Tribute to Father of Pacific Judo

Submitted by TemoL on Thu, 18/02/2010 - 7:39am

FASANOC is saddened by the untimely passing away of former Executive Board Member and “Father of Judo” in Fiji Viliame Takayawa Snr who has been the leader of Judo in Fiji for the past 40 years.

Viliame was born in Vatukoula in 1949 and took to the judo mats as a young 17 year old judoka. In a competitive career spanning over 20 years he competed with distinction at national, regional and international arenas.

During the 1970s and 1980s Viliame Takayawa represented Fiji at regional level in the South Pacific Games, the All New Zealand Judo Championships and the Oceania Championships:
- 1971 won a Bronze Medal at the South Pacific Games in Tahiti.
- 1979 he made a home crowd extremely proud when he became the first Fiji judoka to win a Gold Medal at a
South Pacific Games in Suva.
- 1987 he added another Bronze Medal to his collection at the South Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia.

As a 4th Dan Black Belt in Judo, Viliame Takayawa was proud to don the Fiji colours at the Pan Pacific Judo Championships, the Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, the Edinburgh 1986 Commonwealth Games, the US Open Championships and the 1987 World Judo Championships which were held in Germany.

In recognition of his achievements and standing as a judoka, FASANOC selected Viliame Takayawa as flag bearer for the Fiji Team at the Opening Ceremony of the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.

Viliame Takayawa’s achievements were also recognized locally when he became the inaugural recipient of the Fiji Sportsman of the Year award in 1981. In 2005, the Fiji Sports Council, celebrating 25 years of the Sports Awards, presented a special award to Viliame Takayawa in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Judo and sports in general.

Viliame Takayawa retired from competitive judo in 1988 but this did not mean the end of a career – rather the expansion of a judo career to the areas of administration and officiating. He was a Judo National Referee Class ‘A’, was been the longest serving President of the Fiji Judo Association and regionally, a Vice President of the Oceania Judo Federation.

Viliame Takayawa has been National Coach of Fiji Teams to the South Pacific Games, winning 8 Gold in 2003 and 6 Gold at the Games in Samoa.

He was also coach of the Judo team to the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games with the distinction of being the Coach of 2002 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Nacanieli Takayawa – a protégée who also happens to be his son and the current President of the Association.

Viliame Takayawa’s exploits have made the Takayawa name synonymous with Judo both in Fiji and within the Pacific region.

FASANOC was proud to induct Viliame Takayawa into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. Also in 2006 he was awarded a FASANOC 50th Anniversary Award for his contributions towards the development of Judo in Fiji.

His name was synonymous with Judo in Fiji and his entire family have supported him to make Judo a successful Fiji sport.