The 2025 IJF World Kata Championships were held in Paris from 8–9 November, gathering 400 judoka from 37 nations for two days of world-class kata competition. Oceania was represented by a single Australian pair in the Ju-no-kata, with siblings Bernhard Tandean and Bianca Tandean stepping confidently onto the world stage.
The Ju-no-kata division featured 31 pairs, divided into three preliminary groups of 10–11, with only the top three pairs from each group progressing to the final. Competing in a strong group, Bernhard and Bianca delivered a composed and technically refined performance, finishing 5th out of 11 pairs with a score of 377.0, narrowly missing a place in the final round.
Although they did not advance, their achievement stands as a significant milestone for Oceania kata, demonstrating the growing depth of technical expertise in the region and offering inspiration for emerging kata athletes across Australia and the wider Oceania community.
Full results from the World Kata Championships can be accessed here.
The Oceania Judo Union congratulates Bernhard and Bianca for their outstanding representation and their contribution to elevating kata within our region.