Classes
Accepting new applications NOW.
We highly recommend visiting and watching our Judo practices. Email us at sawtellejudo@gmail.com or call 310 463-4962 for more information.
Our next Senior Novice cohort for brand new members starts on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
Little Kids’ classes (4-6 years old) Junior Novice class (beginner 6-12 years old) Juniors’ classes (yellow belt and up, 6-12 years old) Senior Novice class (13 years old & above) Seniors’ classes (13 years old & above)
If you want to join our Dojo and practice Judo, you must register as a member of our Dojo and the USJF. We do not offer free trials because of sanctioning rules and liability. Your first lessons will be learning how to fall properly when thrown or falling down. We call an “ukemi” or breakfall. If you want our enrollment information, please email us at sawtellejudo@gmail.com. In the meantime, you’re welcome to visit and watch any one of our classes. Please call or text before you arrive.
Judo is an Olympic sport derived from martial arts. Moreover, it is an educational system to learn resilience, perseverance, and humility.
Little Kids’ classes (4-6 years old)
Little Kids’-Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday @ 3:00-3:45 pm (NEW Class now opened)
Little Kids’-Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday @ 3:45 pm-4:30 pm (FULL)
In the Little Kids’ class, we teach basic Judo exercises and drills used in our Junior Novice and Juniors’ classes. We teach following directions, listening, and discipline for good learning students. They will learn about their body thorugh exercise and coordination drills. They will learn to work together.
As he approaches six years old, he will move over to our Junior Novice class, where he begins to learn basic Judo throwing and grappling techniques, and practice ukemi or break falls.
Ukemi is the most important and fundamental skill one learns to protect one’s body when falling or getting thrown.
Junior Novice class (beginner 6-12 years old)
Junior Novice-Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 4:30-5:25 pm , and Tuesday & Thursday 4:30-5:45 pm
For new members with no Judo experience, we host ukemi-only classes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, 4:30-5:45 pm, for the first few weeks, allowing you to improve your ukemi more quickly and efficiently. Ukemi is breakfall in Japanese. It is the first skill that you practice, protecting your body as you fall or get thrown. Our novice class will focus on teaching new members the basics of Judo. After a few introductory classes, you can attend our regular Junior Novice class at 4:30 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
For new members with no Judo experience, we host ukemi-only classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights, 8:00-9:30 pm, for the first few weeks, allowing you to improve your ukemi more quickly and efficiently. Ukemi is breakfall in Japanese. It is the first skill that you practice, protecting your body as you fall or get thrown. Our novice class will focus on teaching new members the basics of Judo. After a few introductory courses, you can attend our regular Seniors' class at 8:00 pm.
Juniors’ classes (yellow belt and up, 6-12 years old)
Juniors’-Monday, Wednesday & Friday @ 5:30 pm-6:55 pm
This comprises our experenced students, some with five years expereienced, continue to learn and perfect their techniques. More are very competitive, participating in our local and national tournaments, plus our . This fun bunch with lots of frenetic energy learns and experiences respect, grit, courage, discipline, and honor through challenging experiences.
Senior Novice class (13 years old & above)
Senior Novice-Monday, Wednesday & Friday @ 7:00-7:50 pm
For new members with no Judo experience, we host ukemi-only classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights, 8:00-9:30 pm, for the first few weeks, allowing you to improve your ukemi more quickly and efficiently. Ukemi is breakfall in Japanese. It is the first skill that you practice, protecting your body as you fall or get thrown. Our novice class will focus on teaching new members the basics of Judo. After a few introductory courses, you can attend our regular Seniors' class at 8:00 pm.
Here are our remaining Senior Novice ukemi-only classes’ start dates for this year..
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Tuesday, 7 April 2026
Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Tuesday, 28 June 2026
Tuesday, 9 August 2026
Tuesday, 20 September 2026
Tuesday, 1 November 2026
These classes run for 2-3 weeks on Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00-9:30 pm, learning and praciticing how to fall properly and protect your body when thrown. You may join our Seniors ' class once you have mastered your breakfalls or "ukemis" and learned some basic techniques.
Seniors’ classes (13 years old & above)
Monday & Wednesday @ 8:00 pm-9:30 pm
Friday 8:00 pm-10:00 pm
2nd Saturday of each month @ 12:00 pm-1:30 pm
Women’s classes (13 years old & above)
Every Saturday of the month, @ 12:00-1:30 pm
What does the student learn?
Each class begins with a series of warm-up and stretching exercises. This aids in developing flexibility. Initially, students are taught to fall correctly to protect themselves from injury and develop safe practice skills. Other exercises help to sharpen movements that will refine their Judo techniques. Lessons are given by one of the instructors or “Senseis.” The techniques are taught and practiced with other dojo members while being corrected by the “Senseis.”
After the lessons, “randori” or free practice occurs, where members improve their techniques in motion with full contact and learn counter techniques which are eventually used in tournaments.
Beginning Judo students start at the white belt level. Children are promoted as they demonstrate a degree of competence in each curriculum for each level, learning new material. The promotion levels progress from yellow belt to orange, green, blue, and purple, and for those thirteen years old and up, brown and black. Adult students begin at the white belt level and, as the United States Judo Federation promotion standards dictate, the first level of promotion is to a brown belt. From that point, the student works towards his/her black belt.
Judo tournaments
Nearly twenty Judo tournaments are held throughout the year in the Southern California area with additional tournaments at the regional, national and international level. By competing in judo tournaments, points are earned toward promotions. All students are encouraged to participate in tournaments. Here is our Nanka Judo tournament calendar and our Dojo Calendar.
How does one join Sawtelle Judo?
New students complete our registration enrollment, liability waiver and USJF membership registration forms. Students may begin practicing Judo as young as 3-1/2 years old or older. All levels of experience are welcome to practice.
For more information, you can also visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube at Sawtelle Judo Dojo.