Adults Judo Class FAQ

Updated July 2024. Q: Does Budokan teach adults? A: Budokan has an adults judo class. We call it “seniors” class, to distinguish from the “juniors” class (by which we mean children). The adults class practices 8pm-9:30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Wednesday 7:30pm-9pm. Q: I’ve done judo, and/or I’m an experienced Judo player, how do I join class? A: Go to the Getting Started page on our website and load your judo card, purchase a membership, then come to practice. Don’t overthink it, just come to practice. Q: What’s a judo card? A: Judo card is membership in USJF or USA Judo. We need your judo card for insurance and liability purposes. Find more at usajudo.com or usjf.com Q: Can I do judo in the adults class if I’ve done BJJ/Wrestling. A: Maybe. Judo is a physically demanding sport with a somewhat high learning curve. We tend to see wrestlers and BJJ players pick it up pretty quickly though. Q: Can I do judo in the adults class if I have no experience? A: Maybe. Judo is a physically demanding sport with a somewhat high learning curve. We will work with you to develop a plan that makes sense for YOU. Typically that will involve special ukemi (breakfall) instruction to teach you to fall and throw safely. Q: Can I just show up and train? A: We prefer you don’t. Come by and watch a class first. You can contact us on the contact page, or just come down. (We don’t bite.) Q: What’s your culture like? Are you guys weird? Is there a secret handshake etc? A: Our Budokan adults class strives to be friendly and welcoming, emphasizing a cordial, inclusive, team-focused culture. We understand that judo is challenging enough on its own, and welcome individuals of all backgrounds and skill levels. Q: What about BJJ? Wrestling? Why don’t you guys allow leg attacks etc? A: Judo was brought to Seattle by Japanese immigrants, including the family that helped start Budokan 50 years ago, and is still active in running the club. Budokan teaches a traditional Japanese judo, following the rules and procedures set by the various international groups responsible for Judo. That said, many of our instructors and students are very active in BJJ, wrestling, MMA, and other combat sports, and we maintain friendly ties to those communities. We also have a large contingent of military veterans among our adults students, consistent with Judo’s long popularity in the armed forces, and many of these folks have cross-trained in other styles, BJJ, boxing, etc. Q: 8PM is kind of late! A: We agree! But our instructors have day jobs, and the juniors classes are held earlier in the evenings, so 7:30 PM is the best we can do for now. We find that a full coffee pot helps the next morning! If 8pm really won’t work with your schedule, reach out to us and we’ll see if we can’t suggest an alternate judo dojo with more scheduling flexibility.

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3x Olympian Sandra Bacher-Fakaosi visits Budokan

Sandra Bacher-Fakaosi and her daughter Elini Fakaosi visited Budokan’s adult judo practice July 13th. Sandy is one of the most accomplished judoka (and wrestlers) from the Pacific Northwest, competing in 3 Olympics, and multiple international judo events. Sandy also competed in wrestling, and medaled in several international wrestling competitions. Sandy was very giving with her time and answered many judo questions for us. Sandy mentioned Budokan as having helped with her career, and she specifically credited sensei Bert Mackey for his coaching. Sandy’s daughter Elini Fakaosi is an accomplished wrestler in her own right, and is currently wrestling for Simon Frasier University. We quickly found a judogi for Elini, and she gave several of our judo players all they could handle. Welcome home Sandy and Elini, we hope to see you again soon ! Read more about Sandy’s great career in the wiki link below. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_Bacher

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Artem and Philbert Conquer Ironman Coeur d’Alene!

We’re thrilled to announce that Artem Ciumac and Philbert Lin, our brown belts at Budokan Dojo, have successfully completed the rigorous Ironman Coeur d’Alene triathlon! This triathlon, held in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, challenges participants with a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run without any break. Completing such a demanding event demands not only physical strength, but also a tremendous amount of mental fortitude. Artem and Philbert’s achievement is a testament to their exceptional discipline and resilience, and courage — traits we’ve seen for years training with them.  A huge congratulations to Artem and Philbert for their amazing accomplishment. Well done, gentlemen!

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