Atsuko Wakai
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese practitioner of karate
who has won many international and Japanese national competitions in kata
(patterns), including unprecedented numbers of consecutive titles in World Karate Federation
(WKF) and All Japan Karatedo championships. She holds the rank of 5th dan
black belt
from the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF), training in Seigokan
Goju-ryu karate.
, Japan. 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 a Goju-ryu karate dojo
(training hall) 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
, 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
(sparring), but after taking a third place in kata at an All Japan tournament, she focused on that aspect of competition.
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. She won three consecutive World Games championships in women's kata in 1997, 2001, and 2005. Wakai also won titles at the Asian Games
in 1998 and 2002. 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
, Japan, in 2001.
. In 2006, she received an Award of Excellence from the Japanese Olympic Committee
. 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. She taught in Hawaii in December 2008 and in Florida in June 2009.
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
who has won many international and Japanese national competitions in kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
(patterns), including unprecedented numbers of consecutive titles in World Karate Federation
World Karate Federation
The World Karate Federation, or WKF, was formed in 1990 from former WUKO members and is the largest international governing body of sport karate with over 130 member countries. It is the only karate organization recognised by the International Olympic Committee and has more than ten million members...
(WKF) and All Japan Karatedo championships. She holds the rank of 5th dan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
from the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF), training in Seigokan
Seigokan
Seigokan is the Goju-Ryu Karate-do organization founded in 1945 by Seigo Tada Hanshi . With its Hombu Dojo in Himeji, Japan, the Seigokan All Japan Karate-do Association — its official name — has branches in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China , India, Italy, the Philippines, Portugal, Sri Lanka,...
Goju-ryu karate.
Early life
Wakai was born on September 12, 1971, in GifuGifu, 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 period, various warlords, including Oda Nobunaga, used...
, Japan. 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 a Goju-ryu karate dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
(training hall) 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
Kinki University
, or , 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....
, 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
Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata....
(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, and also Yoshimi Inoue at one point.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. She won three consecutive World Games championships in women's kata in 1997, 2001, and 2005. Wakai also won titles at the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
in 1998 and 2002. 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
Akita, Akita
is the capital city of Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan.As of June 11, 2005, with the merger of the former Kawabe District , the city has an estimated population of 323,310 and density of...
, Japan, in 2001.
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 TechnologyMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)
The , also known as MEXT or Monkashō, is one of the ministries of the Japanese government.The Meiji government created the first Ministry of Education in 1871....
. In 2006, she received an Award of Excellence from the Japanese Olympic Committee
Japanese Olympic Committee
The Japanese Olympic Committee is the national Olympic committee in Japan for the Olympic Games movement, based in Tokyo, Japan...
. 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. She taught in Hawaii in December 2008 and in Florida in June 2009.