ABC Judo Juku is a training center on Suo-Oshima where children and adults develop genuine, lasting competency — not just test scores. Academics are the vehicle. Judo is the discipline. And anyone who comes through our doors leaves able to use what they've learned in the real world.
ABC Judo Juku is located inside a historic sake brewery on Suo-Oshima in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Our mission is simple: to develop positive additions to society — people with real character, genuine discipline, and the ability to apply what they know in everyday life.
We measure success by competency: can you do it or not. Competency gives us the confidence to step boldly into the world, whether just out of our own homes or across international borders.
The international language of Judo is Japanese. Judo players all over the world learn the same words for all the rules, regulations and names of judo techniques. It's like an international "Judo Language". Japanese language here is conversational, real, and learned through daily life in the dojo. And, it can be used anywhere judo is played.
Deep learning is not about knowing more things. It's about knowing things well enough to actually use them — when the stakes are real, when no one is watching, when it matters. That's the difference between a student who passed the test and a person who can stand on their own.
Everything we do at ABC Judo Juku is aimed at developing self-sufficient people. The academics. The judo. The language. The discipline. Each one reinforces the others — and the result is someone who doesn't just know things, but can do things.
Hear directly from families about how the program has shaped their children — on the mat, in the classroom, and at home.
Six pillars of development — designed to build competency, character, and a genuine connection to Japan.
Train in judo alongside Japanese athletes in a real dojo environment. Parents are welcome on the mat — encouraged, actually — as fellow learners with their kids. When a family trains together, the lessons of respect and discipline don't stop when you leave the building.
We focus on conversational Japanese — the kind you can use. Language learning here is built into the rhythm of daily dojo life, not pulled from a textbook. You learn by doing, by listening, and by speaking with the people around you.
Structured academic English for expat families and military dependents living in Japan. We help students maintain and strengthen their proficiency across both educational systems — practical, confidence-building, and output-first.
Simple, affordable accommodation for visiting athletes and sports teams. International visitors and local Japanese athletes share meals and training — making cultural exchange something that actually happens, not just something that gets talked about.
A professional weight training and functional conditioning facility for competitive athletes and everyday health. Open to the whole community — local and international — because long-term physical well-being matters to everyone.
A modern take on Japan's historic terakoya community schools. Entrepreneurship workshops, life skills seminars, and lifelong learning courses that develop thinkers who can function — and flourish — in both Japanese and global environments.
Alphabet Sensei has been teaching judo for over 30 years. This curriculum is what he learned in that time about how people actually get good at something — as opposed to just going through the motions of getting good at something.
The core idea is simple: you don't advance until you can do it. Not until you've been here long enough. Not until your age group moves up. Not until the coach feels like it's probably time. You advance when you can demonstrate — clearly and consistently — that you've mastered what came before. That's it.
Every student tracks their own progress. A six-year-old does it. A forty-year-old does it. Everyone does it the same way. We built it that way on purpose — because when you collect your own data, you own your own progress. You're not waiting to be told how you're doing. You know how you're doing.
What comes out of that is confidence that's actually grounded in something. Not "my coach said I was ready." Not "I've been here two years so I must be getting better." You look at your numbers, and the numbers tell the story. That's confidence you can take anywhere — onto a competition mat, into a classroom, into a job interview, into life.
ABC Judo Juku's focus is building people of good character. For American athletes who are ready to pursue competition, we offer an optional pathway to USA Judo national tournament eligibility. This is not our mission. It is one door our training opens.
Our purpose is to develop positive additions to society — people who make their communities and their world better by being in it. Judo is the method. Competency is the outcome. Champions, when they come, are simply what happens when everything else is done right.
"The purpose of judo is to perfect the human character and contribute something of worth to the world."
Located inside a historic sake brewery on Suo-Oshima — easily accessible from Iwakuni, Yanai, and greater Yamaguchi Prefecture. A place where tradition and real-world practice meet on equal terms.
ABC Judo Juku is led by two coaches whose combined experience spans international competition, character education, and a deep personal commitment to developing people who contribute positively to the world around them.
Jenna has competed at the international level — which means she knows the difference between athletes who were trained and athletes who were developed. She brings that distinction into every class she runs. Her coaching isn't about drilling technique into students; it's about building people who can think on their feet, adapt under pressure, and carry themselves with integrity whether they're on the mat or off it.
Steven has produced multiple U.S. national champions. That's not the interesting part — the interesting part is how. He coaches character first, and athletic excellence follows naturally. His athletes don't just win; they carry themselves differently because of what they went through to get there. That philosophy is woven into everything ABC Judo Juku does.
Whether you're ready to enroll, have questions about a program, or are traveling from abroad — send us a message and we'll get back to you within 2 business days.
Nishiyashiro 110-2
Suo-Oshima-cho, Oshima-gun
Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
+81 (0) 820-XX-XXXX
Mon–Sat · 9:00–18:00 JST
Cross the Oshima Ohashi bridge from the mainland. About 1 hour from Iwakuni, closer from Yanai City. Send us a message and we'll give you directions from your specific location.
abcjudojuku.jp
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Fill out our inquiry form and we'll get back to you within 2 business days. It opens in a new tab and takes about 2 minutes.
Open Inquiry Form →Prefer to write directly? abcjudojuku@gmail.com