At SAGA, we warmly welcome everyone interested in learning the art of Judo or training for the sport.

Our beginner students start with the fundamentals. Judo, a grappling art, focuses primarily on throws and takedowns. Therefore, the first thing we teach is how to fall safely. From there, we move on to basic judo throws and mat techniques. Each session begins with a 20-minute warm-up, which many describe as a workout itself. After the warm-up, we proceed to drills, followed by the instructional portion of the class. The session concludes with the practice of skills through sparring, known as Randori in judo.

When you first start, take your time to decide if judo is right for you. There’s no need to purchase a uniform (Gi) or the membership required for ranking and competing in tournaments until you are certain that judo is the right fit for you.

If you decide to earn rank and compete, you will need to become a member of the U.S. Judo Association, which costs $75 per year. Membership registration can be completed at www.usja-judo.net. Additionally, you will need a white and a blue judo gi that is IJF approved. There are also less expensive judo uniforms that are not IJF approved, which can be used in local tournaments and class. These are ideal for beginners.

If your goal is to train with us for fitness, self-defense, or to complement other martial arts, that’s perfectly fine too. However, becoming a member offers many benefits, including internationally recognized rank, coach and referee certifications, and the opportunity to compete in some great tournaments.

We look forward to training with you at SAGA! 

TY