is a Japanese practitioner of

karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ) is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tii'' in Okinawan) under the ...

who has won many international and Japanese national competitions in ''

kata ''Kata'' is a Japanese word ( 型 or 形) meaning "form". It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements made to be practised alone. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practised ...

'' (patterns), including unprecedented numbers of consecutive titles in

World Karate Federation The World Karate Federation (WKF) is the largest international governing body of sport karate with 198 member countries. It was formed in 1990, is the only karate organization recognised by the International Olympic Committee and has more than te ...

(WKF) and All Japan Karatedo championships.Atsuko Wakai: Profile
(2006). Retrieved on March 29, 2010.Karate Records: Atsuko Wakai
(c. 2006). Retrieved on January 17, 2010. She holds the rank of 6th ''

dan Dan or DAN may refer to: People * Dan (name), including a list of people with the name ** Dan (king), several kings of Denmark * Dan people, an ethnic group located in West Africa **Dan language, a Mande language spoken primarily in Côte d'Ivoir ...

'' black belt from the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF), training in

Seigokan Seigokan (正剛館) is the Goju-Ryu Karate-do organization founded in 1945 by Seigo Tada (1922-1997) Hanshi (8th Dan). With its Hombu Dojo (headquarters) in Himeji, Japan, the ''Seigokan All Japan Karate-do Association'' (SAJKA) — its officia ...

Goju-ryu karate.Shito-Ryu Seiko-Kai: Atsuko Wakai – WKF World Kata Champion
(2008). Retrieved on March 30, 2010.

Early life

Wakai was born on September 12, 1971, in

Gifu is a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku ...

, Japan.Atsuko Wakai: Profile
(2006). Retrieved on March 29, 2010.Enomoto-Heyl, T. (2000)
Ms. Atsuko Wakai Sensei Interview
(October 15, 2000). Retrieved on March 29, 2010.Karate Canada: Atsuko Wakai profile
(2007). Retrieved on March 29, 2010. When she was 4 years old, she was involved in an automobile accident; the severe head injuries forced her to recover in hospital for four months. When she had turned 6 years old, her parents enrolled her at the Goju-ryu karate ''

dojo A is a hall or place for immersive learning or meditation. This is traditionally in the field of martial arts, but has been seen increasingly in other fields, such as meditation and software development. The term literally means "place of the ...

'' (training hall) Chusetsu Gifu of

, under the leadership of Yasufumi Ohno Shihan (8th Dan) to help her regain strength and coordination. Wakai graduated from Kyomachi Elementary School in 1984, Inaba Junior High School in 1987, and Gifu Dai-Ichi Girls' Senior High School in 1990. She then studied business for two years at

Kinki University is a private non-sectarian and coeducational university based in Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan with campuses in five other locations: Nara, Nara; Ōsakasayama, Osaka; Uchita, Wakayama; Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima; and Iizuka, Fukuoka. The Englis ...

, graduating in 1992. While she had competed in karate locally, it was while at university that she began competing intensively. Originally, she competed in both ''kata'' and ''

kumite Kumite ( ja, 組手, literally "grappling hands") is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which a person trains against an adversary. Kumite can be used to develop a partic ...

'' (sparring), but after taking a third place in ''kata'' at an All Japan tournament, she focused on that aspect of competition.

Competitive karate career

Unusually, Wakai did not make it onto the Japanese national karate squad until after she graduated from university—the time when most Japanese karate competitors retire from competition to focus on their professional careers. Wakai has identified Suzuko Hamasaki (née Okamura) as her main inspiration. In an interview in 2000, she said, "Suzuko Hamasaki is someone I really admire! She was the first Women's World Kata Champion in 1980. The first time I saw her, I wanted to be just like her." Wakai has been coached by Akira Shiomi, JKF Gojukai Chief Technical Director,Associação de Karaté de Viseu: International Karate Seminar – Goju-Ryu Kata
(2002). Retrieved on March 30, 2010.
(c. 2001). Retrieved on March 30, 2010. and also Yoshimi Inoue at one point.
(2009). Retrieved on March 30, 2010. Wakai's first international victory was at the 2nd Ladies' International Karate Cup in 1997, held in Tokyo. From 1997 to 2004, she was a champion at the All Japan Karatedo Championships for eight consecutive years. She won four consecutive WKF World Karate Championships in 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004.
(November 2002). Retrieved on March 30, 2010.
(November 2004). Retrieved on March 30, 2010. She won three consecutive World Games championships in women's ''kata'' in 1997, 2001, and 2005.World Games 2005 Duisburg: Second gold to Russia’s Alexander Guerunov in karate
(July 24, 2005). Retrieved on March 30, 2010. Wakai also won titles at the

Asian Games The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until t ...

in 1998 and 2002.Anonymous (1998): "Premila, Lee Lee provide the cheer: Tears of joy for one exponent but not the other." ''New Straits Times'' (December 16, 1998), p. 40. In 2000, she was listed at 163 cm (5'4") in height and 57 kg (126 lb.) in weight. She won the women's individual ''kata'' gold medal at the 6th World Games in

Akita is a Japanese name and may refer to: Places * 8182 Akita, a main-belt asteroid * Akita Castle, a Nara period fortified settlement in Akita, Japan * Akita Domain, also known as Kubota Domain, feudal domain in Edo period Japan * Akita, Kumamoto, ...

, Japan, in 2001.Anonymous (2001): "Americans win medals at World Games." ''Black Belt'', 39(12):122.

Post-competition career

Following her victory in ''kata'' at the World Games in 2005, Wakai retired from karate competition. That same year, she received an Honor of Merit and Distinguished Service from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. In 2006, she received an Award of Excellence from the

Japanese Olympic Committee The is the National Olympic Committee in Japan for the Olympic Games movement, based in Tokyo, Japan. It is a non-profit organisation that selects teams and raises funds to send Japanese competitors to Olympic events organised by the Internati ...

. In 2007, she became Director of the Seino Transportation Company's karate team. She visited British Columbia to teach in March 2007 and October 2008.Shito-Ryu Seiko-Kai: Sensei Atsuko Wakai Canada Seminar 2008
(2008). Retrieved on March 30, 2010.
(2008). Retrieved on March 30, 2010.
(2008). Retrieved on March 30, 2010. She taught in Hawaii in December 2008 and in Florida in June 2009.International Karate Federation: Atsuko Wakai special seminar
(2008). Retrieved on March 30, 2010.Amateur Athletic Union: USA Karate National Team Camp
(2009). Retrieved on March 30, 2010.

References

External links

Atsuko Wakai Official Website

Atsuko Wakai karate results and charts at KarateRec.com
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wakai, Atsuko Living people 1971 births Japanese female karateka People from Gifu Sportspeople from Gifu Prefecture Asian Games medalists in karate Karateka at the 1998 Asian Games Karateka at the 2002 Asian Games Asian Games gold medalists for Japan World Games gold medalists Medalists at the 1998 Asian Games Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games Competitors at the 1997 World Games Competitors at the 2001 World Games Competitors at the 2005 World Games Gōjū-ryū practitioners

Early life

Competitive karate career

Post-competition career

See also

References

External links