Spokane Judo Club

**Matt W.** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 11:56am

Been training at this school for about 9 months now. I find it to be an excellent school. Competition oriented Judo, although with a heavy (for Judo) focus on newaza.

One of the main instructors is blind (4th dan, won national championships, one world championship and para-olympics gold medalist) and is a newaza specialist. The other instructor is also a 4th dan and just took 2nd (I believe) in the Master's div of a national tournament. His daughter is an Olympic hopeful with good chances. In addition, there are 3 other black belts that show up regularly. Class size averages around 12 students (though they've been getting larger) with 2-4 black belts showing up. You get a fair amount of personal instruction.

We currently meet in a rec center, hence the relatively low equipment score. Plenty of room, but we have to put the mats out and pick 'em up every class. They're decent mats though, and you don't really need much else for Judo. And, really, you can't beat the price. Fee's are $100, paid twice a year plus a USJF membership that is another $50 a year. Breaks down to less than $21/month.

The people and instructors there are friendly and helpful, but we're also pretty competitive and really push each other. Pretty much everyone competes at least a couple times a year. At the last comp, everyone won at least one match and our culb took 1st or 2nd in every div we competed in. FWIW, we also have several guys in LE, including myself (probation), one cop, a US marshal and a TSA guy. I highly recommend this club for anyone interested in training grappling in the Spokane area. Because of the focus on newaza (we really do split stand up and ground 50/50), it makes an excellent alternative for people who want to learn groundfighting but can't afford BJJ.

**Matt W.** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 12:07pm

It was tough for me not to give the school higher ratings, because I like it so much and it is a really good Judo club. But the standards try and be objective, so I really tried to adhere to them.

**GoldenJonas** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 1:11pm

$21 a month and a 50% newaza, 50% nage waza (that's throws right?) split? That's pretty awesome. Why is Judo, even good judo with national/world class instructors so damn cheap?

I also moved it here....which is where Judo goes.

**Matt W.** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 2:05pm

Re: which forum... While there's no doubt Judo is a Japanese art and hence fits here (plus its in the forum description, lol), it's also a combat sport which is why I placed it where I did. I just worry that Judo schools will get overlooked by people looking for sport grappling because they won't look in this forum. Is there any reason it can't be cross posted?

"Nage waza" Yeah, that's right, but we usually use term Tachi waza (standing techniques) as the compliment to newaza.

And it's all about the club format for the price. Non profit club = low prices. International Olympic sport = high quality.

**emu_forefront** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 4:16pm

wow this sounds amazing, I'll be in Washington over the summer and you've just given me something to do. thanks.

**Ryno** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 5:52pm

Awesome, Matt. Vince has mentioned the good training he enjoyed with that group while he was out there.

**Matt W.** · Posted On: 5/03/2008 11:30am

Thanks, Ryno. It is pretty cool. But, I gotta tell ya, the reason I gave them a 9 for attitude instead of a 10 is because I knew there was one place out there that was even cooler. ...A place where they play music while you roll and there's beer in the fridge.:icon_rr:

**Mugsy** · Posted On: 2/25/2009 11:00am

Originally Posted by GoldenJonas

$21 a month and a 50% newaza, 50% nage waza (that's throws right?) split? That's pretty awesome. Why is Judo, even good judo with national/world class instructors so damn cheap?

I also moved it here....which is where Judo goes.

Because it's not the martial arts fad of the year. BJJ will be reasonable in a few years too.

**halofivebroken** · Posted On: 12/19/2011 8:13pm

Where is this club located the east central community center? I trained there for 10 years with the old sensai I have my brown belt I need to go back to judo and I'm looking for a good club some of my buddys wanna go to

**EWU_Judoka** · Posted On: 10/29/2012 5:46pm

It's still at the East Central Community Center Google map it if you don't know where it is. The instructors are great and they randori allot -especially Newaza.- I went there over the summer because my college club wasn't operating and I liked it so much I now cross-train with them and the College club. Hope to see you out.