Asheville Judo Club
About
Asheville Judo Club on Gorman Bridge Road
Asheville Judo Club is the dedicated Kodokan-style judo program in Asheville, operating out of Open Source Jiu-Jitsu's space on Gorman Bridge Road in West Asheville. The club is one of the few places in Western North Carolina where families can find regular weekly judo instruction rather than judo as an occasional add-on at a BJJ or karate school, giving school-age children a firm base in one of the most practical and time-tested martial arts in the world.
Kids Martial Arts Programs
The kids program runs for ages 7 to 15 and is built around the standard Kodokan progression codified by Jigoro Kano:
- Ukemi (safe breakfall practice) before any partner throws
- The classic throw catalog - osoto-gari, ouchi-gari, seoi-nage, harai-goshi, tai-otoshi
- Ne-waza pins, escapes, and basic submissions appropriate for the age group
- Throws taught with strict safety controls, only after competent ukemi
What's Included
- Dedicated weekly Kodokan judo, rare in Western North Carolina
- Respect for partners and the etiquette of bowing in and out
- Dojo terminology in Japanese and the lineage from Kano through the Kodokan
- Drop-in friendly and contract-free, unusual in the martial arts space
- Judogi eventually required for ongoing students
Experience
The club's mission is to give children a firm base in a practical, time-tested art while building life-long friendships through the partner-based nature of judo training. The contract-free, drop-in format is welcoming for families testing the waters, and a dedicated judo program suits parents who specifically want Kodokan throwing and groundwork for their child.