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Learning jiu-jitsu in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro
This guide covers the academies of Shinjuku, Takadanobaba, Ikebukuro, and Nakano, home to two of Japanese jiu-jitsu's head rooms. 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.
Imanari Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Who this academy suits
An early riser: 6:30 no-gi grappling every weekday with the founder himself teaching, then a 7:40 sparring hour
Why we say it: The own classes page prints both morning blocks with Imanari's byline (verified 2026-07-18)
A traveling or cross-training grappler: a printed no-reservation drop-in policy with a flat 5,000 yen day fee and gi rental at the door
Why we say it: The own homepage and system page print the drop-in wording and visitor fees (verified 2026-07-18)
Anyone who wants the deepest leg-lock education around: the self-styled Ashi-Kan Judan, an IBJJF 3rd-degree black belt by his own association page, with a members-only leg-lock basics class on the grid
Why we say it: The own masthead, association page and classes page publish all three facts (verified 2026-07-18; self-published, attributed)
Schedule verified Pricing published Drop-ins welcomeEarly morning classesNo-giPricing published
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Trial intro and visits are requested through the site's form; a trial fee is not stated on the page
- Class schedule
- Weekday mornings run 6:30 no-gi grappling and 7:40 sparring taught by Imanari himself; beginner classes at 10:00 on three weekdays; Monday evening basics with an open mat; a members-only leg-lock basics class Tuesday evening; gi classes Saturday and Sunday mornings. Imanari teaches the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays, Jonathan the 2nd and 4th
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Entry fee 15,000 yen and 16,000 a month pre-tax with every class open; the itemized first payment is 51,700 yen covering entry, two months and tax
- Programs
- No-gi grappling first, gi jiu-jitsu on weekend mornings, a beginner class, a members-only leg-lock basics class, and private lessons
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- YKB Funamachi B1, 8-4 Funamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0006 (3 min from Yotsuya-sanchome Station)
- Instructors
- Masakazu Imanari teaches in person; by his own pages a first DEEP bantamweight and featherweight champion and first Cage Rage world featherweight champion, self-styled 'Ashi-Kan Judan' of leg locks, an IBJJF 3rd-degree black belt, and the named teacher of the 6:30 weekday morning classes
PATO STUDIO (Sugamo and Otsuka)
Who this academy suits
A white belt who wants decorated black belts at a jiu-jitsu-only school: a hall-of-fame head by the school's own pages, a 3rd-degree co-founder, and a room dedicated to kids, white belts and no-gi
Why we say it: The own instructor and access pages publish the bios and the role split (verified 2026-07-18; self-published, attributed)
A first-timer who wants a gentle door: a written free trial with a gi loaned, a 30-minute beginner class to land in, and a LINE account for questions
Why we say it: The own trial page prints the trial wording, gi loan, class routing and LINE channel (verified 2026-07-18)
A parent or price-comparer: a full tax-included table from 7,700 yen for four days a month, age-split kids classes, and a waived entry fee under the current campaign
Why we say it: The own fees and trial pages publish the tiers, the waiver and the kids routing (verified 2026-07-18)
Pricing published Free trialPricing publishedKids classesNo-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- One free trial for prospective members with a gi loaned free, reserved in advance through the site form with your class chosen; questions go through the official LINE
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Monthly plans run 14,300 yen full-time, 12,100 for 8 days, 11,000 for women, 9,900 for students and 7,700 for 4 days, tax included, with the 11,000 yen entry fee currently waived; visitors pay 3,000 a day with 1,500 yen gi rental
- Programs
- Adult classes split into a 30-minute beginner class, 60-minute white-belt and basic classes and a no-gi class, with Otsuka the adult main room and Sugamo the kids and white-belt room
- Programs
- Two age-split kids classes plus a Saturday junior class and kids fee tiers
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- Otsuka studio: 2F, 3-43-5 Minami-Otsuka, Toshima-ku (main adult room, by Otsuka Station). Sugamo studio: 2F, 3-25-2 Sugamo (2 min from Sugamo Station exit A2, look for the black sign)
- Instructors
- Head instructor Daisuke Nakamura, a 3rd-degree black belt; by the school's own pages a three-time All-Japan champion, 2016 JBJJF hall-of-famer and 2018 IBJJF World Master champion still medaling in 2026, with co-founder Kohei Nishibayashi also a 3rd-degree black belt
- Front-desk hours (not class times)
- Closed on the 7th, 17th and 27th of each month
Paraestra Ikebukuro
Who this academy suits
A woman or student starting on a budget: 3,000 yen a month for women and students under 22, the cheapest published tier in this area
Why we say it: The own price page publishes both 3,000 yen tiers, tax included (verified 2026-07-18)
A curious first-timer: a written free trial of each class type, in a small basement room five minutes from Ikebukuro Station's west exit
Why we say it: The own price and access pages publish the trial wording and the walking route (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone drawn to the Nakai lineage: the network's only mat inside this guide area, with one unhurried jiu-jitsu class a night
Why we say it: The own homepage names the network, the branch list corroborates it, and the schedule prints the nightly class (verified 2026-07-18)
Schedule verified Pricing published Franchise networkFree trialPricing published
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A free trial of each class type, jiu-jitsu and kick, once each; booked through the site's contact form
- Class schedule
- One jiu-jitsu class a night, Mon to Sat 20:00-21:00 (Wednesday is sparring only); a separate-fee kickboxing school runs Saturday 14:00; closed Sunday
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Entry fee 11,000 yen; monthly fees run 11,000 for adults and 3,000 for women and students under 22, tax included; joining after the 15th halves the first month
- Programs
- Gi jiu-jitsu, grappling, kickboxing and private lessons are described; the current weekly grid prints the nightly jiu-jitsu class and the Saturday kick school
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- Mizota Bldg. 5 B1F, 2-14-10 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0014 (5 min from Ikebukuro Station)
Tri-Force Ikebukuro (HQ)
Who this academy suits
A total beginner who wants the most structured door in the area: monthly free trial sessions with a gi loaned, free trial intros anytime, and a real booking platform
Why we say it: The own branch page prints the standing free-trial-intro wording and the network trial page lists the monthly free sessions and booking forms (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone comparing on published numbers: a complete fee table from the 17,000 yen full-time plan to the 10,000 yen women's tier and kids plans
Why we say it: The own membership page publishes every tier with entry fees (verified 2026-07-18)
A beginner who cares about lineage: the founder is an IBJJF 5th-degree Paiva black belt by his own profile, and the 2025-appointed head is a world champion by the academy's own bio
Why we say it: The own profile and instructor pages publish both bios (verified 2026-07-18; self-published, attributed)
Pricing published Franchise networkFree trialKids classesPricing publishedStructured curriculum
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Free trial intro and visits accepted anytime plus a monthly free trial session with free gi loan; a regular-class trial costs 1,000 yen, refunded if you join the same day. Booking runs on the bjj-connect form
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Entry fee 10,000 yen (pre-tax); monthly plans run 17,000 full-time, 15,000 for 8 days a month, 13,000 under 25, 10,000 for women, 9,000 for middle and high schoolers, 8,000 for kids
- Programs
- Adult curriculum classes plus kids and parent-child classes, on the network's published belt system and technique examinations
- Programs
- Kids and parent-child classes with a named kids head instructor since 2024
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- Ikebukuro MS Bldg. 4F, 2-9-4 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0014
- Instructors
- Head instructor Kazuhiro Suzuki, named HQ head in 2025; by the academy's own bio an SJJIF world champion and back-to-back All-Japan champion at black belt
- Front-desk hours (not class times)
- The room opens around class times only; closed the 5th, 15th and 25th monthly plus holidays, with class times published as a monthly calendar
Tri-Force Shinjuku
Who this academy suits
A beginner who wants a decorated teacher near Shinjuku Station: the head has led the room since 2010 and is a 2010 world champion and JBJJF hall-of-famer by the network's own bio
Why we say it: The own instructor page publishes the bio and the school list gives the address (verified 2026-07-18; self-published, attributed)
Someone who wants to test the water first: a monthly free trial session with a gi loaned, or any regular class for 1,000 yen refunded on same-day joining
Why we say it: The network trial page publishes the free-session dates and the refundable trial mechanics (verified 2026-07-18)
A price-comparer under 25 or on a student budget: the published table has a 12,000 yen Under 25 plan and a 7,000 yen middle-and-high-schooler plan
Why we say it: The own membership page publishes the full tier table (verified 2026-07-18)
Pricing published Franchise networkFree trialPricing publishedStructured curriculum
Your first visit
- Free trial
- Free trial intro and visits accepted anytime plus a monthly free trial session with a gi loaned; a regular-class trial costs 1,000 yen, refunded on same-day joining. Booking runs on the bjj-connect form
Classes and cost
- Membership
- Entry fee 10,000 yen (pre-tax); monthly plans run 16,000 full-time, 14,000 for 8 days a month, 12,000 under 25, 10,000 for women, 7,000 for middle and high schoolers
- Programs
- Adult curriculum classes on the network belt system with in-school technique examinations; the Shinjuku fee table lists no kids tier
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- YS Daiichi Bldg. B1, 7-15-4 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
- Instructors
- Head instructor Koji Shibamoto has led the room since 2010; by the network's own bio he won the 2010 All-Japan and World Championships, took his black belt from Hayakawa that June, and entered the JBJJF hall of fame in 2016
- Front-desk hours (not class times)
- The room opens around class times only; closed the 6th, 16th and 26th monthly plus holidays, with class times published as a monthly calendar
Waseda Akatsuki Dojo
Who this academy suits
A Waseda student or campus-adjacent worker who wants a real runway: 14 days of free unlimited training one minute from the Okuma auditorium
Why we say it: The own site headlines the trial and publishes the address block (verified 2026-07-18)
A budget-planner: 11,000 yen a month for students and women, 13,200 for adults, yearly discounts stated, entry fee currently waived
Why we say it: The own price table publishes every tier and the waiver (verified 2026-07-18)
Someone who wants pro-fighter coaching with the honest shape known: jiu-jitsu is the Tuesday block and grappling runs Thursday and Saturday, inside an MMA week led by a former Pancrase and Shooto champion by the gym's own account
Why we say it: The own schedule prints the slots and the own bio presents the titles (verified 2026-07-18; self-published, attributed)
Schedule verified Pricing published Free trialPricing publishedStriking classes tooNo-gi
Your first visit
- Free trial
- A 14-day free unlimited trial, booked through the site form or LINE; bring workout clothes and a towel, with sparring and advanced classes watch-only during the trial
- Class schedule
- Jiu-jitsu runs Tuesday evening (technique 20:15, sparring 21:15); grappling runs Thursday evening and Saturday midday; weekday 17:00-20:00 is semi-personal pad time and weekend mornings are open classes
Classes and cost
- Membership
- 13,200 yen a month for adults or 11,000 for students and women, with half-year and yearly discounts and the 11,000 yen entry fee currently waived; card payment only
- Programs
- Jiu-jitsu, grappling, striking and MMA classes plus semi-personal pad work, in 30-to-60-minute blocks
Location, instructors, contact
- Address
- Waseda Trust Bldg. B1, 1-10-4 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0051 (1 min from the Okuma auditorium)
- Instructors
- Akihiro Murayama leads the gym; by its own pages a former Pancrase and Shooto champion who still competes as a pro
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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EFFECT, Waseda · Official siteWaseda Oasis Bldg. 4F, 74-4 Waseda-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0042 (30 seconds from Waseda Station exit 1) · 03-4330-2914 · Head coach Kazuhito Suzuki, a 2019 BJJ black belt and WARDOG lightweight champion by his own pages, with a Shooto world champion and active UFC fighters listed as trainers · Jiu-jitsu classes run every day of the week, taught from belt-tying up by the black-belt representative per the gym's own wording, alongside no-gi, MMA, fitness and personal training · A free trial for first-timers, arranged through the site's trial and visit page · Full-time plans run 16,500 yen a month for men, 13,200 for women and adult students, 8,800 for teens, tax included, with an 11,000 yen four-day planLast checked: 2026-07-18
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Fighting Lab Takadanobaba · Official siteRoben Heights Shimo-Ochiai 1F, 1-8-10 Shimo-Ochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-0033 (6 min from Takadanobaba Station) · 03-3362-0737 · Jiu-jitsu, grappling and MMA plus boxing and kickboxing, all on one unlimited chain membership · A free trial booked through a one-minute web form or LINE, valid for the classes marked for trial on the timetable · 9,000 yen a month tax included for unlimited training across the whole chain (7,900 for teens, 6,800 for kids), 550 yen gi rental, entry fee waivable, and a printed 30-day free-exit guaranteeLast checked: 2026-07-18
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GRABAKA Nakano · Official site4F, 2-26-10 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo (90 seconds from Nakano Station's south exit) · 03-5340-7799 · Sanae Kikuta heads the instructor list, the 2001 ADCC 87.9kg champion and second Pancrase light-heavyweight king by his own bio · Classes at this branch are grappling, MMA and kick fitness; no gi jiu-jitsu class publishes at Nakano, so the room files as a no-gi-first gym · A free trial anytime plus a free 30-minute personal session, booked through the branch page link, phone or mail · Regular unlimited membership runs 11,000 yen a month for men and 8,800 for women and high schoolers, tax included, with a premium key-access tier at 12,500Last checked: 2026-07-18
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MeWe Fight Sports Club Mejiro · Official site3-15-23 Shimo-Ochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-0033 (5 min from Mejiro Station) · 03-6908-2230 · Representative Kaiki Shimomae leads the room, with active competitors and black-belt instructors on staff per the gym's own page · Level-split jiu-jitsu from beginner to advanced plus kickboxing, grappling, wrestling and MMA classes · A free one-day trial arranged by advance contact through the booking form, naming your class and date; the current campaign waives the entry fee and gifts a gi · Monthly plans run 16,500 yen for men full-time, 13,200 for women, 11,000 for students, an 11,000 four-day plan and 11,000 kids full-time, with an 11,000 yen entry feeLast checked: 2026-07-18
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POLAR GYM, Kamiikebukuro · Official siteMitsutoshi Bldg. 1F, 3-47-9 Kamiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0012 · 070-3350-0838 · A gi jiu-jitsu class runs beside a judo class, with the gym pairing judo for standing skills and jiu-jitsu for the ground, plus catch wrestling, MMA, kick and kids classes · A trial costs 3,000 yen and watching is free, booked by phone or the contact form · Entry fee 10,000 yen; monthly fees run 11,000 for high schoolers and up, 8,800 for women, 7,700 for kids; visitors and trials pay 3,000 and watching is freeLast checked: 2026-07-18
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Right Thing Academy Zenko's Joint, Nakano · Official site3-24-14 Yayoicho, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0013 · 03-6873-9231 / 070-4221-5150 · Yoshiyuki 'Zenko' Yoshida leads in person; by the academy's own page a 4th-dan judoka and a BJJ black belt awarded by Yuki Nakai himself, the first CAGE FORCE welterweight champion and a UFC veteran · MMA, jiu-jitsu, grappling and kickboxing plus fitness tracks and the YAWARA and fight kids classes · A trial costs 2,000 yen for one class with a gi loaned free; no advance signup is needed, just tell the front desk, and watching is free · Monthly fees run 10,000 yen for adults, 8,000 for women and high schoolers and under, pre-tax, with a 10,000 yen entry fee halved for women; visitors pay 3,500 a day and gear rents for 500Last checked: 2026-07-18
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Strong Spirit Jiu-Jitsu, Ikebukuro classroom · Official siteSeibu Ikebukuro annex 8F, 1-28-1 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku (inside the Ikebukuro Community College) · 03-5949-5486 (the community college desk) or 03-3339-8050 (the main dojo) · A small-group, self-defense-first Gracie jiu-jitsu course with no gi to buy, light sportswear only, where over 90 percent start with zero experience by the school's own description · Visits and trials are welcomed anytime, arranged through the Ikebukuro Community College course pages; a trial fee is not stated on the school's own siteLast checked: 2026-07-18
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T-GRIP TOKYO, Zoshigaya · Official siteStork Zoshigaya 1F, 3-11-2 Zoshigaya, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0032 · 03-5810-2851 (reception 9:00-23:00) · Representative Taro Obata leads the gym, a 2020 BJJ black belt with All-Japan Masters and IBJJF Asian masters titles by his own page; two-division DEEP champion Takafumi Otsuka, a BJJ purple belt, is the MMA and kick trainer · Gi jiu-jitsu runs Monday and Wednesday with white-belt classes, beginner jiu-jitsu Saturday and Sunday, grappling Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, MMA Tuesday and Thursday, kids wrestling three days a week; exact times sit on the posted timetable · A first trial costs 2,000 yen, free if you join the same day, with 1,000 yen gi rental; booked by the site form, phone or LINE · Monthly fees run 13,200 yen for adults, 11,000 for women and 8,800 for kids, tax included, with an 11,000 yen entry fee; visitors pay 3,000 a sessionLast checked: 2026-07-18
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TRI.H studio, Iidabashi-Kagurazaka · Official siteSogakukan Bldg. 1F, 9-27 Shin-Ogawamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0814 (7 min from Iidabashi Station) · 03-6280-7669 · Basic kickboxing, personal training and kids lessons; jiu-jitsu appears only as rentable gi gear, with no scheduled BJJ class published · A trial lesson costs 2,200 yen, free if you join the same day, booked by phone or the site form · The unlimited basic plan runs 12,100 yen a month for men and 11,000 for women with an 11,000 yen entry fee, tax included; kids train twice a week for 8,800Last checked: 2026-07-18
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Toikatsu Grappling Higashinakano · Official siteIshii Garden Mansion I B1, 3-15-22 Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0003 (1 min from Ochiai Station) · 03-5937-2027 · A grappling-first menu spanning ground work, jiu-jitsu, wrestling and MMA, with 90 percent of classes beginner-ready by the store's own wording · A free trial booked through a one-minute web form or LINE, valid for the trial-marked classes on the timetable · 9,000 yen a month tax included for unlimited training across the chain (7,900 for teens, 6,800 for kids), 550 yen gi rental, and a printed 30-day free-exit guaranteeLast checked: 2026-07-18
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Tri-Force Higashinakano · Official siteView Flat 1F, 4-27-26 Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0003 (1 min from Ochiai Station exit 3) · 03-5348-3092 · Head coach Ryusei Tokita, the 11th Pancrase flyweight King of Pancrasist by the gym's own site · Tri-Force curriculum jiu-jitsu plus kick fitness, MMA and no-gi, and yoga, all unlimited on the subscription, with 24-hour free-training access · A free trial lesson is taken through the reservation form or the official LINE, with an entry-fee-waiver campaign running · Monthly plans run 15,800 yen full-time, 14,900 for 12 days, 13,000 for 8, 11,000 for 4 and 11,000 for kids, tax included, with the entry fee set at one month's fee and 1,100 yen gi rentalLast checked: 2026-07-18
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Tri-Force Nishi-Shinjuku at HIDE'S KICK · Official siteToho Nishi-Shinjuku Bldg. B1, 4-49-13 Honmachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0071 (8 min from Nishi-Shinjuku-Gochome Station) · 03-5323-3934 · Kickboxing, MMA, wrestling and no-gi plus Tri-Force-partnered jiu-jitsu, with thrice-weekly ladies and kids classes · A bookable trial lesson through the site's reservation form; the price page mixes free-trial wording with a 2,200 yen first-visit rate, so confirm the fee when booking · Entry fee 12,000 yen; 15,000 a month for adults, 13,200 for kids under 15 and the ladies plan, 11,000 for the kids class, tax included; visitors pay 5,000 a session or 2,200 the first timeLast 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.