Judo Competition: Akiyama's Shield Cadets Dominate the Tatami in Bari

Kicking it at the PalaSport in Bari

Last weekend was electric as Italy's top U18 judo talents squared off in an adrenaline-fueled competition, the national cadets championships. Over 500 fiery contenders duked it out for the title and a spot on the Italian ranking list. But two powerhouse Piedmontese clubs - Kumiai Druento and Akiyama Settimo - really shook things up.

These clubs have been dominant forces in Italy's youth judo scene for years, and it showed in Bari. While Akiyama Settimo, a veritable nursery of established champions, racked up three silvers, four bronzes, fifth, and three seventh places, Kumiai Druento stole the show. They walked away with the men's team classification, and a close second-place finish in the women's behind Akiyama (coming in fourth in the men's).

Massimiliano Pasca, a coach at Kumiai, was bursting with pride. The club had snagged 7 medals in total (3 silvers, 4 bronzes), along with four near-podium finishes (two fifths and two sevenths). These results, he explained, were impressive, considering they fielded 17 cadets and boasted a whopping 100 athletes training at the club.

Some standout performers included Stefano Giannone (66 kg) who took home a silver after three wins, Erik Semanjaku (81 kg) with his silver, and Elisa Palermo (over 70 kg) who also earned a silver. Elsewhere on the tatami, Gabriele Carabotto (60 kg), a first-year cadet who had just secured his black belt, Ludovica Strorione (44 kg) on her debut with a bronze and a black belt promotion, and Francesco Martinelli (73 kg) stole the limelight with his crucial bronze that sealed the team's overall victory.

Akiyama Settimo, on the other hand, were every bit as impressive, with their three silvers, four bronzes, a fifth, and three seventh places. This, once more, highlighted the value of a school that has made history in Italian judo.

It's a rivalry from afar between two complementary realities - Akiyama, a champion factory, and Kumiai, the cradle of emerging stars. While both teams are fierce competitors, they respect and admire each other, representing two different facets of the same ambition: to cultivate athletes of excellence. That's Kumiai's motto, "To create through judo athletes who become excellence in sport and in life," a goal that extends far beyond the tatami and looks towards a bright future.

With upcoming events on the horizon like the junior finals in Leini, the European Cup in Portugal, and Kumiai's traditional summer stage "Wednesday Lions", at least five Turin-based athletes are gearing up for a shot at the under-18 national team.

It's safe to say that the Italian youth judo scene is sizzling, and it's only getting hotter.

The rivalry between Kumiai Druento and Akiyama Settimo, two Italian judo clubs, was evident in the national cadets championships held at the PalaSport in Bari, as both clubs recorded impressive achievements.
In the championships, Kumiai Druento, known as the cradle of emerging stars, achieved the men's team classification and a close second-place finish in the women's, with seven medals in total (three silvers, four bronzes) and four near-podium finishes (two fifths and two sevenths).
Meanwhile, Akiyama Settimo, often referred to as a champion factory, also demonstrated its strength, earning three silvers, four bronzes, a fifth place, and three seventh places in the competition, highlighting the value of the school in Italian judo.