I'm from England, and I'm in my Gap Year. I have 5 months to see the world. I've already done all of Europe, and most of the USA. I've been enthralled with Martial Arts my entire life, but want to take it one step further and practise them in their origin. I've considered Thailand and China, but I would really prefer Japan.
Is there any way to intensively study martial arts in Japan as a foreigner that speaks little Japanese? Preferably in an affordable way?
2007-01-21 10:35:26 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
It is somewhat of a little known fact that most traditional (real) martial arts exist mostly in the west. While the origins of most Japanese martial arts are in China, the arts are no longer practiced there in the same way that they once were.
There certainly are places where very old traditions are passed down through generations - that is the spirit of what martial arts truly are - but those places would likely be closed to foreign people.
If you really want to travel, see if there are any dojos where you could learn in Okinawa, that is where most Japanese martial arts come from (they came from Okinawa from China)
Although I do not know if there are still historical schools there, nor do I know if such places would be possible for you to attend.
My suggestion to you would be to practice a traditional martial art near where you normally live - avoid any "mixed martial arts" or "progressive cross training" for these arts do not capture what you are looking for.
You should also study the origins and development of martial arts across the world - this should broaden your understanding of where these teachings come from.
2007-01-23 12:38:03 · answer #1 · answered by undefined 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes-The hombu dojo of any given school often has a full-time program. I wouldn't worry so much about the language barrier, you could pick up enough to get by for the purposes of budo pretty quickly. Unfortunately, Japan and affordable just don't go together.
2007-01-21 16:43:57 · answer #2 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, but your time constraint will limit you. look for a dojo near american military bases for ones that speak english and are relatively cheap. remember that belt class in asia are tougher than abroad - they don't hand out belts like they're candy.
2007-01-21 12:28:07 · answer #3 · answered by ben e 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try going to Japan now...and look for an acadamy
2007-01-21 16:45:44 · answer #4 · answered by Japan_is_home 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋