Training in Japan

Hi Krammy

I think I might be able to help here.

I lived in Japan for a number of years and went to university there, both in Hiroshima and in Tokyo, and have trained (and continue to train at) a number fo different Japanese dojos. 

I personally do not think that looking for a dojo in Japan is necissarily any different to looking for one in Britian or anywhere else. You get professional dojos, part time amateur dojos, family oriented dojos, competitive oriented ones, self protection oriented ones, classical preservation oriented ones etc. It is a complete myth that all dojos in Japan are ancient wooden buildings on mountainsides with 80 year old 10th dan instructors who demand austere and repetitive training 4 hours a day and act like it is still the warring states period. If you are familiar with Japanese people and how they behave in their everyday lives (as opposed to how stereotypes portray them) then you should have no trouble fitting in to a dojo environment.

Contrary to popular fantasy, the usual way to start training at a dojo in Japan is not to get an official letter of reccomendation signed in the blood of 3 shihans of impeccable standing but to either turn up and ask to train or to politely phone up the instructor and ask if you can come along. 

If your grasp of the Japanese language is not all that great then I can see the possible advantage in finding one with some classes taught in English or an English speaking instructor (not common at all though) but if your purpose of going is to learn some of the language in the first place then I would heartilly reccomend just jumping in.

 As for which specific dojos you should think about, from your background it sounds like the daidojuku would be a good fit. Daidojuku do a hybrid of kyokushin karate and judo style grappling with a strong competitive element that they call kudo. They have lots of branches in the Kanto area and the honbu HQ is in Ikebukuro in central Tokyo. If you are more interested in a self protection focus with a karate base then I would reccomend the Kuramoto juku in Otsuka (again, central Tokyo) run by Kuramoto Nariharu who is ex-kyokushinkai. If however you are looking for a change or to try something new then let me know and I will see what I can reccomend. 

Good luck in Japan.

GAV

That sounds like good advice.

I agree that looking for a dojo in Japan is not essentially very different from looking for one here.

I hitch-hiked the length of Japan in the early 90s and every night would seek out the local dojo of whatever town or village I stopped in. 

I had a letter of introduction in my pocket but was not asked for it once. I only got turned away from dojo on two occassions and I can cite four times where that has hapened in the UK!

Be polite, be respectful and you'll have a great time.

Good luck.

Gavin Mulholland wrote:

I hitch-hiked the length of Japan in the early 90s and every night would seek out the local dojo of whatever town or village I stopped in.

That sounds like a fascinating experience! Have you ever thought of writing that up in a book?

All the best,

Iain

Actually, yes I have. It was '89/'90 and I did keep a travel diary at the time.

I deliberately didn't seek out Goju specifically - partly because it was hard enough to find a dojo, and partly because I didn't feel it was necessary. I decided to train in whatever style or system was on offer and that's what I did. My Sensei had warned me that they would just want to fight me and in many places, that was what happened. In one dojo I had to fight everyone there; in another, the instructor sent the class home and we fought in private -with armour on!?

I met some amazing people and was punched, kicked, thrown, hit with sticks, locked up, choked out and grappled by them...

I was also welcomed, befriended, fed, watered and housed by them and I can honestly say that I must have paid for training about three times and for food and drink probably less than that. I had very little money and many times I was allowed to sleep in the dojo overnight before heading off the next day. I found the hospitality overwhelming - humbling even.

I've been meaning to find the diary (I think it must be at my mum's) and sketch out the basics for a book but I keep thinking 'who would want to read it?'

Maybe I should just get on with it and get it down on paper. As I'm sure you are very aware, wrriting is a lot like training in that it is very easy to find excuses not to start!

I'd read it!

Stick me down for a copy.

Gary

Lol...

Cheers Gary.

Mind you, if it's just you and me, we'd be better off just swapping stories over a beer or two...

Thank you very much gentlemen! 

Gavin J., Gavin M., you're messages reassure me. I thought I had to write an introduction letter and that the teachers in Japan had to get to know applicants before accepting them in their dojo.

Thank you, Gavin J., for the references. I have heard of Kudo/Daidojuku before because of a dojo near my university. I will definately check out Kuramoto Nariharu's dojo. 

Whoa, Gavin M., hitch hiking in Japan must have been exciting! As far as publishing your diary and your experiences is concerned, I would be interested in reading them. I have read "Four Shades of Black" and I loved the introductions you wrote for each of the chapters. Furthermore, I think your experience in Japan will be beneficial to young guys like me (I am 22 years old) who are planning to travel or train abroad. 

Thank you for your advice,

Krammy

Thanks very much Krammy.

As I said, respect and sincerity will get you a long way in Japan and in fact, anywhere you travel.

The first thing I did in any country I arrived in (and still do) is learn to say, hello/goodbye, yes/no, please/thank you.

Other than that, train hard in what they do (as opposed to what you have done before) and you will go long way in a short period of time.

Well Jell!

Oh, and they like to drink, and they love to get you drunk.

Fortunately, I like both of those things too so I was fine...

Gavin Mulholland wrote:

Actually, yes I have. It was '89/'90 and I did keep a travel diary at the time …

… I've been meaning to find the diary (I think it must be at my mum's) and sketch out the basics for a book but I keep thinking 'who would want to read it?'

I’d want to read it too! So you’ve sold at least two copies before you’ve even written it! :-)

I seriously think that would be a fascinating read and would have strong mainstream appeal as well as martial appeal. Think of how popular “Angry White Pyjamas” and “Moving Zen” have been. I feel such a book could be HUGE

All the best,

Iain

Thanks Iain, that's encouraging.

As you can imagine, I do have some funny stories to put in there.

If I do get around to it, I'll a make sure you get an early sighting.

Gavin

Gavin Mulholland wrote:

If I do get around to it, I'll a make sure you get an early sighting.

Awesome!

Sounds like an "Indiana Jones" experience.......I would definetely get a copy of your book when It comes out......I always wanted to go to Osaka(Original Capital of Japan) and Okinawa.

Hey Gavin, I know this thread is about a year old but I'd definitely buy that book. I have a copy of Four Shades here too in my burgeoning library.

Where is the book Gavin :-)