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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.

Map

Only academies with verified information appear on the map. Grey pins mark verified addresses for academies still being confirmed.

Fighting Lab Ogikubo (Toikatsu Dojo chain)

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 year-round with unlimited use across every Toikatsu store

Why we say it: The own site publishes the 7:00-23:00 year-round hours and chain-wide unlimited membership (verified 2026-07-18)

Schedule verified Pricing published Free trialNo-giEarly morning classes

Your first visit

Free 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
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

Classes and cost

Membership
The monthly fee starts at 9,000 yen with unlimited access to every location, open from 7am to 11pm year round, in Japanese yen

Location, instructors, contact

Address
301 Oki Bldg, 5-23-12 Ogikubo, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (1 min from Ogikubo Station)

Phone 03-6383-5850 Website Naver Map Apple Maps

Compiled from the academy's public materials; we have not yet visited in person. Last checked: 2026-07-18. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We review every correction and log the change.
Kotobuki Jiu-Jitsu (寿柔術)

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

Free trial
A free trial through the site form; the 11,000-yen enrollment fee is currently waived, booked through the web form
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

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

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

Website Naver Map Apple Maps

Compiled from the academy's public materials; we have not yet visited in person. Last checked: 2026-07-18. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We review every correction and log the change.
Mikazuchi Jiu-Jitsu Academy (ミカヅチ柔術アカデミー)

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

Free 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
Class schedule
Rented-studio classes with a ground (newaza) core, adding self-defense and standing work, with free entry and exit mid-class

Classes and cost

Membership
Enrollment is 10,000 yen and monthly fees range from 5,000 to 12,000. A visitor pays 1,500 yen a visit, a private lesson is 8,000 for 60 minutes, and sports insurance is an optional 2,000 a year. Joining after the 15th follows a half month fee rule, in Japanese yen

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
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

Website Naver Map Apple Maps

Compiled from the academy's public materials; we have not yet visited in person. Last checked: 2026-07-18. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We review every correction and log the change.
Paraestra Tokyo (パラエストラ東京)

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

Free 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
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

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
Programs
A kids class (jiu-jitsu and MMA) Mon/Wed/Fri 16:30 and a middle-school class at 17:30

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)
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
Parking
No dedicated parking; the dojo asks visitors not to come by car

Phone 090-9684-6276 (the own site's stated contact cell; the dojo landline is out of order) Website Naver Map Apple Maps

Compiled from the academy's public materials; we have not yet visited in person. Last checked: 2026-07-18. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We review every correction and log the change.
Physical Space Jiu-Jitsu Academy (フィジカルスペース柔術アカデミー)

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

Free trial
A 500-yen one-coin trial into the beginners class, booked through the web form; observation is free anytime
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

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
Programs
A kids class for elementary grades 3 to 6

Location, instructors, contact

Address
4F, 5-30-6 Ogikubo, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 167-0051 (Fukumura Sangyo Ogikubo Bldg)
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

Phone 03-5335-9640 Website Naver Map Apple Maps

Compiled from the academy's public materials; we have not yet visited in person. Last checked: 2026-07-18. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We review every correction and log the change.
Strong Spirit Jiu-Jitsu, Koenji (main dojo)

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, 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 belt-capped basic classes, 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

Free trial
Free trial and free observation, taken anytime; booked by phone or the contact form
Class schedule
60-minute basic gi and no-gi classes with no sparring, limited to white and blue belts, plus a 90-minute jiu-jitsu class, a no-gi class and a 45-minute kids class; an open mat follows most classes except Thursdays

Location, instructors, contact

Address
1F Flat Ko, Phoenix Studio, 2-53-1 Koenji-Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (a rented studio venue)

Phone 03-3339-8050 Website Naver Map Apple Maps

Compiled from the academy's public materials; we have not yet visited in person. Last checked: 2026-07-18. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We review every correction and log the change.
TOYATT Jiu-Jitsu Oizumi-Gakuen Base (TOYATT柔術 大泉学園BASE)

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

Free 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

Location, instructors, contact

Address
1F, 1-5-7 Oizumi-Gakuen-cho, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 178-0061 (14 min from Oizumi-Gakuen Station north exit)
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

Website Naver Map Apple Maps

Compiled from the academy's public materials; we have not yet visited in person. Last checked: 2026-07-18. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We review every correction and log the change.
Tri-Force Hikarigaoka (トライフォース光が丘)

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

Free trial
A free trial available anytime, booked through the trial-application form linked from the branch page

Location, instructors, contact

Address
301 Icos Bldg, 5-27-12 Tagara, Nerima-ku, Tokyo

Phone 070-9318-2005 Website Naver Map Apple Maps

Compiled from the academy's public materials; we have not yet visited in person. Last checked: 2026-07-18. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We review every correction and log the change.
Tri-Force Koenji (トライフォース高円寺 / ACJC)

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

Free trial
A free trial, booked through the web form on the own site; questions by LINE or email
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

Classes and cost

Programs
A kids class

Location, instructors, contact

Address
1F Toriumi Bldg, 2-41-18 Koenji-Kita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (6 min from Koenji Station north exit)
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

Website Naver Map Apple Maps

Compiled from the academy's public materials; we have not yet visited in person. Last checked: 2026-07-18. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We review every correction and log the change.
Tribe Tokyo MMA (TRIBE TOKYO M.M.A)

Tribe Tokyo MMA (TRIBE TOKYO M.M.A)

Who this academy suits

A beginner who wants a real booking system rather than a cold email, at a room with a named gi jiu-jitsu class: the trial runs on an advance web reservation calendar

Why we say it: The own site publishes the advance-only trial calendar and a named gi jiu-jitsu class (verified 2026-07-17 and 2026-07-18)

A beginner who wants a polished two-room school under a UFC and PRIDE veteran, training at either Nerima room on one membership

Why we say it: The own site names Chonan as the ex-UFC/PRIDE founder leading the 本部 and Kitada leading North, one school across two rooms (verified 2026-07-18)

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

Free trial
Trial runs on an advance web reservation calendar (no same-day or day-before web bookings; phone instead); the page prints no free mark, so no free-trial claim is made
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

Classes and cost

Membership
Enrollment is 12,100 yen, or 0 with a family referral and half at 6,050 with a friend referral or joining together. Head branch monthly fees are 12,100 yen for adult men, 9,900 for women and high schoolers, and 5,500 for kids aged 5 through middle school, and North branch tiers match. A W membership using both gyms is 16,500 yen for adult men and 13,200 for women and high schoolers, and a cross gym visitor is 2,200, in Japanese yen
Programs
A kids class in the program

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)
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

Phone 03-6914-9497 (本部) Website Naver Map Apple Maps

Compiled from the academy's public materials; we have not yet visited in person. Last checked: 2026-07-18. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We review every correction and log the change.

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.

  • GRABAKA Nerima · Official site
    Free trialNo-giStriking classes too
    3F, 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 yen
    Last checked: 2026-07-18
  • Suginami BJJ, an Ogikubo and Koenji Brazilian jiu-jitsu community circle (not an academy) · Official site
    Daytime classes
    No 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 site
    Last checked: 2026-07-18

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.