they pass the exam will get a Kodokan diploma. The Kodokan Institute was established in Japan, and on it are studied judo techniques and their historical development, preparing judo sportsmen from all over the world, study Kato skills, and is a place for education and training of trainers from around the world.
Guests gathered in a HVU sports hall were welcomed by the president of the Croatian Judo Federation Sanda Corak, President of the European Judo Union Sergey Slovejcik and president of the Kodokan Harauki Uemura. In their brief speeches they thanked the President and the Chief of General Staff on arrival, and commended Croatia’s organization of the seminar.
President Josipovic expressed satisfaction that the seminar was held in Croatia, especially in light of the fact that “sport brings people, nations and states together.”
Josipovic said that it was essential that the Seminar was held at the premises of the Croatian Military Academy, which showed the connection between sport, culture and education with the Croatian Armed Forces.
Completion of the program was marked by demonstrations of judo-skills. Among the most notable was the appearance of Ivana Maranic from the Croatian team, one of the top sportswomen who singed a contract on admission to active military service with the Ministry of Defence.