This program is one of the only of its kind!!! Sanctioned by the International Kosen Judo Federation and taught by one of the highest ranked senior instructors of Kosen Judo outside of Japan.

Judo ,meaning "gentle way" is a modern Japanese martial art and combat sport, that was created in Japan in 1882 by Dr Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an opponent to submit by joint locking or by executing a choke. Strikes and thrusts by hands and feet as well as weapons defences are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms (kata) and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice (randori). Because weight classes in Judo did not exist at that time it was much easier for larger Judo players to throw smaller ones. In 1914 Kano organized the Kosen University Championships at Kyoto Imperial University. Eventually, in 1925, Jigoro Kano decided to re-vamp the rules of competition judo. Over time there was so much emphasis on newaza, due to its success in competition, that the founder of Judo introduced new rules limiting the amount of time the judoka could stay on the ground. It was stipulated that techniques had to start from tachiwaza (standing stance) and if you pulled your opponent down more than three times he was declared the winner. The rule changes which limited the time that competitors could spend grappling on the ground effectively stopped the trend that was going on in Judo.

Kosen judo is the style of Judo practiced in Japan prior to rule changes in 1925, and is simply one style of Kodokan Judo.The training is best known for the extra focus given to ground grappling techniques, referred to as newaza. Kosen Judo has the same throws and other techniques as Judo but it emphasizes ground techniques such as controls, joint locks and strangles.The rules of a Kosen Judo match were the same set of rules of pre-world war II , which, in contrast with current Judo rules, allowed direct transition to ground grappling without the mandatory skillful application of a throw first This allowed for scenarios where one Judoka could drag down the other into a tactic modernly known as pulling-guard.

The worldwide spread of judo has led to the development of a number of offshoots such as Brazilian Jujitsu, which was developed after Mitsuyo Maeda brought judo to Brazil in 1914.

It is based on my training with Professor Takahiko Ishikawa in Kodokan as was originally taught to Helio Gracie. This class is for the serious student that wants to understand the history and background of Gracie/ Brazilian Jujutsu and the fact that it is being taught by one of the few Black Belts of the only man that tied Mashiko Kimura in the All Japan Judo Championships only a few years before Kimura defeated Helio Gracie in his own modified rules by breaking both bones in his arm with Ude Garami now called by BJJ stylists the “Kimura”.

For registered students I have included the full letter from Mashiko Kimura talking about this very famous landmark event and why we should all understand what an incredible innovator and serious warrior Helio Gracie was, not only in his development of Gracie Family Brazilian Jujitsu but what kind of man he was to still never submit even with both bones in his arm being broken by arguably the best Judo Champion in the last century.

Again this class is to show my utmost respect for the Gracie family and Brazilian Jujitsu as it has evolved in the last 60 years.

We offer several programs including children, youth, adult beginner and advanced.

The beginners curriculum is to introduce this style of Judo to anyone interested in learning more in a condensed 12 week course.

All other programs will include rank testing and tournament competition as part of the Dojo Grappling Team.

Seminars and workshops available to other schools interested in learning more about Kosen Judo.

Example of Beginners Curriculum:

Beginners will be taught through the following stages:

1.       Break-fall: This is the first step that the new student will take. This program includes elements of Kodokan Judo, as well as Kosen Judo and Tagaki Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu. There are many different throws in and so the student has to learn how to fall without injury, learning how to defend the shoulder, arms, head, neck and hips. This knowledge can be taken throughout life, practicing other kinds of sport, or just for the surprises life can present.

2.       Throws (take-downs): After learning how to fall safely without injury, it is time to know how to take down your opponent by learning some basic throws, for that there are many different ways. We are going to learn the basics Kodokan Judo throws and Kosen Judo take-downs.

3.       Escape pins and inferior positions: By learning to escape from pins and inferior positions, the student gains better awareness of your own body, developing skills and knowledge in ground movement. Through learning to escape inferior positions, the student learns how to remain calm in dangerous positions and reverse the situation to gain good position and carry out his objective.

4.       Defending chokes and arm-locks: The student will begin to develop their technique by learning how to defend chokes and arm-locks. The premise of Jujutsu is to defend oneself first and then attack safely.

5.       Open and passing the guard: Opening and passing the guard (when one guy is on his back and the other is on the top inside his legs, or guard) consists of keeping posture inside the opponents guard, avoiding chokes, arm-locks and sweeps. The next step is to open the opponents guard and pass, arriving by the side of the opponent establishing a dominant position. For this, several types of techniques exist.

6.       Gain and maintain superior positions: There are many different techniques to gain and maintain a superior position. We are going to learn the basics positions. These are the basics techniques that the Jujutsu student will learn at this stage, and associate with the ground skills that were acquired throughout the previous levels: break-fall, escape inferior positions and passing the guard), and by now be getting ready to achieve their goal.

7.       Performing basic submissions: After the previous initial basic levels, the student will be able to defend himself from certain attacks, will have learned to remain calm enough to stop, think and understand his opponent steps and movements and will have time to perform his first attempt of submission. The basic submissions that we will learn will be discussed in the next section for intermediate level students.