Best gyms in Japan

[CowboyPete]

I'm going to be headed to Japan in the fall for a few months, maybe more. I haven't decided what part of the country I'm headed to yet but a top priority in this choice is the quality and cost of the gyms I can find. I'm looking to continue my Jiu Jitsu training and start training Judo as well. What are the best schools for either art? Which are the best that don't cost an arm and a leg (I'm far from rich)? If there is a really quality gym that's moderately priced that teaches both Judo and Jiu Jitsu, that would be ideal.

Thanks.

 

[Bosozoku]

Can't answer your query exactly, but will try to give some direction. I first moved to Tokyo to train karate before changing to Shooto at the Gutsman dojo in Tokyo, so more familiar with shooto/kakutogi schools than traditional Judo or Jiu Jitsu. But basically, if you go to Tokyo you will not be disappointed. A lot of honbu or home dojos are there, therefore probably some huge judo dojos.

Can't remember exactly, but I think a good jiu jitsu school in Tokyo called Axis??? I had one aquaintace that trained there, also met a Brazilian fighter one night, can't remember his name (Christiano? Something like that), who won an amateur Pride try-outs tournament--he was one of the top guys at that school, and a very nice guy. I also heard (second hand) that that was where the Brazilian Top Team trained when they came to Japan for Pride.

As for training Judo and Jiu Jitsu together at one school, maybe hard to do. The traditional styles usually very independent. Karate is karate, judo is judo, jiu jitsu is jiu jitsu, etc. But at a shooto or kakutogi dojo, you will generally get more hybrid types of training: Muay Thai nights, no gi submission nights, wrestling nights (and there are always students with deep judo backgrounds training, if you want some specific pointers).

Otherwise, you will also be likely to find more informal "clubs" in Tokyo, so you could probably join a Jiu Jitsu dojo, then a judo club at some sports center. A few times I went to the Waseda University campus where one or two nights a week they opened a tatami room to different clubs: karate, wrestlers, judo, kung fu, etc. Even in the back of Ex-pat magazine classified you'll find people trying to make a Judo or kakutogi club, etc.

Just my advice. Spent seven years in Tokyo, and will probably be moving back in 2008. I recommend the city to anyone interested in training in Japan.

 

[CowboyPete]

I figured it would be pretty difficult to find a school that teaches Judo and Jiu Jitsu what with all the stupid martial arts politics that seem to exist everywhere in the world. Even so, I can't help but hope some school's got the combo.

Am I correct in thinking that Shooto is essentially MMA (like the organization)? I'm about to google this "Kakutogi."

After googling, I see that it's also an MMA style art. I"d really like to focus on my grappling but I'm not ruling out Shooto or Kakutogi.

I've heard Tokyo is a pretty expensive place to live and based on that alone, it's not high on my places to go, unless I can land a decent job there. I'm in the process of job searching at the moment but don't have much luck yet. When in '08 are you going there? Maybe we could hook up and do some training if I do end up in Tokyo.

 

[Bosozoku]

Forgot to mention prices. At both my karate and shooto dojos, fee was 10,000 yen a month (roughly 100 U.S. dollars, bit less actually), which I think is pretty standard. At Gutsman I trained under former Shooto Champion Sakurada Sensei. Maha Sakurai, Nobuhiro Obiya, Lumina Sato, Mamoru, Kiguchi (legendary grappling teacher of Kiguchi dojo), all made appearances to either train or teach at some point. 10,000 yen in a small price to pay to meet or train with some of the best in the world.

 

[Bosozoku]

Not sure about my return just yet. My girlfriend's U.S. visa ends in March '08, (she's Japanese) so at that point we'll have to make a decision, back to Tokyo, extend in U.S. or try somewhere else for a little while, so remains to be seen. I'll be back some day, just not sure if sooner or later, if we end up there at the same time, will glady meet and train, help you get settled, etc.

As for expenses, Japan in general is costly, Tokyo is no exception. If you are living on savings, they will deplete rapidly. However, if you land a job, you will live well. With college degree, getting work is simple. Without, it is difficult, but not impossible. English teachers are always in demand. I've known people on tourist visas teaching private lessons for fifty bucks an hour, etc. Also, when you learn your way around Tokyo, life in not all that expensive. You will find the 3 dollar noodle stands, the 500 dollar gaijin house room, etc.

I first went with no job, no hotel booked, on 90 day visa, and less than two thousand dollars, basically nothing but an introduction letter to my honbu karate dojo. I got there, decided I wanted to stay, and made things work. Best desicion I ever made.

 

[CowboyPete]

That sounds pretty awesome, actually. From a quick search of apartment prices in Tokyo, it seems like it's not out of my price range after all.

 

[Bosozoku]

Yeah. Gaijin house should be first step, then real apartment (you need 'key money', plus deposit, maybe initially four months rent to get a real apt, so initially it can be expensive. The gaijin house has no key money, usually just first month's rent, easy).

I was actually shocked coming back to the U.S. In Japan I made twenty five dollars an hour, and paid 500 a month for an apartment. I came back to the U.S. and my first job I was making twelve dollars an hour and my apartment was 800 a month. WTF?

 

[CowboyPete]

Yeah. Gaijin house should be first step, then real apartment (you need 'key money', plus deposit, maybe initially four months rent to get a real apt, so initially it can be expensive. The gaijin house has no key money, usually just first month's rent, easy).

I was actually shocked coming back to the U.S. In Japan I made twenty five dollars an hour, and paid 500 a month for an apartment. I came back to the U.S. and my first job I was making twelve dollars an hour and my apartment was 800 a month. WTF?

Hah I know what you're talking about with thte poor pay and high rents. I live on Long Island where the rent prices are very high and the job prospects aren't so hot. The best job I've had out here doing tech support was for $15 an hour and the lowest rent I've heard of is $700.

 

[Bosozoku]

Sorry I didn't answer an earlier question (making you google stuff).

In Japan martial arts are split into two categories: Budou and Kakutogi. Budou=traditional martial arts (karate, judo, aikido, sumo, jiu jitsu, etc). Kakutogi=fight sports (MMA, kickboxing, etc). Shooto, and the Japan Shooto Association, is probably the largest MMA organization in the world. If you want to compete in MMA, it's a good organization to join. Most top Japanese fighters are in Shooto, or began in Shooto. They have a very well organized and structured system for professional and amateur fighters, with constant events. I went just to train, but was pushed into competing by Sakurada Sensei, and am very happy I did.

You sound more interested in Budo, or traditional martial arts. If you want gi grappling, that's the way to go. If you like no gi grappling, you'd do well to join a shooto dojo, and just attend grappling classes. If you have a favorite Japanese fighter, look them up on Fight finder, write down their dojo, find the address, and drop into the dojo and watch a class. I went to Gutsman dojo because Sakurada was Maha Sakurai's original teacher, and he was my favorite fighter.

There are literaly dozens and dozens of top notch Shooto dojos in the greater Tokyo area. I have seen other guys on these boards who train in Tokyo as well, so hopefully someone else will come in and give some other recommendations.

 

[Ivaylo Ivanov]

SK Absolute,near Shinjuku station(the center of Tokyo) offers sambo,submission wrestling,weight training,pool and MMA with the biggest names in Pankrase&Deep for about 10.000 yen a month.Most of the guys are above 3th degree BB in judo...