- Location: 1-16-30 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Phone: +81 33 811 7152
- Website: kodokanjudoinstitute.org
- Mail: intl@kodokan.org
Tokyo has always been interesting for tourists. Special attention of sports fans is attracted by the presence in the city of the oldest and the main school of judo - Kodokan. Here you can learn the history of the emergence of this struggle, watch the competitions, and also try their hand at sparring with the famous Japanese judoists.
A little bit about the history of Kodokan
The Kodokan School, or, as it is also called in Japan , the Kodokan Institute, originated in the century before last, in 1882. Her ancestor was Jigoro Kano, who is very revered here. It was here that the eponymous Judo style - Kodokan-judo - was developed. The name of this world-renowned educational institution is translated as "a study house for the road".
What is the Kodokan in Tokyo?
One day, the city authorities took the Kodokan school into custody (this meant full funding), and allocated a huge nine-story building for it. The importance of judo for the Japanese gives reason to believe that the development of this martial art will continue to flourish. The famous judoists around the world are given their given here. Regardless of judging by the International Judo Federation, athletes here receive their own awards and honor.
The ground floor of the Kodokan school is reserved for conference rooms and cafeteria, where guests and athletes can eat healthy food. Also in the building there is a bank branch, parking for cars, rooms for athletes and mentors (sensei) living here. On the 5th-7th floors there are training halls, showers and locker rooms for judoists. The eighth floor is completely occupied by the halls for performances, and from the ninth one, over 900 spectators can observe these sports.
The Kodokan Institute even has its own research center occupying the whole floor. Here are the laboratories for studying the technique of judo, its history, psychology, physiology, and the physical condition of judoists.
For a long time, the policy of the judo school is:
- physical training;
- training in hand-to-hand fighting;
- self-improvement of personality.
Any person from any country in the world can practice here as a program for beginners or for an accelerated course of mastery. To do this, you should first agree with the management, reserve a place to stay and choose a payment method - daily or in full for the entire course.
The special philosophy of judo Kodokan provides for the use of judo (kimono for this type of martial art) only white. It had been a long time since the soldiers were ready to accept death before the battle and for this they wore elegant white clothes. But the blue judo is considered an insult here, although recently in the world competitions they were allowed to use them in order not to confuse the athletes in a duel. Men are not allowed to wear underwear under their judogi.
What do you need to know before attending a judo school?
There are several features:
- Participation in fights is allowed to children, starting from 6 years.
- Adolescents under the age of 18 are obliged to come to the class accompanied by a guardian.
- Here equally happy to see women and men with any level of training.
- On major national holidays and on Sundays the school is closed to visitors.
- Payment for training is accepted in cash or by credit card (in yen).
- The school is not liable for injuries sustained during training or competitions, therefore, it is necessary to take care of medical insurance in advance, especially foreign citizens.
How to get to Kodokan school?
To get to the school of judo, you can sit on the shuttle bus and reach the Kasuga-Eki stop. A minute's walk from it is the Institute building. In addition, tourists can take advantage of the line Kasuga, Namboku, Marunouchi, Sobu.