Kata Shows Rommelmann Another Side of Judo

As a 17-year-old studying for his judo black belt in upstate New York, Heiko Rommelmann got his first taste of kata.

He wasn't impressed.

Kata, pronounced kah-tah, is the Japanese word for "forms." Kata are choreographed attack and defense maneuvers performed with a partner to demonstrate the correct execution of judo techniques. Twenty-three years after a lukewarm introduction to the sport, Rommelmann and his kata partner Jeff Giunta are the reigning, five-time kata national champions.

In mid-October, Rommelmann and Giunta competed in the inaugural Kata World Judo Championships in Malta.

"It took me some time to appreciate it," Rommelmann, 40, said. "Younger people, they like to go out there and fight, knock heads. I was the same way. But kata, when it's taught correctly, people really enjoy it."

A kata competition looks something like a dance recital gone wild. Kata partners bow to each other and perform synchronized moves before one slams the other to the mat seemingly effortlessly.

For Rommelmann, the joy of kata is the mastery of movement the sport requires. Unlike shiai (competition judo), your focus in kata is not on your opponent, but on yourself. Kata challenges individuals to truly perfect every nuance of judo techniques.

Kata competitors are judged on their rhythm, their fluidity and their balance between left-side and right-side moves.

"I think of kata as the pursuit of excellence. I want the perfect technique when I'm going out there," Rommelmann said.

"I never feel like I'm competing against the other teams. I'm competing against myself to try and show the judges my best technique with my partner."

Kata didn't grab Rommelmann's interest until about 10 years ago. After breaking his clavicle in a judo match at the 1999 Empire State Games, a friend suggested that Rommelmann study kata. He needed to brush up on the practice to achieve his next judo rank anyway, so Rommelmann and Giunta signed up for a kata clinic.

"The instructor, he said if somebody really studied the kata, not only could you have better judo, but you could be the next national champion," Rommelmann explained. "I looked at Jeff right there and I said, 'He's talking about us.' And it's been history from there on out."

When Rommelmann started studying kata, he had little idea of the sport's global impact.
His first kata competitions were in his home state of New York. He gradually moved west to bigger competitions in Ohio and, later, to even bigger kata tournaments in California.

In 2001, Rommelmann qualified for his first international kata competition, the Pan-American Judo Championships in Cordoba, Argentina.

"I don't know if qualified is the right word,'' Rommelmann said, laughing.

"We kind of fell into it after a number of the U.S. teams couldn't make the trip,"

In the end, it wasn't so important how they got there, but that they did. He and Giunta traveled to Argentina and their eyes were opened to a much bigger, much more popular side of kata. The event was televised live and cameras followed Rommelmann off the mat after his performances. Each competition featured more than 20 teams, many with decades of kata experience.

Since that trip to Cordoba, kata has taken Rommelmann throughout the world. He's competed in Japan, France and now Malta. He even conducted a kata clinic in the Ukraine. Rommelmann and Giunta have placed in the top 10 at international competitions, but have yet to break into the finals, which are usually dominated by Japanese, Italian and Spanish kata competitors.

"It's come a long way, but there's still a long way to go for kata here in the U.S.," Rommelmann said. "Most people, if they have to go to a kata clinic, it's still, 'Oh, I don't want to go to a kata clinic!' But if you relax and do it the right way, you really enjoy it. Kata is a part of judo. It makes you better all around."

There are seven forms of kata recognized by the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo. Rommelmann and Giunta specialize in kime (kee-may) no kata, or self-defense forms. Other forms range from ju no kata, forms of gentleness, to katame (kah-tah-may) no kata and nage (nah-gay) no kata-more strenuous displays of grappling and throwing forms.

Despite its Japanese sound, Heiko is actually a German name meaning "home ruler."
But back in his hometown of Rochester, N.Y., Rommelmann's time at home is limited.
His days are spent serving as the chief instructor at Bushido Kai Judo Club, while his nights are spent cooking at his sister-in-law's Mexican restaurant in Webster, N.Y. When he's not teaching proper randori (sparring) techniques to his students, or whipping together a spicy enchilada sauce, Rommelmann is with his three children and his wife, Estela.

"I am very fortunate to have a wife who allows me to travel the world and do this," Rommelmann said.

He's just as thankful for his kata partner Giunta, "Without Jeff, I'd be nowhere. He's the best. He's my best friend."

Since Rommelmann started practicing judo more than 25 years ago, he has never taken a break from the sport. Still active in shiai, randori and kata, he hopes to continue with judo for as long as his body will allow him.

"If the day comes when I'm old and I'm no longer competition for anyone, then that'll be my signal to hang it up," said Rommelmann.

"But as long as I'm competition for someone, I'm sticking with it."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc. Annabelle Tometich is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This story was not subject to the approval of any National Governing Bodies.

Tags: Heiko Rommelmann, Jeff Giunta