Way of Yawara

柔 · yawara

Learning jiu-jitsu in Tokyo

Tokyo is where jiu-jitsu first took root in Japan, and it is far too big for one guide. We cover it area by area. Each area gets the same treatment: verified facts per academy, no rankings, and the evidence behind every claim.

The areas

  • Shibuya and Harajuku 13 academies

    Shibuya, Harajuku, and Yoyogi: Carpe Diem, Bonsai, and the youth heart of the city.

  • Shinjuku and Ikebukuro 18 academies

    Shinjuku, Takadanobaba, and Ikebukuro, home to the Tri-Force and Paraestra Ikebukuro head rooms.

  • Minato and central Tokyo 17 academies

    Aoyama, Akasaka, Roppongi, and the Kanda cluster, including Carpe Diem's headquarters.

  • Eastern Tokyo 14 academies

    The shitamachi east: Asakusa, Kinshicho, Fukagawa, and the river wards.

  • Southern Tokyo 27 academies

    Shinagawa, Ota, and Setagaya, including the Axis headquarters of the Rickson Gracie line.

  • Nerima and Suginami 12 academies

    The heartland of Japanese jiu-jitsu: Yuki Nakai's Paraestra Tokyo trains here.

  • Western Chuo line 15 academies

    Kichijoji, Chofu, Tachikawa, out to Hachioji: one train line ending at the mountains.