So I'm giving some thought to traveling to Japan. Doing BJJ & Judo while I'm there is a big priority. I'm curious as to what are the customs around a foreigner wanted to train Judo . I would love to train at the Kodokan for obvious reasons, and noticed they do have a room pricing, but I didn't understand if it was only for select few or if anyone could come and stay there while they train. Could I stay for a week and live exclusively there vs staying in a hostile or hotel? Also is there any other Stigma around doing judo as a foreigner? Do they frown upon it being done by people outside of Japan? I had read somewhere that for adults the belts are still the traditional white or Black, nothing else. So I should I just where my white belt to not look foolish? lastly, will they also have problems with my tattoo? ( Its a full sleeve, of the dragonball Z dragon; Shenron) I can of course wrap my wrist to my forearm, which covers most of it, but during all the yanking and tusseling of judo its very possible my gi could make the rest of it visible. EDIT: I consider it Martial arts edicate to not speak much about prior training while in someone elses dojo regardless, but I also heard that I should not mention training in BJJ while in the Kodokan. Is this more hearsay, or is jits frowned upon there?
I've just been training with a guy who lives in Japan, trains BJJ and Judo, iirc the kodokan is open to everyone, cover up your tattoo with a long sleeve reash guard, and if they ask prior experience mention it, but stick to the general facts. There's at least one BJJ blackbelt who's also a kodokan Judo instructor. Oh and wear a plain white unpatched judo gi only at the kodokan, and that's good advice everywhere too.
Not sure about Judo but a friend lived and trained in Japan for 5 years (Aikido). In a Japan they are obsessed with personal hygiene. Any cuts or scrapes should be covered up. If you have any kind of illness don't train. Any skin conditions or cold sores etc... Don't train. I know that should go for everywhere where you are doing tactile training but it's much more relaxed over here unfortunately. In a Japan it's a big no no. I'd go with a White belt too. The Kodokan is essentially a private Judo club and they issue their own belts as far as I'm aware.
So how are training fee's broken up? Is the Kodokan considered public and free to train at, or are their drop-in fee's ( or the Japanese version of them)
I've been living and training in Japan for the last few years, and I've had the opportunity here to train in BJJ and Judo so perhaps my experience may be of help. Be polite. If you have any Japanese, use it. If you don't, learn a few basic phrases. "I'm x" I come from y" "I want to train", etc. A few words is enough to break down the "agh, I-have-to-speak-English-that-I-never-used-since-school" reaction and folks will be a little less nervous in dealing with you. Is the Kodokan the only option for you? What level of training are you looking for? World, national / university, local? Taking BJJ as an example, I used to train in a club that fighters in (Japanese) regional/national competitions, and one in the Euros. Training was 6 days a week, at least 2 hours a day, for 6,000 yen (45 euros, 50 dollars). Judo is usually half that. If you want to go to the Kodokan, just to have done it (and I can't fault you for that), go for it. I'm sure you will have a blast in Tokyo. Or head to a good local club, experience that and train in the Kodokan in their 3-5 day camps (I think that could be their summer camps, but I am writing from memory), best of both worlds IMHO. Does your current club have any connections in Japan that you could use? Not that I have experienced in either Judo or BJJ. As you have been training in Judo for quite some time, I'm sure that they would be happy to have you (a new challenge so to speak). If a club doesn't want you there, you'll feel it. If that does happen, just find another, judo clubs are ten a penny here. This is true. Bring your white belt. I would bring your current belt as well though as the club may not mind if you wear it. If you stay long enough they may ask if you want to grade! (1st dan testings aren't as complicated here as abroad). Foreign folk having tattoos and Japanese folk having tattoos are very different things. Most here realise that more foreigners tend to have tattoos than Japanese and that the cultural connotations are different. It doesn't mean that it isn't frowned upon in bathhouses, etc (but not all places mind) though. I would wrap it if I were you, or if you had a rash guard with long sleeves (I'd ask before wearing that in Judo). In BJJ I've rolled with folks who have had tattoos and didn't hide them, but that could have been the part of town the club was in or a cultural difference between the sports. In Judo I'd err on the side of formality though, ie: hide them. BJJ, in my experience (and I have not trained at the Kodokan or any of the big Judo places here), was not frowned on where I did Judo. Or vise-versa. If you are asked about previous training, be blunt and to the point. x years in Judo/BJJ, keep it relevant. Opposite of my experience really and I would have preferred that to the 'man up it's only blood' approach. But I suppose I'm a wuss worrying about infections.
Also I was wondering after reading this post is what is the type of training you get in Japan? Is it very traditional (from a western perspective) where they spent a lot of time on the kata’s (http://www.blackbeltwiki.com/judo-katas) and perfecting your form, or is it more sport oriented/randori style of judo? I suppose it depends on the club and the teacher’s style. But the experience must be worthwhile of training under eastern skies.
Katas in Judo are normally taught separately though seminars. They're not normally part of day to day training (unless you're a Kata specialist).
Randori in Judo isn't just practise for sport, it's a fundamental exercise. "Good form" in kata that doesn't translate into being able to actually throw people isn't "traditional" in Judo or any of the styles it derives from.
The biggest problem I faced in Japan training MMA and BJJ was the language barrier and the attitude towards foreigners. I missed out on a lot of stuff as my Japanese was very poor and the Japanese couldn't really explain things to me either...or were reluctant to due to shyness. It was quite funny when we'd be told to partner up and the whole of the club would run in the opposite direction from me. I usually showered before training... so I doubt it was a personal hygiene issue. Admittedly this was '99 and I am sure things have changed slightly. But get some Japanese lessons and bug people to teach you words / expressions you might need in the gym even if it is only so you know them passively to allow yourself to understand what's being shown.
