San Gabriel Judo New Student Start Up

New Enrollment Information

We start New Student Classes the first Tuesday of each Quarter of the Year.

The next start date will be October 6, 2026. Please email Sensei Martin to coordinate your first day of Judo at teachingjudo@yahoo.com. You are welcome & encouraged to come to the dojo on Tuesday, September 29th and Friday, October 2nd, to make sure your registration has been received and to be fitted for your judogi. Again, please email Sensei Martin to make an appointment for registration confirmation and judogi fitting. [teachingjudo@yahoo.com]

New Student Start Dates:

October 6, 2026

January 12, 2027

April 6, 2027

July 6, 2027

October 5, 2027

We offer four Membership Rate options that are differentiated by Age Groups:

4yo to 7yo (Mini-Yonen): $430.00 to Start Judo!

MINI-YONEN Cost Breakdown:

$75.00 Processing Fee

$100.00 USA Judo 1-year Membership Fee

$80.00 San Gabriel Japanese Community Center 1-year Membership Fee

$75.00 Judo Uniform and San Gabriel Judo T-shirt

$100.00 1-month San Gabriel Judo Dojo Membership Fee

Total cost to start Judo for a 4yo to 7: $430.00

: : :

8yo to 12yo (Yonen): $450.00 to Start Judo!

YONEN Cost Breakdown:

$75.00 Processing Fee

$100.00 USA Judo 1-year Membership Fee

$80.00 San Gabriel Japanese Community Center 1-year Membership Fee

$95.00 Judo Uniform and San Gabriel Judo T-shirt

$100.00 1-month San Gabriel Judo Dojo Membership Fee

Total cost to start Judo for a 8yo to 12: $450.00

: : :

13yo to 17yo (Shonen): $480.00 to Start Judo!

SHONEN Cost Breakdown:

$75.00 Processing Fee

$100.00 USA Judo 1-year Membership Fee

$80.00 San Gabriel Japanese Community Center 1-year Membership Fee

$125.00 Judo Uniform and San Gabriel Judo T-shirt

$100.00 1-month San Gabriel Judo Dojo Membership Fee

Total cost to start Judo for a 13yo to 17: $480.00

: : :

18yo & older (Seinen): $510.00 to Start Judo!

SEINEN Cost Breakdown:

$75.00 Processing Fee

$100.00 USA Judo 1-year Membership Fee

$30.00 USA Judo 2-year Background Screening Fee

$80.00 San Gabriel Japanese Community Center 1-year Membership Fee

$125.00 Judo Uniform and San Gabriel Judo T-shirt

$100.00 1-month San Gabriel Judo Dojo Membership Fee

Total cost to start Judo for a 18yo and older: $510.00

: : :

After the first month, you will be emailed an invoice at the beginning of each Quarter for $100 per month from Quickbooks [sgjctreasurer@gmail.com]. For your convenience, you will be able to pay by PayPal, Credit Card or you can drop a physical payment into the Judo Deposit Box at the Dojo.

Please clearly know that the USA Judo 1-year Membership and the San Gabriel Japanese Community Center 1-year Membership are NOT optional and will be billed to you each year annually. These fees contribute to the liability insurance at all judo events and usage of the facilities. These are standard fees from our governing bodies that every Sensei, Coach and member pay annually with no lapse. If your membership expires and an injury or incident occurs, you will be 100% responsible for all costs and liabilities of the resolution.

Dojo Etiquette

When entering the Dojo, we ask each of our members and supporters to bow slightly as a respectful gesture to show our appreciation of the many years (since 1929) of commitment and perseverance it takes to keep providing and serving our membership and community over nearly 100 years.

Etiquette is an important part of Judo. Judokas are expected to respect their practice partners, opponents, their instructors (senseis), coaches, referees, and officials. Our respect for others in judo is expressed through our actions and words. These specific actions are expected of a judoka. San Gabriel Judokas, parents and spectators are expected to following with the same behavior.

On the Mat

We bow before entering the practice mat. If we must come in late we bow to the head instructor and wait at the edge of the mat for the instructor to invite us to participate. At the beginning of class we stand in line facing the instructors. We stand in order by age category and within each category by rank. The age categories in judo are Yonen (12 years and under), Shonen (13 to 16 years) and Seinen (17 years and above). Higher ranks within each age category stand on the left with lower ranks to the right.

Bowing In to Start the Practice Session

At the start of class the instructors (senseis) seiza first then the students seiza starting from the left to the right. Class is called to attention “kiotsuke”. We perform a kneeling bow at the command “rei”. Class proceeds with warm up exercises.Time!

During the Practice Session

When beginning practice with a partner we humbly request the honor of practicing with them “onegai shimasu”. After finishing with this partner we thank them “domo arigato.”

The first is sitting on the knees (seiza). The second is sitting cross-legged. These methods of sitting will be demonstrated in the beginners class.

Always walk around or behind the instructors and classmates during class.

Make sure that your fingernails and toenails are trimmed and filed so as not to cut or injure your opponent. Good hygiene is an essential part of good judo etiquette. Make sure your gi (uniform) is clean and the player is clean also.

No gum, food or beverages are permitted on or around the mat. There are two acceptable ways to sit in class.

Bowing Out to End the Practice Session

At the conclusion of class we will line up again. The class will be called to attention “kiotsuke” followed by “mokuso”. “Mokuso” is the command to close your eyes and begin a personal time to clear your mind and self-reflect on what your learned in the practice session. The Mokuso is performed by breathing in for a count of seven through the nose, holding the breath for a count of seven and then slowly breathing out through the mouth. At the conclusion the sensei announces “yame” to end the breathing. This is followed by a command to bow “rei”. The command “shomen-ni-mukate” means to face the place of honor (“joseki”). Once again we bow at the command “rei”. We turn again to face the instructors with the command “sensei-ni-rei” to thank the instructors for their help. We then turn to our dojo mates with the command “otagai-ni-rei” to thank our training partners for a good practice, and then we conclude the class by turning to the parents with the command “parent-ni-rei” to thank them for their commitments and sacrifices to be part of our Dojo.

After Practice Sweep

In Japan, cleaning the dojo is part of training. After practice, judoka help clean the mats by sweeping them nightly, then wet mop them on a monthly basis to show the respect and care for the place where they train.

True strength isn't only about winning medals or scoring ippons. It's also about respect, humility, discipline, gratitude, and taking responsibility for your environment. Judo is not just teaching Judo, it's also teaching character.

Please help after practice when you can. We have brooms and cleaning cloths to clean the tatami.

San Gabriel Judo Mission Statement

From the By-laws: The objective of the San Gabriel Judo Dojo is, through teaching the art of Judo, the cultivation of moral character, the training of the intellect, and applying the theory of fighting across the spectrum of life to master a method of facing obstacles on one’s own, with the highest goal as self-perfection for the betterment of society.

Monthly Membership Fee Explanation

• Monthly Base Rate: $100

• This rate provides 2 practice sessions per week

• Our Weekly Sessions

> Tuesdays: Session 1: 5pm, Session 2: 6pm, Session 3 (By Approval Only): 7:30pm

> Thursdays: Session 1 ($10 Smoothcomp Registration Required): 6pm, Session 2 (By Appt Only): 8:00pm

> Fridays: Session 1: 5pm, Session 2: 6pm, Session 3 (By Approval Only): 7:30pm

> Saturdays: Session 1 ($10 Smoothcomp Registration Required): 10am

If you would like to attend more than 2 sessions per week, please add $10 per session to your base rate.

Visiting other Dojos

Extra practice at another dojo must be requested and approved by Sensei Taizo Sasaki.

In order to continue bridging generations since 1929, it is important to maintain some consistency technically, tactically and morally. Therefore, it has been a strict San Gabriel Judo policy that missing one SG Practice to attend practice at another dojo is absolutely not allowed and will be immediate grounds for membership termination. You'd never find a Los Angeles Dodger skipping a Dodger practice to participate in a New York Yankee practice. Never.

1. Always get permission from the Head Sensei/Head Coach/Lead Instructor to visit another dojo.

2. Visit only when San Gabriel Dojo is not practicing. When San Gabriel Dojo is practicing you are expected to attend San Gabriel Judo practices.

3. When visiting other dojos please remember that you are a guest representing San Gabriel Judo Dojo.

4. Always give a donation for being allowed to visit

Our Dedicated Volunteer Instructors (Senseis)

All of our instructors are volunteers and do not receive salaries to teach judo at San Gabriel Dojo. All instructors are certified and compliant to current United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Standards and Policies plus Background Screenings renewed every 2 years.