So I have been in Fukuoka, Japan for a few weeks training jiu-jitsu and learning Japanese. It’s going good.
I started training at a new dojo called Axis jiu-jitsu Fukuoka. It’s a nice small space near Ohori park in Fukuoka.
It’s fun training at a new place too.
I chose this place basically cause it was the closest place to where I live which is like 7km away and the owner let me train there on my first day for free.
Before that I went to a couple of other places in the city to check them out.
The first place said there was no free class and that it would be 2,000 Yen which is about $20 and if I wanted to train for a month then it would be 20,000 Yen.
What?!
I had already done some research on places around Fukuoka and knew a few were around 10,000 Yen a month which is about $100.
I went to the next place and they seemed more friendly. They didn’t invite me for a free class, but said it was 10,800 Yen.
I was thinking that maybe things in Japan were different with no free first class.
So then I was thinking of going to another place, but just decided to go to Axis jiu-jitsu since that was closer anyway. When I did the teacher Kanda invited me to the mat when I walked in the door for free.
So after class I rode my bike home and pretty much decided that was where I was going to train at. And that’s where I am now.
Some customs remind me of my first school in San Fran, Romulo Melo as everyone seems to shake hands when they greet each other on the mat.
Maybe that is a Gracie thing I don’t know.
It’s nice to be able to train everyday too. I hurt my knee, but other than that the vibe seems mostly pretty relaxed too.
More on Axis jiu-jitsu in Fukuoka.