柔 · yawara
Learning jiu-jitsu along the western Chuo line
This guide covers the academies along the Chuo line west of the wards: Kichijoji, Chofu, Tachikawa, out to Hachioji at the mountains. For someone just starting, the real question is not "which academy is best" but "which one fits me." This guide exists to answer that question.
Map
Only academies with verified information appear on the map. Grey pins mark verified addresses for academies still being confirmed.
ABLAZE Hachioji (ABLAZE八王子)
Who this academy suits
A true first-timer who wants a room where beginners are the rule, not the marketing: by house policy experienced people may only join the intermediate class and above, so the gym is built around beginners, two minutes from Hachioji station
Why we say it: The own site publishes the beginners-only policy, the 2-minute walk, and the form trial (verified 2026-07-18)
A safety-minded beginner who worries about getting hurt: the gym partners with medical institutions and covers the copay for treating a training injury, under a black-belt head in the Imanari lineage
Why we say it: The own site publishes the medical-copay support and names Sakuma as a black-belt head in the Imanari lineage (verified 2026-07-18 and 2026-07-17)
Daily beginner classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A trial booked through the trial application form; booking is by the web form
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 302, 3F, Sagami Building, 7-9 Asahi-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo (2 minutes from the Hachioji Station north exit, entering from the door across from Gyoza no Ohsho)
- Instructors
- Representative Sakuma Hiroto, who teaches all classes, by the own page a jiu-jitsu black belt awarded in 2023 by Masakazu Imanari; the JBJJF instructor of record is Imanari himself, the lineage holder, not the resident head
Carpe Diem Tachikawa (カルペディエム立川)
Who this academy suits
A beginner who finds combat gyms intimidating and wants a soft first door: the studio's entrance is deliberately designed to look like an esthetic salon, and the first lesson is a free trial
Why we say it: The own site publishes the esthetic-salon studio design and the free trial lesson (verified 2026-07-18)
A car commuter in the Tama area who cannot rely on trains to the mat: 40 shared parking spaces on site, with the free trial booked over LINE
Why we say it: The own site publishes the 40 shared parking spaces and LINE booking for the free trial (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone who wants a well-run network room with named coaches: the Carpe Diem network's only west-Tokyo studio, taught by two named instructors
Why we say it: The own site publishes the Carpe Diem affiliation and names Shiraki and Abe as instructors (verified 2026-07-18)
Free trialParkingFranchise network
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A free trial lesson, booked via LINE or an external booking system, applied per studio
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1-24-37 Takamatsu-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo (8 minutes from Tachihi Station, or a 6-minute bus plus 2-minute walk from the Tachikawa Station north exit)
- Instructors
- Instructors Daisuke Shiraki, who matches the JBJJF row, and Michel Abe; belts were not pinned this pass
- Parking
- 40 parking spaces on site, shared with the neighboring Book-Off
- Front-desk hours (not class times)
- Facility hours are weekdays 10:30 to 22:00, weekends and holidays 9:30 to 18:00, closed Wednesdays (these are opening hours, not class times)
Fighting Lab Kokubunji (ファイティングラボ国分寺)
Who this academy suits
A budget-first beginner who wants real gi classes, not just no-gi: the cheapest unlimited mat between Kichijoji and Tachikawa, running both gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu, six minutes from Kokubunji station
Why we say it: The own page publishes the 9,000 yen chain-wide unlimited rate, and the D1 timetable shows both gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu (verified 2026-07-18 and 2026-07-17)
Someone who wants to start at zero cost and be able to back out: a free trial, a plan that waives all sign-up fees on a same-day join, and a 30-day money-back guarantee
Why we say it: The own page publishes the free trial, the zero-cost same-day-join plan, and the 30-day money-back guarantee (verified 2026-07-18)
Pricing published Free trialPricing publishedNo-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A free trial, booked by web funnel or LINE; a zero-cost plan waives the enrollment and sign-up fees for a same-day join, and a 30-day money-back guarantee returns all fees on withdrawal within 30 days
Classes and cost
- Membership
- 9,000 yen a month for unlimited access to all chain branches; the 16,500 enrollment fee is waived under the zero-cost plan and the 3,300 sign-up fee on a same-day join; sports insurance 3,000 a year, in Japanese yen
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- B1F, Hill House La Queste 1, 2-17-8 Honcho, Kokubunji, Tokyo (6 minutes from Kokubunji Station)
Phone 042-316-8883 (email info@tkdj.net) Website Naver Map Apple Maps
Kingdom Tachikawa Colosseo, whose jiu-jitsu program runs as Inazuma Jiu-Jitsu Academy Tachikawa (稲妻柔術アカデミー立川)
Who this academy suits
Someone who wants a taste of jiu-jitsu alongside MMA in a real cage facility on a budget: a beginner-heavy Kingdom gym with all-branch unlimited access, 30 seconds from Don Quijote Tachikawa
Why we say it: The network own site publishes the jiu-jitsu program, the cage facility, all-branch access, and the 30-second walk (verified 2026-07-18)
A total beginner who wants a free trial and a low-commitment start: a fully free trial in a room that is 8 in 10 beginners, with a summer fee-waiver campaign
Why we say it: The network own site publishes the fully free trial, the beginner-heavy room, and the fee-waiver campaign (verified 2026-07-18)
Pricing published Free trialPricing publishedFranchise network
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A fully free trial, taken on the shared line 042-376-1639; booking is by phone or the site inquiry
Classes and cost
- Membership
- All-branch unlimited access, with a summer campaign waiving the July and August monthly fee for the first 22 people; by the D1 read the base monthly tier starts at 6,980 yen with a 30,000 yen enrollment fee reduced to 10,000 by campaign, in Japanese yen
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 3F, Lemon Building, 2-28-26 Akebono-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo (30 seconds from Don Quijote Tachikawa)
Phone 042-376-1639 (the shared line for all branches, which also takes free trials) Website Naver Map Apple Maps
LOKA Hachioji (LOKA HACHIOJI)
Who this academy suits
An adult first-timer in their thirties or older who wants a clean, low-friction place to start: a jiu-jitsu-centered room built for adults with private lockers, a laundry service and early-morning classes, two minutes from the station
Why we say it: The own site publishes the adult-first, amenity-heavy positioning and the 2-minute walk (verified 2026-07-18)
A woman who wants a women-only jiu-jitsu class and a gentle first step: a women-only class and a stated gradual start with no sudden hard sparring, booked through a trial form
Why we say it: The own site publishes the women-only class and the gradual, no-hard-sparring start with a trial form (verified 2026-07-18)
Women's programEarly morning classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Observation and trials are both available, booked through the trial or inquiry form; the site stresses a gradual start with basics and pad work and no sudden hard sparring; booking is by web form
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 4F, Hachioji Century Station Building, 11-3 Azuma-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo (2 minutes from Hachioji Station)
- Founded
- By the academy's own page, LOKA opened in March 2026
LifeLab Koganei (LifeLab小金井)
Who this academy suits
A mid-corridor beginner who wants a neighborhood room that expects first-timers, including in their forties and fifties: a jiu-jitsu and kickboxing studio three and a half minutes from Musashi-Koganei where most members start as beginners
Why we say it: The own site publishes the beginner-first framing, forties-and-fifties members welcomed, and the 3.5-minute walk (verified 2026-07-17 and 2026-07-18)
Someone unsure between jiu-jitsu and kickboxing who wants to try each for free before choosing: one free trial of each art, plus free observation
Why we say it: The own site publishes the one-free-trial-of-each and free observation (verified 2026-07-17)
Free trialKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- One free trial each of jiu-jitsu and kickboxing, plus free observation; booking is by web form or phone
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 104, Koganei View Heights, 3-40-20 Maehara-cho, Koganei, Tokyo (3.5 minutes from Musashi-Koganei Station)
NEXUSENSE (ネクサセンス)
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a technician's small school under a judo-sambo-BJJ veteran: Uematsu holds dan grades across judo, sambo and jiu-jitsu, and a UFC and Pride veteran trains under him
Why we say it: The own profile publishes Uematsu's grades and the Kaoru Uno testimonial (verified 2026-07-18, self-published)
Someone who wants a set day to come watch and try for free before committing: free observation and trials every Friday and Saturday, two minutes into Nishiki-cho
Why we say it: The own site publishes the Friday-and-Saturday trial days and the Nishiki-cho address (verified 2026-07-18)
Free trial
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Observation and free trials run every Friday and Saturday; you book by phone or email consultation, and the site invites you to ask first if unsure which class fits
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- B1F, Park Avenue Tachikawa, 1-15-20 Nishiki-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo
- Instructors
- Head instructor Naoya Uematsu, by his own profile a Kodokan judo third dan, sambo first dan and BJJ black belt second degree; the site carries a testimonial from UFC and Pride veteran Kaoru Uno, who trains under him
- Founded
- By the academy's own page, opened in Tachikawa in December 2011
Oga Dojo Chofu (大賀道場 調布)
Who this academy suits
An adult beginner who wants the reasoning behind every move from a world-champion author: the own page names Oga the first Japanese black-belt world champion and a four-volume author, and beginners get a half-mat class inside regular classes
Why we say it: The own introduction page publishes the world-champion and authorship claims and the schedule page publishes the half-mat beginner class and join-any-class policy (verified 2026-07-18, self-published)
Someone who wants one free trial and a cheap start with gear included: a one-time free trial across the three dojos, and a 9,900 yen new-member fee that gifts a gi and belt
Why we say it: The own tour page publishes the one-time free trial and the price page publishes the 9,900 yen new-member fee with gi and belt gifted (verified 2026-07-18)
A woman, student, or family on a budget four minutes from Chofu station: the women, student and kids tier is 7,700 yen and families train at 20 percent off, on the Keio line
Why we say it: The own price page publishes the 7,700 yen women/student/kids tier and family discount, and the access page publishes the 4-minute Chofu walk (verified 2026-07-18)
Pricing published Free trialPricing publishedWomen's programKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A one-time free trial of a regular class, shared across the three dojos, booked through the free-trial form (one applicant per form); a walk-in without a prior application is charged as a 3,000 yen day visit, and observation is booked by 20:00 the day before
Classes and cost
- Membership
- New-member fee 9,900 yen with a gi and belt gifted on joining; monthly tiers 14,300 (special, a 30-minute private included), 11,000 (regular), 7,700 (twice-monthly), 7,700 (women, students, kids); 20 percent family discount and a 500 yen web-sign-up cashback, in Japanese yen
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- Chofu Center Building B-101, 2-56-3 Kojima-cho, Chofu, Tokyo (4 minutes on foot from Chofu Station on the Keio line, basement floor)
- Instructors
- Head instructor and founder Mikio Oga, by the academy's own page the first Japanese black-belt world champion and author of the four-volume School of Groundwork series
- Founded
- By the academy's own page the Chofu dojo opened in 2003, and Oga's school began in 1999 as the federation-recognized Newaza World academy
Phone 080-6640-7438 (Oga's personal cell, which is the booking line) Website Naver Map Apple Maps
Paraestra Hachioji (パラエストラ八王子)
Who this academy suits
A Hachioji beginner who wants the area's long-established Paraestra room with an unusually strong guest bench: a gym founded in 2001 whose own site lists an Olympic wrestler, Shinya Aoki and a world-champion prodigy among its guest instructors
Why we say it: The own site names Shioda as representative, states the 2001 founding, and lists the guest bench (verified 2026-07-18, self-published)
Someone who wants unlimited access to two gyms and an easy LINE trial with no enrollment fee: one membership covers the Hachioji and Kokubunji rooms, and the enrollment fee is waived on the current campaign
Why we say it: The own site publishes the both-gym unlimited program and the LINE trial with the free-enrollment campaign (verified 2026-07-18)
Franchise networkFree trial
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Observation, trial and enrollment are booked through the site form or LINE, with a free-enrollment campaign live; booking is by web form or LINE
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1F, Ihashi Building, 1-25-10 Myojin-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo (the network list's stale Koyasu-cho address is excluded)
- Instructors
- Representative Ayumu Shioda (GOZO), who matches the JBJJF row and founded the gym in 2001; belt and lineage were not pinned this pass
- Founded
- By the academy's own page, Paraestra Hachioji was established in 2001
Phone 050-6877-6035 (the own site routes booking through LINE and a web form) Website Naver Map Apple Maps
Paraestra Kichijoji (パラエストラ吉祥寺)
Who this academy suits
A Kichijoji-area beginner who wants a dedicated Paraestra jiu-jitsu room, not a fitness class: a network dojo five minutes from the station with free observation and trials on your own schedule
Why we say it: The operator group site publishes the Paraestra Kichijoji identity, the 5-minute walk, and free anytime observation and trials (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone who wants both gi jiu-jitsu and grappling in one room: the Kichijoji dojo is a jiu-jitsu-and-grappling room with pro coaches inside the Cross Point facility
Why we say it: The group site describes the Kichijoji room as a jiu-jitsu and grappling dojo with pro coaches (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone who wants station-close mats inside a full combat-sports facility: a Paraestra room five minutes from Kichijoji station within the KNOCK OUT Cross Point gym
Why we say it: The own address and facility description put the room five minutes from Kichijoji station inside the Cross Point gym (verified 2026-07-18)
Free trialNo-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Observation is free anytime, and trials are taken anytime; you contact the group with the class and time you want, through the Kichijoji Paraestra inquiry form
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1F, 1-11-20 Kichijoji-Higashicho, Musashino, Tokyo (5 minutes from Kichijoji Station); mats run mainly in the annex, the KNOCK OUT Fight Camp jiu-jitsu and grappling room at 1-11-18
Reversal Gym Tachikawa ALPHA (リバーサルジム立川ALPHA)
Who this academy suits
A beginner, a woman, a child, or an older first-timer who wants gi groundwork with no striking: the jiu-jitsu class is a gi, strike-free, groundwork-first class framed for exactly those people, with a parent-child class too
Why we say it: The own class page publishes the gi, no-striking, all-ages jiu-jitsu class and the parent-child class (verified 2026-07-17)
Someone who wants easy web booking under a well-known fighter, with a beginners-only room nearby: Coubic reservation at Kanehara's gym, plus the beginners-only ALPHA+1 studio at the north exit
Why we say it: The own site publishes Coubic booking, Kanehara as representative, and the beginners-only ALPHA+1 studio (verified 2026-07-18)
No-giKids classes
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Booking is by web reservation through Coubic plus phone; the own site posts a note to trial visitors, updated 2026-07-01
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 2F, Asada Building, 2-3-19 Nishiki-cho, Tachikawa (the ALPHA room, station south side); the beginners-only ALPHA+1 studio is at the north exit, exact address not captured
- Instructors
- Representative Masanori Kanehara, who matches the JBJJF row, a well-known Rizin and Shooto fighter; belt was not pinned this pass
Phone 042-512-5563 (email alpha_gym@outlook.com) Website Naver Map Apple Maps
Strong Spirit Jiu-Jitsu, Musashi-Sakai class (武蔵境教室)
Who this academy suits
A Musashi-Sakai beginner who wants the softest possible first taste of self-defense jiu-jitsu, twice a month, with no gi to buy: a small-group first-and-third-Sunday class in ordinary clothes
Why we say it: The own page publishes the self-defense small-group class, no gi needed, on the first and third Sundays (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone who wants to watch or try anytime before enrolling, inside a familiar Ito-Yokado culture club at the station: observation and trials accepted anytime through the culture-club page
Why we say it: The own page publishes anytime observation and trials through the culture-club page and the Ito-Yokado venue (verified 2026-07-18)
Schedule verified No-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Observation and trials are accepted anytime, through the Maison Culture Club Musashi-Sakai course page; booking is culture-club course enrollment via that page
- Class schedule
- The Musashi-Sakai class runs the first and third Sundays, about 15 minutes of warm-up plus 60 to 70 minutes of technique, with late arrival and early leaving allowed
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- Maison Culture Club Musashi-Sakai, 5F, Ito-Yokado Musashi-Sakai store, 2-3-6 Sakai-minami-cho, Musashino, Tokyo
Tri-Force Takao (トライフォース高尾)
Who this academy suits
A beginner at the far-west end of the corridor who wants the Tri-Force graded curriculum one minute from the station: a network branch inside the Takao arcade where the Chuo line meets the mountain
Why we say it: The own site publishes the Tri-Force Takao-branch identity and the 1-minute Takao walk (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone who wants to watch and try for free before committing, and to know the class days first: free open observation, one free trial, and a five-day schedule
Why we say it: The own site publishes the free-observation and free-trial policy and the five-day schedule (verified 2026-07-18)
A woman, a student, or an older first-timer on a budget: monthly rates of 9,900 general, 8,800 women and 7,700 for students, with members from their teens to their seventies
Why we say it: The own site publishes the women and student rates and the teens-to-seventies member range (verified 2026-07-18)
Schedule verified Pricing published Free trialPricing publishedWomen's programStructured curriculum
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Free open observation and one free trial, booked through the own site or the phone and email above
- Class schedule
- Classes start Sunday 10:00, Monday 19:00, Thursday 19:00, Friday 19:00 and Saturday 13:00 (start times)
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Enrollment 11,000 yen; monthly 9,900 general, 8,800 women, 7,700 middle and high schoolers, in Japanese yen
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1227-4 Hatsuzawa-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo (inside the Takao arcade), about 1 minute from Takao Station on the Chuo and Keio lines
- Instructors
- Head instructor and Takao branch representative Takashi Iga, by the own site a black belt third degree and a Tri-Force Level-4 instructor, teaching members from their teens to their seventies, and also a documentary photographer and author
Phone 090-2257-8601 (email lutadoriga5@gmail.com) Website Naver Map Apple Maps
dois Kokubunji (dois国分寺)
Who this academy suits
A Kokubunji-area beginner who wants a Paraestra-family room plus the Hachioji coach bench: dois is the sister room of Paraestra Hachioji, and one membership covers both gyms
Why we say it: The own site states dois is Paraestra Hachioji's sister room with shared both-gym unlimited membership (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone who wants to look and try first over LINE, near Kokubunji station: observation, trial and enrollment run through the site form or LINE
Why we say it: The own site publishes the form-and-LINE observation, trial and enrollment route and the Kokubunji address (verified 2026-07-18)
Free trialFranchise network
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Observation, trial and enrollment are taken through the site's form, and LINE inquiries are accepted; booking is by web form or LINE
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- B1F, View Kokubunji, 1-1-20 Honda, Kokubunji, Tokyo
quip (クイップ)
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants to build in stages before ever sparring: an entry class and a no-sparring beginner class come before the sparring and gated intermediate classes, with a free first trial
Why we say it: The own site publishes the graded ladder with the no-sparring beginner class and the free first trial (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone who wants to test the room cheaply before committing: a free first trial and a 3,000 yen three-trial pack, with rental gear at 500 yen
Why we say it: The own site publishes the free first trial, the three-trial pack, and the 500 yen gear rental (verified 2026-07-18)
A person in their twenties, a student, or a parent-child pair on a budget three minutes from Mitaka station: a 9,000 yen tier and dedicated parent-child rates
Why we say it: The own site publishes the 9,000 yen tier and parent-child rates and the 3-minute Mitaka walk (verified 2026-07-18)
Pricing published Free trialPricing publishedKids classesNo-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A free first trial and a 3,000 yen three-trial pack, booked through the own trial form, with email contact preferred
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Enrollment 11,000 yen; monthly full-time 14,000, 8 days 12,000, 4 days 10,000, 20s and students 9,000, high schoolers 8,000, middle schoolers 7,000; parent-child 2,500 or 5,000; gi and belt rental 500, in Japanese yen
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 2F, KM Building, 3-37-8 Shimo-Renjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo (3 minutes from the Mitaka Station south exit on the Chuo, Sobu and Tozai lines)
- Instructors
- Representative Shimon Kagiyama, who introduces himself as quip's head on the own site; belt and lineage were not pinned this pass
Phone 0422-26-6232 (the site asks for first contact by email, quip@rockstock.co.jp) Website Naver Map Apple Maps
I'm a complete beginner. Can I just show up?
It differs by academy. Entries show where a fundamentals program and first-visit process are verified. For the rest, check with the academy before visiting. For what a first class actually feels like, see the beginner posts on our blog.