Karate at the 1981 World Games
The karate events of World Games I were held on July 25–27, 1981, at the Toso Pavilion on the campus of Santa Clara University in California, United States. These were the first World Games, an international quadrennial multi-sport event, and were hosted by the city of city of Santa Clara. It was anticipated that Japanese athletes would perform well at karate. They did so by winning 12 medals among the nine events, including five gold medals.
Medalists
Sources:Details
Women
Kata
Final – 1. Susuko Okamura, Japan, 65.4 points 2. Mie Nakayama, Japan, 65.3 3. Maria V. Moreno, Spain, 64.3.Men
Considering that the losing athletes in both semifinals received bronze medals, it is unclear why there was a "bronze medal match" contested between them in each kumite classification.Kata
Final – 1. K. Okada, Japan, 46.8 points 2. M. Kayama, Japan, 46.6 3. Domingo Llanos, USA, 46.2Kumite 60kg
Eliminations – Pool A: M. Aikawa, Japan d. Tony Gunawan, Indonesia; G. D’Amico, Italy d. Giovanni Aguelo, Venezuela; Fernando Rosuero, Spain, bye; J. Tierney, England d. R. Situmeang, Indonesia.Pool B: Jorge Castelli, Spain d. Gino McCulley, USA; M. Naito, Japan d. M. Gusti, Indonesia; Ivan Perez, Guatemala d. Rafael Franco, Dominican Republic; G. Tinniriello, Italy d. Chui Ching-Yen, Chinese Taipei
Final – Mayayuki Naito, Japan, d. Fernando Rosuero, Spain for gold medal; Joseph Tierney, Britain, d. Giuseppe Tinnirello, Italy, for bronze.
Kumite 60-65kg
Eliminations – Pool A: Tsai Ming-Shien, Chinese Taipei d. Cleveland Baxter, USA; Roberto DeLuca, Italy d. A. Pichardo, Dominican Republic; Z. Ono, Japan d. Ramon Malave, Sweden; Norbert Ayssi, France, byePool B: Ricardo Abad, Spain d. Joseph Goffin, France; B.T. Maeda, Japan, bye; K. Yokouchi, Japan d. Ed DiNardo, USA; Eligio Martina, Curaçao d. Rustan Umbas, Indonesia
Final – Zenichi Ono, Japan, d. Toshiahi Maeda, Japan, for gold; Roberto De Luca, Italy, d. Kasayoshi Yokouchi, Japan, for bronze.