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jpendon
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 11
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 Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:38 pm Post subject: Martial Arts |
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Hello everyone!
We've been in Japan for almost two months now and we're loving it!
I have a question for those who are more familiar with the Yokohama area. Are there any martial art gyms in the Tsurumi Station, Kikuna Station, or Yokohama Station areas? We are looking for Muay Thai and/or Mixed Martial Arts instruction (also interested in Krav Maga). A school that accepts English-only speakers would be great, since our Japanese is still below the beginner stage.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! |
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fluffyhamster
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 3292
Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
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| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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| A school that accepts English-only speakers would be great, since our Japanese is still below the beginner stage. |
It's very unlikely you will find a school that is English-only - I mean, this is Japan! That is, I doubt if there would be the market to timetable and offer any sort of regular or even irregular classes in any language other than Japanese. But I suppose you could find and limit yourself to a more or less private instructor who speaks reasonable English (although he or she might then be foreign rather than Japanese, which may or may not be quite what you want if it's "Japanese" MMA that you're after) - that, or find or start a group for foreigners. (You could try looking in the listings/small ads in mags like Metropolis, distributed in places like Tower Records - there's also an online version). Ultimately though, learning martial arts involves a lot of "stealing with the eyes", and a limit on verbalization (one should be wary of garrulous martial artists the same way one should be wary of garrulous language teachers - is the stuff they are saying at all considered if it's always a constant stream?), even in one's native country, in my experience, and I wouldn't worry too much about the linguistic barrier if I were you (it will more often than not be less of a problem than you might think). Then again, I'll grant you that MMA at least can get pretty technical at times. Anyway, sorry that I obviously can't help with any info on Yokohama - hopefully somebody else will come up with some soon!  |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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| fluffyhamster wrote: |
It's very unlikely you will find a school that is English-only - I mean, this is Japan! |
Maybe the OP meant they were looking for schools that were willing to accept people with no Japanese ability (rather than a school that only teaches in English or one that only accepts English speakers) |
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fluffyhamster
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 3292
Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:29 am Post subject: |
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Heh, brain drain or something! I'm not sure why I read things quite so literally.  But then, I've never heard of a school, even less commercial ones, refusing to accept somebody because of limited Japanese ability (I've even heard of a Daito-ryu Aikijujitsu uchi deshi who didn't speak much if any Japanese!), and turning your reply Sek on its head somewhat, accepting "English-only" students would seem to put whatever linguistic onus rather on the school and/or instructors still, so I guess all that interfered with my not processing "the question" beyond a certain point.  |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:49 am Post subject: |
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I've trained in budo 10 years in Japan. When I started, I only had rudimentary language skills. That was never a problem for training
There is a lot of literature in English language education about Total Physical Response (TPR). I simultaneously learned budo and the language needed to describe it. This is also an awesome demonstration of natural learning.
Try http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/
I keep a blog about budo - www.erizabesuesu.wordpress.com
Good luck! |
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LITTLE PEACHES
Joined: 25 Jun 2009
Posts: 94
Location: ORANGE COUNTY, CA & TAMA, TOKYO, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm not sure about martial arts, but I go to a few different gym classes. I don't speak more then 20 words of japanese and they have no problem with me signing up for the classes. They know I don't speak Japanese because when i first signed up I had a translator with me. The instructors are typically a little more attentive to me and understand that I have to watch and mimic what they are doing. They make a little more of an effort to come and help correct me since I don't understand. Slowly I catching on to it and they are very helpful. In the end, you are still their customer and japan has great customer service! |
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