Job Discussion Forums

Tom Lawlor · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 5

Hey everyone, I've recently begun looking into spending time in Japan, hopefully as an ALT with JET beginning in summer 2006. I was wondering if anyone here is a fan of Japan's great mixed martial arts scene? I know there are lots of gyms and training centers located in Japan, and I stumbled across a Korea mma thread and was wondering if some of you with experience in Japan share the same interests? Just a fan? Training to fight? Training for fun? I would love to hear from you. Thank you.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

There are many places to train. You just have to decide on what area you're going to live in. If you come on JET, you deal with where they put you.

All the events are televised for free. There were two big events on New Year's Eve with K-1 Dynamite and Pride Shockwave. No pay-per-view ever.

Tom Lawlor · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 5

Yeah I'm very aware of the Japanese mma scene and would GREATLY look forward to being able to watch the premier MMA events on free tv there. I know of lots of schools located throughout the islands, and was wondering if anyone has any experiences with them? Also, are there any more rural areas with a plethora of mma training centers? Thanks in advance.

Stosskraft · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 252 Location: Japan

Hey,

I am a huge MMA fan and I am looking forward to the Pride shockwave event tonight. I am not in Japan yet, but I am arriving this February and I am looking forward to continuing my Ju-jitsu training in Japan.

I must say my money is on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the Heavy weight Championship belt.

Here's the website for the club I am currently training in here in Ottawa,
http://www3.sympatico.ca/cwade/ninja-ryu.htm

Happy New Years to everyone

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Tom Lawlor · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 5

Pride was shown over here in North America on a tape delay tonight. I couldn't resist knowing the results beforehand however. What a fight Silva/Hunt was! Even better than Rampage/Silva II.

Stosskraft, under what conditions are you going to Japan? Whereabouts? Any ideas where you will be training?

Stosskraft · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 252 Location: Japan

Hey Tom,

I am not really sure where I will be going once I arrive. I am coming on WHV and I plan on looking for work once I am in the country.

Yes, I believe the the Pride here in Canada was time-delayed so we watched it last night. Not sure what you guys thought, but some of my personal favorites didn't seem all that ready to fight. Both Dan Henderson and Yoshida seemed a little out of their element, yet both have faced tougher opponents in the past and have won or at least put up a better fight. The Silva/ Hunt fight was great, but I thought Silva should have gotten the decision based on him changing his strategy, and using some great take downs and ground defense in the third round.

As you can see from my earlier post... last nights pride cost me a few bucks !!! Embarassed

(after betting on Silva, Yoshida and Nogueira). Very Happy

Timuli · Joined: 10 Jan 2004 Posts: 51 Location: Saitama

HUGE MMA fan signing in:-) I try to go to all the Pride's live, as well as a bunch of other competitions live too (watch out - puts a BIG dent in your wallet!)

I came to Japan to compete (aiming for professional level). Live in Saitama but train in Tokyo mostly (Wajyutsu Keishukai - Same gym as Caol Uno, Kadowaki, Toida, Shiozawa. Takase used to be there too before moving to Yoshida's gym. Also train Shootboxing at Cesars gym)

If you really want to train., Tokyo would be your best bet, as the main gyms are all here. Other place would be Osaka. Smaller places do have some MMA gyms here and there, but Tokyo and surroundings is still where its at.
All depends exactly what you're looking for.

The MMA fan base here is great too! At Pride you will regularly see groups of women with no male accompaniment. While watining in the queue (Get used to queues!) you start chatting with them about strengths and weaknesses of fighters and diferent techniques. Back home the only women who would come to event swould be the girlfriends of fighters who were forced to be there lol.

When you come to Tokyo let me know if I can help out with anything MMA related (where to train and so on)

ps - Do you guys also post on mma.tv?

Tom Lawlor · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 5

Yeah I post on mma.tv under the nick of Shooter189. I am 1-0 in mma and am currently 21 years old. I'm a decent sized guy, 6 ft and 220 lbs. so would be looking for a training facility with a good amount of guys my size I guess. I realize the majority of the good Japanese fighters are in the lower weights, but I know TK and his trainees are at the top of the game.

I am trying to find the best balance between being able to get a job teaching English and also being able to train and enjoy the mma opportunities there. MMA and the culture is a HUGE reason for my interest in Japan.

So far it seems as if the majority of the conversation schools hold their classes in the night hours, making it almost impossible to train MMA full-time. Is this accurate or no?

Timuli · Joined: 10 Jan 2004 Posts: 51 Location: Saitama

ah ok. I remember you had a post up about wanting to train there with bigger guys. I'm SILK from the forum:-)

yip, you can train while working at a conversation school. Not easy though. I did that for 2 years. Means you're getting up early to go running or to the gym(by gym I mean fighting gym, not fitness), go to work, and go to the gym again afterwards. You're off days you're at the gym again. Doable, but not the best way to do it as not all gyms are open in the morning nor close to you (LUCKY if they are!). Gyms I go to are all about an hour away.

If you can get into the JET programme you'd be able to train better, as most the classes and main rolling sessions are in the evenings. So with JET you work during the day and roll around and hit each other in the evenings. You have weekends off too (I think).

Money wise you needn't worry. You'll be able to afford it and still survive day to day.

aye, TK's gym has some big guys there. Good gym too. The pro's often train in the afternoon though. Paul Carroll over at mma.tv is a good guy to ask since he trains with TK. Grabaka also has several big guys (Kikuta, Gono,..)

I'd say try and get posted in Tokyo, and then take it from there as to what your options will be. If you cant get Tokyo, see where they do put you and ask again. There's always something about.