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Learning jiu-jitsu in Nerima and Suginami
This guide covers the academies of Nerima and Suginami, the heartland of Japanese jiu-jitsu: Yuki Nakai's Paraestra Tokyo trains here. 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.
Open mats in Nerima and Suginami
Rooms whose published schedule prints an open mat, each with the complete recorded summary of that schedule, its source and the date it was read. What an open mat is, and what a beginner does with one
- Strong Spirit Jiu-Jitsu, Koenji (main dojo) The Koenji grid is now page text: 60-minute basic gi classes with no sparring Mon 9:15 PM, Tue and Wed 10:15 AM (those two morning classes are white and blue belts only) and Fri 7:30 PM, basic no-gi Thu 7:30 PM, 90-minute jiu-jitsu classes Tue 9:15 PM, Fri 8:45 PM and Sun 11:15 AM, no-gi Thu 8:45 PM, kids Sun 10:15 AM, closed Saturday; an open mat follows most classes except Thursdays source · 2026-09-03
A schedule is what the page printed on the day it was read. The academy's card carries the visitor and price facts recorded for it; where admission to an open mat, or its cost, is not published, ask the academy.
Women's classes in Nerima and Suginami
Rooms whose published schedule or programme page prints a women's or women-only class, each with the complete recorded summary of that fact, its source and the date it was read. What academies publish for women, and what to ask before a first class
- Physical Space Jiu-Jitsu Academy (フィジカルスペース柔術アカデミー) A women's class with its own women's membership tier source · 2026-07-18
- Tri-Force Koenji (トライフォース高円寺 / ACJC) A women-only self-defense class source · 2026-07-18
A summary records what the page printed on the day it was read. Whether a class is women-only or mixed, and who may join, is in the summary where the academy publishes it; visitor and price facts are on the academy's card; where something is not published, ask the academy.
Map
Every academy with a full entry is pinned on the map, and neighborhood-level pins say so. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Fighting Lab Ogikubo (Toikatsu Dojo chain)
Who this academy suits
A budget-minded beginner who wants to start with no-gi grappling in a dedicated beginner class, one minute from Ogikubo Station, and try it free first
Why we say it: The live timetable publishes the no-gi beginner classes and the own site publishes the free-trial funnel with the same-day fee waiver (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone who trains around odd work hours and wants chain-wide access: open 7:00 to 23:00 Mon, Wed and Fri, 7:00 to 22:00 Tue and Thu, 12:00 to 18:00 at weekends, with unlimited use across every Toikatsu store
Why we say it: The own site publishes the per-day hours table (re-read 2026-09-03) and chain-wide unlimited membership (verified 2026-07-18)
Schedule verified Pricing published Free trialNo-giEarly morning classes
Your first visit
- Trial
- A free-trial funnel with a same-day-join fee waiver (3,300 yen to 0); sports insurance 3,000 yen a year, booked through the web reservation funnel source · 2026-09-23
- Class schedule
- The live timetable shows no-gi jiu-jitsu as the dominant grappling class, run as a beginner class plus a mass-sparring class on Mon/Wed/Fri, alongside MMA beginner classes and wrestling; no gi jiu-jitsu class appears, so the room is no-gi-forward, open 7:00 to 23:00 year-round source · 2026-09-23
Classes and cost
- Membership
- The monthly fee is 9,000 yen with unlimited access to every location; Ogikubo opens 7am to 11pm Mon, Wed and Fri, 7am to 10pm Tue and Thu, and noon to 6pm at weekends, in Japanese yen source · 2026-09-23
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 301 Oki Bldg, 5-23-12 Ogikubo, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (1 min from Ogikubo Station) source · 2026-07-18
Kotobuki Jiu-Jitsu (寿柔術)
Who this academy suits
A first-timer around Asagaya who wants the neighborhood's own jiu-jitsu room, a free trial, and no enrollment fee right now
Why we say it: The own site puts the room 30 seconds from Asagaya Station, prints the free trial, and states the enrollment fee is waived (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone whose only free time is early morning, or who wants gi and no-gi in the same week: gi and no-gi alternate daily with 7:00 slots on Wednesday and Friday
Why we say it: The own schedule publishes the daily gi and no-gi alternation and the 7:00 morning slots (verified 2026-07-18)
Schedule verified Pricing published Free trialNo-giEarly morning classes
Your first visit
- Trial
- A free trial through the site form; the 11,000-yen enrollment fee is currently waived, booked through the web form source · 2026-07-18
- Class schedule
- Gi and no-gi alternate every training day, including 7:00 morning slots on Wednesday and Friday; Monday and Thursday run in Ogikubo, the rest in Asagaya; closed Tuesday source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Enrollment is 11,000 yen and currently waived under an extended campaign. The monthly fee tiers were not captured this pass, in Japanese yen source · 2026-07-18
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 4F, 3-37-2 Asagaya-Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-0004, inside 13GYM (30 sec from Asagaya Station); Monday and Thursday classes run at Gold Kids Ogikubo source · 2026-07-18
Mikazuchi Jiu-Jitsu Academy (ミカヅチ柔術アカデミー)
Who this academy suits
A beginner near Oizumi-Gakuen who wants to walk in and try for free with no booking, at the ward's lowest fee tier, and who does not already train elsewhere
Why we say it: The own site prints the free no-reservation walk-in trial with the no-cross-affiliation rule and low fee tiers (verified 2026-07-17)
A beginner who wants a Rickson-lineage, ground-first room: an Axis-recognized branch whose representative trained under the Axis HQ head
Why we say it: The own site states the Axis recognition and the rep's Axis HQ training, and the schedule is newaza-first (verified 2026-07-17 and 2026-07-18)
Schedule verified Pricing published Franchise networkFree trial
Your first visit
- Trial
- A free walk-in trial (any class, one time, no reservation, arrive before class); height and weight are asked in advance, and visitors who belong to another jiu-jitsu or martial-arts gym cannot try or observe source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- Rented-studio classes with a ground (newaza) core, adding self-defense and standing work, with free entry and exit mid-class source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Enrollment is 10,000 yen for men and 5,000 for women; monthly courses run from 6,000 to 12,000 yen (8, 12 or unlimited sessions, men and women priced apart), single tickets 2,000 or 1,500, cash only. Drop-ins at 1,500 yen are for Axis-affiliated dojos only, a private lesson is 8,000 for 60 minutes, and insurance is an optional 2,000 a year; joining after the 15th halves that month, in Japanese yen source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- Oizumi-Gakuen classroom: Oizumi Notre Studio, 6-34-45 Higashi-Oizumi, Nerima-ku, SK Bldg II (2 min from Oizumi-Gakuen Station south exit); a Hibarigaoka classroom over the city line runs as one school source · 2026-07-17
- Instructors
- The academy's representative (name not printed in the extractable pages), by his own bio an Axis HQ black belt with 22 years in jiu-jitsu who also teaches monthly at Strong Spirit Koenji source · 2026-07-17
Paraestra Tokyo (パラエストラ東京)
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants to try before committing without emailing first: a free one-day trial that takes no reservation, walk in during window hours, with a Saturday beginners class on the grid
Why we say it: The own access page prints the walk-in free trial and window hours, and the class page lists the Saturday beginners class (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone who wants to train at the source: the room the Paraestra network grew out of, led by its founder, on one of the oldest JBJJF registry numbers
Why we say it: The own site doubles as the network hub and names Nakai as founder and instructor of record for registry No. 0790 (verified 2026-07-18)
A beginner whose free time is daytime: gi jiu-jitsu on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings as extended 2.5-hour classes, and a free noon open sparring on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Why we say it: The own class page publishes the morning extended gi classes and the Mon/Wed/Fri free noon sparring (verified 2026-07-18)
Schedule verified Pricing published Franchise networkFree trialDaytime classesKids classes
Your first visit
- Trial
- A free one-day trial with no reservation: walk in during window hours (Mon-Fri 18:30-22:00, Sat 16:00-20:30); questions by phone or email source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- A published weekly grid: gi jiu-jitsu on Tue/Thu/Sat mornings (2.5-hour extended) plus Tue/Thu evenings, a Saturday beginners block at 16:00 and 19:00, and a free noon open-sparring Nakai has hosted since 1996 on Mon/Wed/Fri 13:00-15:00; closed Sundays, holidays, and pro Shooto event days source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Membership
- The fee page describes the system but does not publish the enrollment or monthly amounts. Monthly fees are paid two months ahead by bank auto debit, and an annual prepay costs eleven months. A family membership lets family join free at half the monthly fee, the Fighting Lovers program halves the visitor fee for a partner and waives their enrollment if they join, and a special admission scholarship waives enrollment and monthly fees for aspiring pros training five or more days a week. The published amounts are a 3,000 yen visitor session and private lessons from 15,000 an hour for one down to 7,000 per person for four. The core enrollment and monthly numbers are not on the site and need a phone call to confirm, in Japanese yen source · 2026-09-03
- Programs
- A kids class (jiu-jitsu and MMA) Mon/Wed/Fri 16:30 and a middle-school class at 17:30 source · 2026-07-18
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- B1-101 Caesar Ekoda, 1-6-13 Toyotamakita, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 176-0012 (1 min from Shin-Egota Station exit A2; 6 min from Ekoda Station south exit) source · 2026-07-18
- Instructors
- Led by Yuki Nakai, founder of the Paraestra network and the room's instructor of record on the JBJJF registry, who the own site names as running its noon sparring since 1996 source · 2026-07-18
- Parking
- No dedicated parking; the dojo asks visitors not to come by car source · 2026-07-18
Phone 090-9684-6276 (the own site's stated contact cell; the dojo landline is out of order) Naver Map Apple Maps
Physical Space Jiu-Jitsu Academy (フィジカルスペース柔術アカデミー)
Who this academy suits
A first-timer who wants a cheap, low-stakes look and a real beginners class rather than the deep end: a 500-yen trial into the dedicated beginner class
Why we say it: The own class page prints the 500-yen trial and that it joins the beginners class that heads the ladder (verified 2026-07-18)
A beginner who wants the ward's biggest dedicated jiu-jitsu room under a credentialed teacher, not a program bolted onto an MMA gym
Why we say it: The own site self-describes as Suginami's largest dedicated academy and the instructor page publishes Otsuka's IBJJF third-degree black belt, matching the JBJJF row (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone whose free time is weekend mornings, or a woman who wants a women's class: the mat opens 9:30 on weekends and holidays and runs a women's class with its own tier
Why we say it: The own class page publishes the weekend and holiday 9:30-12:30 hours and the women's class with its tier (verified 2026-07-18)
Schedule verified Pricing published Free trialWomen's programKids classesDaytime classes
Your first visit
- Trial
- A 500-yen one-coin trial into the beginners class, booked through the web form; observation now sits under the same 500-yen heading, so the old free-anytime line is gone source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- A graded ladder of beginner, intermediate and advanced classes plus kids and women's classes; hours are weekdays 18:30-22:00 and weekends and holidays 9:30-12:30 source · 2026-09-01
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Tax included, enrollment is 11,000 yen and sports insurance is 2,000 a year. Monthly fees are full time 19,800 yen, an eight session plan 16,500, a four session plan 13,200, Under 23 at 12,100, kids 12,000, and women from 6,600. Private lessons are 7,700 yen for 30 minutes, 9,350 for 45, and 11,000 for 60, in Japanese yen source · 2026-07-18
- Programs
- A kids class for elementary grades 3 to 6 source · 2026-07-18
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 4F, 5-30-6 Ogikubo, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 167-0051 (Fukumura Sangyo Ogikubo Bldg) source · 2026-07-18
- Instructors
- Led by Hiroaki Otsuka, by the own bio an IBJJF-certified third-degree black belt with a World Championship appearance and All Japan Open and East Japan titles, matching the JBJJF instructor of record source · 2026-07-18
Strong Spirit Jiu-Jitsu, Koenji (main dojo)
Who this academy suits
A nervous first-timer who wants the softest start: a one-hour beginners class with no sparring (the Tue/Wed morning ones capped to white and blue belts), plus a free trial and a self-defense framing
Why we say it: The own site prints the beginners-first framing, the no-sparring basic classes (belt-capped on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings), and the free trial and observation (verified 2026-07-18)
A beginner who specifically wants a Rickson-lineage room: the ward's only Axis-recognized doorway
Why we say it: The own site states the Axis (Rickson lineage) recognition and appears on the Axis branch-link page (verified 2026-07-18)
Schedule verified Franchise networkFree trialNo-gi
Your first visit
- Trial
- Free trial and free observation, taken anytime; booked by phone or the contact form source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- The Koenji grid is now page text: 60-minute basic gi classes with no sparring Mon 9:15 PM, Tue and Wed 10:15 AM (those two morning classes are white and blue belts only) and Fri 7:30 PM, basic no-gi Thu 7:30 PM, 90-minute jiu-jitsu classes Tue 9:15 PM, Fri 8:45 PM and Sun 11:15 AM, no-gi Thu 8:45 PM, kids Sun 10:15 AM, closed Saturday; an open mat follows most classes except Thursdays source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1F Flat Ko, Phoenix Studio, 2-53-1 Koenji-Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (a rented studio venue) source · 2026-07-18
TOYATT Jiu-Jitsu Oizumi-Gakuen Base (TOYATT柔術 大泉学園BASE)
Who this academy suits
A neighborhood first-timer in Oizumi-Gakuen who wants a dedicated, unintimidating jiu-jitsu room and a free look first: free no-reservation observation and a free first trial
Why we say it: The own FAQ prints the free observation and the join-a-class trial, and the site identifies a dedicated BJJ dojo (verified 2026-07-18)
A beginner who wants a resident owner-teacher rather than rotating staff: the president is a self-published black belt training since 2003 who teaches with his wife
Why we say it: The own staff page publishes Tokuda as president and a black belt since the early 2000s, teaching with his wife (verified 2026-07-18)
Free trial
Your first visit
- Trial
- Free no-reservation observation anytime; a trial joins a real class (D1: free the first time, 1,000 yen the second) and practice participation needs a prior reservation through the site form source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1F, 1-5-7 Oizumi-Gakuen-cho, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 178-0061 (14 min from Oizumi-Gakuen Station north exit) source · 2026-07-18
- Instructors
- President Hironobu Tokuda, by the own bio a black belt who began jiu-jitsu in 2003 (his wife also instructs); the JBJJF instructor of record is a different name, Osamu Abe, to be reconciled source · 2026-07-18
Tri-Force Hikarigaoka (トライフォース光が丘)
Who this academy suits
A beginner in north Nerima who wants the structured Tri-Force curriculum close to home and a free look first, in a part of the ward with few mats
Why we say it: The branch page publishes the room as a Tri-Force branch with a free trial anytime, and the network's school list carries its address (verified 2026-07-18)
A beginner who wants a network-standardized room over one coach's personal style, corroborated on the network's own list
Why we say it: The room self-identifies as Tri-Force on the branch page and appears on the network's own school list (verified 2026-07-18)
Franchise networkFree trial
Your first visit
- Trial
- A free trial available anytime, booked through the trial-application form linked from the branch page source · 2026-09-03
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 301 Icos Bldg, 5-27-12 Tagara, Nerima-ku, Tokyo source · 2026-07-18
Tri-Force Koenji (トライフォース高円寺 / ACJC)
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a standardized network curriculum and a free look first, in Koenji proper: a Tri-Force room with a free trial and a beginners track
Why we say it: The own site self-identifies as Tri-Force with a free trial and a beginners class on the network curriculum, corroborated by the network's own schools list (verified 2026-07-18)
A woman who wants a class built for women: a women-only self-defense class on the list
Why we say it: The own site lists a women-only self-defense class (verified 2026-07-18)
A beginner who cares who teaches and wants belts stated plainly: a visiting black-belt head over a named purple-belt resident lead, not vague credentials
Why we say it: The own site publishes Iga as a third-degree black-belt head and Choi as the resident purple-belt representative-trainer (verified 2026-07-18)
Schedule verified Franchise networkFree trialWomen's programKids classes
Your first visit
- Trial
- A free trial, but the site's 'from here' line has no form or link behind it; booking is by LINE or email source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- The site lists classes without a time grid: a morning stretch, a main jiu-jitsu class, a beginners class on the Tri-Force basic curriculum, a women-only self-defense class, kids, a competition-and-theory class, a kick class, and a reservation-only machine class source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Programs
- A kids class source · 2026-07-18
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 1F Toriumi Bldg, 2-41-18 Koenji-Kita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (6 min from Koenji Station north exit) source · 2026-07-18
- Instructors
- Head instructor Takashi Iga, by his own bio a third-degree black belt who also heads Tri-Force Takao, over a resident representative-trainer who is a purple belt (Choi Jongyun) and a brown-belt instructor; the room publishes the belts plainly source · 2026-07-18
Tribe Tokyo MMA (TRIBE TOKYO M.M.A)
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a named gi jiu-jitsu class at a polished MMA school: trial bookings at the head branch are suspended for now, so the door is observation or direct enrolment through the web form or by phone
Why we say it: The own /nerima/ page prints that trial bookings are suspended while observation and enrolment continue, with a web form and phone (re-read 2026-09-04); the class page names a gi jiu-jitsu class (read 2026-07-17)
A beginner who wants a polished two-room school under a UFC and PRIDE veteran; the two-room W membership was retired in August 2026, so a visit to the other Nerima room now carries a 2,200 yen cross-gym fee
Why we say it: The own site names Chonan as the ex-UFC/PRIDE founder leading the 本部 and Kitada leading North (verified 2026-07-18); the /system page prints the August 2026 retirement of the W tier and the 2,200 yen cross-gym fee (re-read 2026-09-03)
A beginner who wants to grapple without being hit: a no-gi ground class with no striking, separate from the MMA track
Why we say it: The own class page lists a grappling (ground) class with no striking, distinct from MMA (verified 2026-07-17)
Schedule verified Pricing published Kids classesNo-giStriking classes too
Your first visit
- Trial
- Trial bookings are suspended at the head branch for now, in the room's own words; observation and direct enrolment continue through the web form or by phone, and no free mark is printed source · 2026-09-04
- Class schedule
- A named gi jiu-jitsu class, a grappling (ground) class, striking, level-gated MMA, physical, yoga and kids; 本部 new enrollment reopened 2026-06-01 source · 2026-09-03
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Enrollment is 12,100 yen, or 0 with a family referral and 6,050 with a friend referral or joining together. Monthly fees are 12,100 yen for adult men, 9,900 for women and high schoolers and 5,500 for kids, the same at the head branch and North; the two-gym W tier was abolished in August 2026, and a cross-gym visitor pays 2,200, in Japanese yen source · 2026-09-03
- Programs
- A kids class in the program source · 2026-07-17
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- 本部: B1 Elegance Nerima, 1-22-10 Nerima, Nerima-ku (4 min from Nerima Station); North: 6F, 3-23-5 Nakamura-Kita, Nerima-ku (1 min from Nakamurabashi Station) source · 2026-07-18
- Instructors
- Ryo Chonan leads the Nerima 本部 and Kitada leads the Nakamurabashi North room; the JBJJF row's instructor of record is the lineage holder Nakai, not the resident head source · 2026-07-18
Academies being verified
We are re-confirming the essentials: class schedules and trial mechanics. Each academy joins the full guide once its facts meet the bar.
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GRABAKA Nerima · Official site3F, 5-15-15 Toyotamakita, Nerima-ku, Tokyo (2 min from Nerima Station south exit) · 03-5946-9633 · Classes are kick fitness, physical, crossfit, ladies kickboxing, grappling and MMA, and kids MMA; no gi jiu-jitsu class publishes at Nerima, so it files as a no-gi-first gym · A free trial anytime, booked through the branch page link, phone or mail · Tax included, enrollment is 10,000 yen but currently waived to 0 under a campaign. Monthly fees are 11,000 yen for men with daily unlimited access, 8,800 for women with daily unlimited, and 7,700 for the twice a week kids class, in Japanese yenLast checked: 2026-09-03
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Suginami BJJ, an Ogikubo and Koenji Brazilian jiu-jitsu community circle (not an academy) · Official siteNo single fixed address: the circle rotates on Sundays between the Omiyamae, Ogikubo and Gold Kids gyms, all in Suginami-ku, so this row carries no map pin · Led by Kazunari Miyashita, by his own bio a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and judo third dan with a teaching history across Paraestra and Newaza-World rooms · Drop-in participation at 1,000 yen a session (about two hours) on Sunday evenings, with a beginners' lesson series announced; the entry-level taster below academy classes, contact via the siteLast checked: 2026-09-03
Frequently asked questions
Which academies in Nerima and Suginami offer a free trial?
Fighting Lab Ogikubo (Toikatsu Dojo chain): A free-trial funnel with a same-day-join fee waiver (3,300 yen to 0); sports insurance 3,000 yen a year, booked through the web reservation funnel; Kotobuki Jiu-Jitsu (寿柔術): A free trial through the site form; the 11,000-yen enrollment fee is currently waived, booked through the web form; Mikazuchi Jiu-Jitsu Academy (ミカヅチ柔術アカデミー): A free walk-in trial (any class, one time, no reservation, arrive before class); height and weight are asked in advance, and visitors who belong to another jiu-jitsu or martial-arts gym cannot try or observe; Paraestra Tokyo (パラエストラ東京): A free one-day trial with no reservation: walk in during window hours (Mon-Fri 18:30-22:00, Sat 16:00-20:30); questions by phone or email; Physical Space Jiu-Jitsu Academy (フィジカルスペース柔術アカデミー): A 500-yen one-coin trial into the beginners class, booked through the web form; observation now sits under the same 500-yen heading, so the old free-anytime line is gone …
How do I book a trial class?
It differs by academy. Where we could verify the booking method, it is listed under "Your first visit" in that academy's entry; otherwise, asking through the academy's official channel is the most reliable route.
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.