Awhile back I joined the Unidos Judo Club which teaches out of the recreation center near my house. It has been a great experience, lots of chances to throw and be thrown and I really have learned a lot and enjoyed it.

I mention this because it seems that judo is sometimes overlooked, it perhaps seems too "mundane" compared with MMA or BJJ or the more esoteric stuff like aikido or taiji. But what I came to find out is that there are judo clubs all over the place and training costs are often quite low. The teachers are usually very dedicated and quite skilled. For example at the Unidos Club there is a 3rd, 5th and 9th degree black belts teaching and all three of them are great teachers.

These judo clubs can be hard to find, for example Unidos Judo Club has almost zero internet presence, I found out about them by walking into the rec center and seeing the flyer. But if you are looking for a chance to practice grappling, these local judo clubs are a great resource.

And these local clubs connect up to the wider judo world by membership in the U.S. Judo Association (that organization handles the ranking and all that).

These local clubs are a great resource.

take care,
Brian

so true

my first intro to MMA and grappling for self defense was at a small judo club in tucson which took place in a high school's wrestling room.

we had two olympic alternates there, it was awesome.

20 dollar donation and you had to buy one of their cheap but pretty decent gis ($30 bucks and i still got it).

i rolled w/ another small group in seattle that taught "internment camp judo" and they were also stocked w/ world class competitors.

Who was the small group in Seatown?
Thanks
Jake

they train at the budokan on weller off of rainier in the int'l district.

i think its a japanese cultural center.

the advanced class is intense, lost of russians fresh off the boat.

building is so old they dont let you use the water fountains.

JP

side note: most of the japanese in that area arrived pre WW2, but you probably already knew that

Thanks Jean Paul. They are the oldest Judo Dojo in America I believe! I have heard good things. Unfortunately no one teaches in the AM or afternoon. My evenings are booked!
Thanks for the suggestion though.
Jake

Brian,

There's a 9th degree black belt in judo teaching at a rec center? USJA has had issues with rank inflation. Unless...Is Fukuda sensei on staff there?

His name is Jesse Jones and I have every confidence in his personal skill and his personal ethics. I also very much admire his dedication to the club. I should mention too, he is 72 years old and if I understand correctly he was a past president of the USJA.

take care,
Brian