Whether you are looking to let off some steam after a stressful day at work or simply looking for a change in your exercise regime, why not consider Judo?
Judo, which literally translates to “gentle way” in Japanese may lack some of the badass kicks and punches compared to other forms of martial arts. However, it makes up for the lack of “cool” factor with practical movements.
What is Judo?
Judo was first created in 1882 in Japan by Jigoro Kano, a Japanese educator and athlete. With origins from jujitsu, the most prominent feature of Judo is its competitive element. There are three main objectives of judo:
- Throw or take down an opponent to the ground
- Immobilise the opponent
- Subdue an opponent by pinning him or forcing him to submission with a joint lock movement or choke
Judo focuses on joint lock and chokes to force a larger and stronger opponent into submission. While the form does use strikes and thrusts by hands and feets as part of its attack and defense movements, these movements are in pre-arranged forms and are not allowed in judo competitions or free practice sessions.
The pedagogy of Judo eventually became a model for other modern Japanese martial arts. In 1964, Judo became the first Japanese sport to be included in the Olympic competition.
Are there any age restrictions to take up Judo in Singapore?
One of the best things about Judo is that there is no age limit on who can learn this type of martial arts. There are no strict age restrictions to take up Judo in Singapore. However, for Judo competitions, there are certain age-related safety rules in place.
For instance, chokes and arm bars are prohibited for competitors under a certain age, typically 13 and 16 respectively.
The duration of judo matches is also dependent on the age group of the respective competitors, whether they fall in the children category, teenagers and young adults, or “masters” (adults).
However, if you are intending to take up judo for free practice or as a leisure sport, age should not be a limiting factor!
Where can I sign up for Judo classes in Singapore?
Keen to sign up for your first Judo class? Check out these Judo gyms and classes in Singapore!
Gym |
Singapore Judo Club |
Speciality |
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Pricing |
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Website |
http://www.judo.sg/p/home.html |
Address |
1 Guillemard Crescent, Singapore 399913 |
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Singaporejudoclub@gmail.com |
Operating Hours |
Adults Class
Kids Class
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Gym |
SA Judo Academy |
Speciality |
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Pricing |
Contact for class rates |
Website |
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Address |
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Contact |
Telephone: 65 9697 4925 Email: info@sajudo.com |
Operating Hours |
View class timings here |
Gym |
The Dojo Singapore |
Speciality |
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Pricing |
Contact for class rates |
Website |
https://www.thedojo.com.sg/ |
Address |
865 Mountbatten Road, Katong Shopping Centre, #B1-35/36/37, Singapore 437844 |
Telephone |
Telephone: 907-23456 Email: enquiry@thedojo.com.sg |
Operating Hours |
View / book class timings here |
Gym |
SUL Academy |
Speciality |
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Pricing |
Contact for class rates |
Website |
https://www.sulacademy.com/ |
Address |
198 Geylang Road. #05- 01, Singapore 389263 |
Telephone |
65 9853 7488 |
Operating Hours |
View class timings here |
Gym |
Jagsport Singapore |
Speciality |
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Pricing |
Contact for class rates |
Website |
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Address |
340-B King George’s Avenue, Singapore 208574 |
Contact |
Telephone: 65 6297 1202 Email: events@jagsport.com |
Operating Hours |
View class schedule here |
Gym |
Island Judo Club |
Speciality |
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Pricing |
Walk in classes are SGD 5 per training |
Website |
https://islandjudoclub.com/ |
Address |
Kampong Ubi CC Room 01-04, 10 Jalan Ubi, Singapore 409075 |
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info@islandjudoclub.com
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Operating Hours |
Wed & Fri: 8pm – 9.30pm |
Gym |
Fighter Fitness Singapore |
Speciality |
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Pricing |
Contact for lesson rates |
Website |
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Address |
View locations here |
Contact |
Telephone: 65 6684 3055 Email: info@fighterfitness.sg |
Gym |
Gracie’s Jiu-Jitsu |
Speciality |
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Pricing |
View membership fees here |
Website |
https://gjjsingapore.com/ |
Address |
326C King George’s Avenue, King George’s Building, Singapore 208567 |
Telephone |
Telephone: 65 8737 5923 Email: admin@gjjsingapore.com |
Operating Hours |
View class schedule here |
Gym |
Carpe Diem Brazilian Jiu Jitsu |
Speciality |
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Pricing |
View membership rates here |
Website |
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Address |
Spazio @Kovan, basement #B1-03, 767 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534635 |
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hello@carpediembjj.sg |
Operating Hours |
View class schedule here |
Gym |
Evolve MMA |
Speciality |
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Pricing |
Contact for membership rates |
Website |
https://evolve-mma.com/classes/brazilian-jiu-jitsu/ |
Address |
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Contact |
Telephone: 65 6536 4525 Email: info@evolve-mma.com |
Operating Hours |
View schedule here |
Gym |
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Singapore |
Speciality |
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Pricing |
View membership rates here |
Website |
http://www.bjjsin.com/ |
Address | Peace Centre, 1 Sophia Road, #06-19A, Singapore 228149 |
Contact |
Telephone: 65 9457 9426 Email: wmbjjsin@hotmail.com |
Operating Hours |
View class schedule here |
Gym |
Fight G |
Speciality |
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Pricing | View membership rates here |
Website |
http://fightg.com/ |
Address | 41C North Canal Road Singapore 059297 |
Contact |
Telephone: 65 6438 5788 Email: enquiry@fightg.com |
Operating Hours |
View class schedule here |
Gym |
Impact MMA |
Speciality |
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Pricing | View membership rates here |
Website |
https://impactmma.com.sg/ |
Address |
No.3 Shenton Way, #03-06A Shenton House, Singapore 068805 |
Contact |
Telephone: 65 6223 8275 Email: enquiries@impactmma.com.sg |
Operating Hours |
View class schedule here |
Gym |
Equilibrium MMA |
Speciality |
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Pricing | Contact for lesson rates |
Website |
https://www.equilibrium.asia/ |
Address | *Scape, 2 Orchard Link #03-05A, Singapore |
Contact |
Telephone: 65 9235-4610 Email: ask@eq-mma.com |
Operating Hours |
View class schedule here |
Gym |
Orion Judo Club |
Speciality |
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Pricing | Contact for lesson rates |
Website |
https://orionjudoclub.wordpress.com |
Address |
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rionjudo@yahoo.com.sg |
Operating Hours |
Teck Ghee: Every Tuesday, 7.30pm to 9pm (except public holidays) SAFRA Tampines: Every Saturday, 2pm to 3pm (except public holidays) |
Gym |
Quantum Judo Club |
Speciality |
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Pricing | Contact for class rates |
Website |
https://www.facebook.com/quantumjudoclub/ |
Address | Yo:HA Commercial @ Tampines (#03-05) |
Contact |
Telephone: 65 9628 6159 Email: quantumjudo@gmail.com |
Operating Hours |
Saturdays: 1 – 3pm |
Are there any certification levels in Judo?
Unlike other types of martial arts such as boxing, improvements and achievements in judo are recognised by a series of ranks. This is represented by various systems of coloured belts, with the black belt indicating a practitioner who has reached a certain level of competence.
There are two progression tracks for jubo belt holders – Kyu and Dan grades.
Kyu grades
Kyu grades are reserved for those who are relatively new to judo, essentially beginners who are just starting out and learning the art of judo. The Kyu grades comprises of 6 ranks as follows, starting with the lowest rank through to the highest rank:
- Brown belt
- Blue belt
- Green belt
- Orange belt
- Yellow belt
- White belt
Once you have attained the white belt, you will be required to take a test in order to advance further into the Dan grades, which are the black belt grades.
Dan grades
The Dan grades are also known as the black belt group. Within this group, there are ten ranks starting with the first degree black belt. While everyone within this group typically wears a black belt to indicate that they are part of the black belt group, there are some optional belts that can be worn. These optional belts are typically worn during special events.
Those who possess a 6th – 8th degree black belt can opt to wear a red and white paneled belt. For those who possess a 9th or 10th degree black belt, they may opt to wear a red belt.
Do I need any special gear for a Judo class?
Before attending your first judo class, you might be wondering what to wear or bring. Are there any special gear or outfits that you have to purchase prior to your class?
Here are some helpful tips to prepare you for your first judo class:
Outfit
As judo involves a lot of “grappling” movements, it is recommended to wear sweatpants and a long-sleeved sweatshirt. This provides you with something to grab hold of in order to control your opponent.
For females, it is recommended to wear a plain white t-shirt underneath the sweatshirt and a sports bra. As there will be a lot of grabbing and pulling during the practice session, it is best not to wear your “newest” clothes.
If you have participated in other martial arts or have attended judo classes previously, you may wear your gi or uniform. However, it is again recommended to wear sweats underneath your uniform as your gi may not be able to withstand the pulling and tugging and may end up becoming undone during the class.
Footwear
Similar to other martial arts, judo is done barefooted and you do not need to wear any special shoes or sports shoes. However, you may want to bring along a pair of slippers or sandals that you can easily slip on and off when walking off the mat or going for toilet breaks. Most judo gyms would prefer to keep their mats as clean as possible for hygiene purposes.
What can I expect during a typical Judo class?
A lot of falling
As judo involves a lot of “taking down” movements, your instructor will likely focus heavily on falling techniques to ensure that you learn the technique of falling safely. While this may sound simple, it involves the awareness of falling on your back and rolling on your back to break the weight and shock of falling.
Judo techniques
During a class, the instructor will likely focus on a couple of judo techniques, including chokes and throwing techniques. There will be opportunities to rotate and practice with different sparring partners.
After a couple of rounds of practices, you will have the opportunity to participate in your first ever judo match, whereby you can practice your newly-learned judo techniques.
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