More than 130 young judokas from different nations participated in the 2^nd Kimura International World Cup at the Urraca Institute in Panama. On that tournament, martial artists from Costa Rica took first place in several categories and managed to earn 15 gold medals, 9 silver medals and one bronze medal.

The second and third places in the tournament were taken by Panamanian judo teams Kimura and Urraca, respectively. Like the Ticos, the Kimura team also scored 15 gold medals, but had a lower silver medal count with 5 and 7 bronze medals. The Urraca team earned 5 gold, 9 silver and 3 bronze.

Judo in Costa Rica

The history of judo in Costa Rica dates back to the early 1950s, when a young football player traveled to Cuba and learned about the Nipponese martial art. By 1955, Don Orlando Madrigal Valverde earned his Sho-Dan black belt and promptly returned home to establish the first dojo.

Don Orlando Madrigal dedicated his entire adult life to judo and other martial arts. He earned fifth ranks in judo and aikido black belts, as well as the seventh rank in jiujitsu. He was the first Tico judoka to represent Costa Rica at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Don Orlando passed away in 1991.

An anecdote from the early days of judo in Costa Rica tells about an encounter that Don Orlando experienced at the Pila Volio, a former spa and social club that has been instrumental in the formation of competition sports in our country. Don Orlando had set up his first academy at Pila Volio, when one day a Tico boxer who had achieved international success barged into the dojo and walked straight into the tatami without bothering to take off his shoes.

The boxer challenged Don Orlando to a fight, to which the master judoka replied with a quick move to the mat on which he assumed a defensive position and waited for the boxer to go on the offensive. The boxer, confused, relented and agreed to be explained how a judoka can break through a boxer’s stance and guard.

Thanks to the hard work and vision of Don Orlando, the Costa Rica Judo Federation has managed to send judokas to many international competitions, including to the Olympic Games, many times.

Sources: Panama America Digital, Dia a Dia (Panama), and Judo en Costa Rica