Karate Ambassadors for Tokyo 2020 -- Sponsored by World Karate Federation

(ATR) Looking forward to the Tokyo Olympics 2020, the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF), in coordination with the World Karate Federation (WKF), has been making every effort for the inclusion of Karate into the Olympics.

In February 2015, JKF nominated three Japanese Karate Ambassadors in order to continue the burst of enthusiasm around the Karate 2020 campaign: Rika Usami, Mahiro Takano, and Juri Iwata.

They are a symbol of the younger generation, who are hoping to participate in future Olympic Games. Also through presenting Karate demonstration they offer the opportunities to introduce two distinct events: the fight (Kumite) and the technique (Kata).

Especially Rika is known well as a female individual Kata world champion. She won the first place at the 21st WKF Senior World championships in 2012 when she was 26 years old. Karate fans still remember clearly that the competition venue was filled with more than 20,000 spectators, and during Rika’s final round performance, all of her sharp Waza (movements) gave vivid impression to everybody. And soon after her victory was announced by main judge, all the spectators stood up and continued clapping hands to express praise and admiration. Video clip of this match was uploaded to WKF official YouTube channel and viewed more than two million times.

On April 16th, 2015, JKF held a press conference with honour to introduce a new Karate Ambassador from Greece. She is also a female Kata athlete, but the first international Karate Ambassador.

Giorgina Xenou has been a student with many talents. She speaks good English and German in addition to her mother tongue Greek, she was also a great swimmer and runner. However, in 2011, she and her family had to face the fact that her life was in danger due to serious disease: malignant lymphoma.

Giorgina is also the one of those who was moved by Rika’s performance in 2012 at the world championships. But the only difference from other spectators was that she was fighting to overcome the disease.

"Give up Karate, Giorgina." Once, her doctor persuaded her to stop any exercise. Nevertheless, she has returned to Karate after tough surgery and chemotherapy, seeking to make her dream come true – the dream to become an excellent athlete like Rika.

Finally she overcame the disease and restarted training. Moreover, surprisingly she became a national champion and bronze medallist at the WKF Junior & Cadet and U21 World Championships in Spain, 2013.

To better understand the role of the Karate Ambassadors, we asked Rika and Giorgina to explain their work and purpose.

Rika Usami

[A Japanese Karateka. Born on February 20th, 1986 in Tokyo, best known for winning the 2012 World Karate Championships.]

World Karate Federation: What is your role as a Karate Ambassador for Tokyo 2020?

Rika Usami: As for the promotion activities for the inclusion of Karate into the Olympics, I give Kata demonstrations and lectures.

WKF: Why do you think that karate should be Olympic?

RU: We can impress the greatest number of people around the world through the Olympics. Karate was originally born in Japan as Budo (martial art) and nowadays it is spread widely to 190 nations in 5 continents. It is an international sport developed with competitive rules to be fair and safe, but on the other hand the spirit of traditional Budo still remains such as bowing each other. Kata is an event of quiet strength to pursue complete harmonization of body and mind. Kumite is an event of excitement to pursue speed, tactics, and sportsmanship. I wish Karate will be known more widely in the universe through being an Olympic sport.

WKF: What are your wishes and your hopesGiorgina Xenou and Rka Usamifor the Olympics?

RU: I hope Karate becomes an Olympic sport and everybody gets to know about Karate. I would like to pass on the Karate techniques and introduce the merits of Karate to the mind and body, and I fervently hope for world peace through our Olympic sport.

Giorgina Xenou

[A Greek Karateka. Born on June 10th, 1997. A multiple Greek national champion in Kata and bronze medallist at the World Cadet & Junior and U21 Championships in Guadalajara (Spain), 2013 with Kata team (14-17 years).]

World Karate Federation: Can you explain how does one become a Karate Ambassador?

GX: I had this great opportunity due to the organization "Make a wish" to travel to Tokyo, meet my favourite athlete Rika Usami and train with her. During my stay in Tokyo I was announced that this great honour of being Karate Ambassador was going to be awarded to me. I really feel very excited about this fact and very grateful to the JKF about this unique opportunity.

The greatest dream for an athlete is to participate in the Olympic Games. Hope that this opportunity will also be given to Karate athletes.

WKF: What is your mission? And what are your hopes for Karate?

GX: My mission is to carry forward the message that Karate should be into the Olympics. I hope that this so amazing and dynamic sport will manage to be at the Olympic Games this time, especially because in 2020, Olympic Games will take place in the country where Karate was born, and I believe that this is the correct time and place for Karate to win what it deserves.

At the same time, I will try to participate to as many worldwide events as possible having always as purpose to propel Karate at the Olympic Games. I already started to do this in several channels in my country.

WKF: How will you and Rika work together as Karate Ambassadors?

GX: As I mentioned before, I am an admirer of Rika. I could meet with her thanks to our attractive worldwide sport Karate. It gave me power to overcome a serious disease, and it also helped me a lot to keep my mind peaceful. So I will be in contact with Rika to ask her guidance in my training, to keep strong relationship between our countries, and to find the best way to achieve our common purpose: the inclusion of Karate in the Olympic Games.

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