Job Discussion Forums

[Gusss]

Hi to all,
I want to teach English in Japan for several reasons but there is one reason above all that I want to teach English in Japan rather than say a better paid job in Korea : Judo !
I am obsessed with Judo, train most evenings after work and my teacher is Japanese, I dream of going to the home of Judo and training there. The only problem is that many people I know who had a similar goal found their classes clashed with training times and they ended up doing no Judo at all . So my question is pretty basic really , have any of you done the same and do any of you have any advice or recommendations that would help me achieve my objective ? To be more specific - Judo clubs normally train in the evening, do any of you know of any agencies that are recruiting people to teach in the day not in the evening ?
Thank you .

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

If you teach at a regular school, then you work in days instead of eveneings.

Generally, training in Japan isn't every day, and if you're that into it, but don't have a black belt yet, then you may find it a little on the light side. Serious training in martial arts often doesn't begin until then.

Also, do you speak Japanese?

[Gusss]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

No, I'm not a judoka. I do Shorinji Kempo, and in the past did other marital arts as well (but not judo except for the very, very basics of it that are actually found within karate kata [if you go to a dojo with super professional instructors who keep abreast of developments and research within their style of karate and others as well]). Martial arts with large basic movements like karate work better when you're being taught in a language you do not understand AT ALL (for example, viewing the side kick and the side snap kick as two different things is pretty easy).

Shorinji Kempo involves juho (juho techniques look sort of like aikido) and so like judo, the bodies are close and very tiny differences between movements can make or break a technique or even change it into a different one. These types of things are very difficult to observe without detailed explanation, and if you don't speak Japanese then it is actually very difficult to learn. I know this because of learning juho in Shorinji and I arrived in Japan after having already spent five years in various marital arts (including hapkido- like Korean Aikido, and so at times quite similar to shorinji juho techniques) so I waws already well familiar with the basics that are found in most martial arts and having spent a year studying Japanese language at the university level for 8 hours of classroom time plus at least four hours of homework AND two hours of conversation partners per week for a year before coming here. After all that juho STILL almost defeated me for the first year or so. And people spoke a LITTLE English at my dojo (my teacher didn't though and after the first year the English speaker was gone, but by that time I was okay in Japanese for this particular purpose) and I had extra help (getting invited to peoples' homes and drinking and then practicing for fun while sitting around!). Don't arrive expecting to be able to find a Judo instructor who speaks any English, or possibly more than rudimentary English.

And also, remember that you would be coming to Japan for a job, not for Judo. Judo will be a hobby that you do when you aren't teaching, not the other way around. A surprising number of people seem to arrive not realizing that!

[Gusss]

Actually I dont really want this post to be sidetracked by debating this and that. I really just want practical information, if anybody has any, about training times at most Judo clubs and companies offering teaching hours available that do not clash. It would be really nice to hear from any Judoka out there !
Looking at the Kodokans website I can see for example that the training time for adults is between 16:00 and 20:00 hours daily. Im assuming you can turn up at 18:00 as 4 hours is a bit long for most non elite Judoka.
Gambate - I sent you a PM

[stillnosheep]

If you work as an Assistant Language Teacher at a Japanese state school you will be working normal state school hours and have your evenings free. Most ALTs arrive via the JET scheme for which you must apply in your home country 18-24 months in advance.

[gonzarelli]

I worked with a guy at a big eikaiwa chain school. He was able to convince the bosses to place him in schools as close to his dojo as possible and to let him work the earlier shifts (finishing at 8 ). He made is clear in the beginning that judo was the main reason for him being there.

[JL]

Guess,
Depending on where in the Tokyo area you locate yourself, I would highly suggest getting yourself over to the Kodokan. Back in 2003, I interpreted for the World Masters Judo Championships, hosted by the Kodokan. In my three days there, I got the impression that people were training all day long, there. Don't mark my words on this, but I suspect that if you formally sign up for a membership, you can show up during the day and work out with anyone there on during "open mat" sessions. Anyway, head on down there for a looksee.

If you happen to locate yourself in Kanagawa Prefecture (just west of Tokyo), Tokai University is another option. It's one of the premier collegiate judo factors in Japan. Fmr. National team coach, and former 10 time national champion, as well as 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Yasuhiro Yamashita is the most famous alum. Kosei Inoue also went there. I've been to the dojo --it's like entering a shrine for Judo. I also met another American who was just "working out" there. So Tokai also might have an arrangement where, if you register as a training member, you can come by in the afternoon and work out during "open mat."

One last thought: If you are able to land any high school teaching jobs, once the judo coach finds out you train at judo, he will most certainly invite you work out with the team. And high school level judo in Japan is very high. Don't underestimate it.
Good luck.

[G Cthulhu]

[stillnosheep]

And if its January and one has missed the December deadline?

OK. 9 (Dec-Sept) to 21 months.

[G Cthulhu]