Director

YUKI ISHIKAWA

I'm into photography. I'm using a really old Pentax 67II film camera. This is a middle of the range film camera. It's a somewhat big and heavy one. So much so that when I carry it around my arms get sore. It can't take pictures in the dark and the film developing costs a lot, when you compare it to a digital it doesn't seem all that great. But then again I do like the photos that using film gives me. They have a kind of warmth that I can't put into words. Sometimes I even develop my own film in a dark room. I love the times when I stay up all night and work with the colors of film.

Chief Instructor (Aoyama)

TSUYOSHI TAMAKI

When I'm not practicing BJJi like camping outdoors.
Several years ago after having been camping with friends I was totally into it. The first time we just had a barbecue and stayed in tents. But as we went several more times we started getting a lot of gear it became more of the real thing.

Let me tell you a little about some of the stuff that I got. I am using lantern and a Primus gas burner. The Primus gas burner is yellow and is really simple to use so I quite like it.
My tent is a Sierra Design. But what I really want to try is a Mountain Hardware tent.

So far I've been to a lot of places to camp but my favorite place is Fumotoppara in Asagirikogen. This is a great place at the base of Mt. Fuji where, on a clear day, you can see the mountain.

I really love my time out in nature, cooking, watching the stars, playing the guitar and relaxing. To tell you the truth, I haven't been out in a while but I am looking for another chance to go.

Chief Instructor (Hiroo)

TOMOYUKI HASHIMOTO

The things I like after BJJ are Comics and Movies. When you read a comic or watch a movie you are able to experience things by proxy that you can't experience for yourself. Hero or Mafia, Prisoner or Billionaire, you can be whom ever you want. For someone like myself, raised in a narrow one-sided world, there is no replacement for being able to see a variety of different lives as I do in comics and movies.
One interesting comic which I have been reading recently is Taiyo Matsumoto's "Sunny". This is a story about orphans and kids with no parents so it is a little sad but it is drawn with real warmth and you can feel the nostalgia in places. While feeling the sad situation you can really get the enjoyment of the children's life.
When it comes to movies, I really like prison stories, especially the ones about prison breaks. One in particular is the movie with Paul Newman in it. The title seems quite exciting but the content is just the opposite. The guy Paul Newman plays, Luke, is always smiling no matter how hard the situation gets. No matter how low, he always finds something to smile about. And so the prisoners around him also become happy.
I gained a lot of courage from seeing this guy who was always happy no matter the circumstance.

Staff/Instructor

THOMAS MIETZ

I am interested in many activities outside bjj but if I really have to chose, I would say bmx and chess.
I began to ride a bmx at the age of 6 because I was attracted by motocross; with those guys jumping in the air and riding at 150 km/h on a dirt track it looked really rad to me, so I first ride dirt jump and then I switched to street riding when I later moved to Paris.
Street bmx riding involves to adapt the urban architecture to do cool tricks, as high, fast and stylish as possible. I love the creative part of it, also the fact that it allowed me to travel, and spend some quality time with great guys all around France and Europe.
Chess is another creative stuff; some people consider it as a sport, some other as a science or as an art. But it is more than just a game, you have to dedicate a large amount of time to get a correct level.
You need to study hard the positions to beat your opponent, using strategies and tactics, traps and counter-attacks. I used to play on internet and in the parks in Paris, spending hours playing against unknowns, business men, doctors, tramps…no matter your social position, it’s all about 36 squares and a king to protect!

Staff/Instructor

YUSUKE SEI

The thing that I'm into is music.

When you say music it is pretty broad, but specifically I like Western Rock. I guess that the thing that got me into it was an Eric Clapton concert I went to when I was in high school.
More than the actual performance I was overwhelmed by the the excitement of all the oldies that were around me. I really felt that no matter your age, having this kind of love of the music is the best.

After that I started messing around with guitar but I wasn't really any good, so nowadays I just listen. I listen to most anything, Post-Rock, Industrial, Progressive Rock, Reggae, Power Pop, Techno, the list goes on. That being said, I really do like Alternative Rock and Metal. Subtle but solid sounds are best.
At the moment I'm into an American band called "Tool". The changes in rhythm, riffs, bass line, swaying dance, they are all great.

It might not be fresh music but every morning I change what I am listening to for the day.
When they next come to Japan I am definitely going to the concert.

Staff

TAKEKI YASUDA

My favorite thing is watching movies. I watch movies most of the time when I am at home. The movies I watch are Japanese and Western movies and I will watch anything regardless of genre. Basically most of them are new movies or something that is currently popular. Occasionally, I look for a movie that I've heard of but I also watch very old movies too. Recently I enjoyed the movies “The Hunger Games" & "Hangover" . However even though I said I like movies, I'm not an expert. I don't have much knowledge of movies which real movie experts have. I just like the feeling of watching movies and getting into the movies with the overwhelming sense of the movie world views. So I think that I will keep watching movies and one day I'll get hip to movies...

Instructor/CD Kamakura Director

SHIGEAKI TSUBOI

Here's a little about my hobbies.
I really want to write something cool like that I live in Kamakura, surf and spend time at the beach and stuff but that's just not what I do.
It is a bit of a secret to the Jiu-jitsu world but in truth my hobby is related to the word "Survive" as in "Survival Game".
My favorite weapon isn't "Jiu" as in Jiujitsu, it's Ju as in Gun (in Japanese), like what the ground self defense forces use.
Safe, Single shot, Rapid fire, everyone probably knows but it's all about the Howa Type 89 Assault Rifle.
Naturally Survive is a game about staying alive.
From sunrise to sunset, crawling around in the mountains in the mud sneaking up on your enemy to attack.

Instructor

TOKURO AOYAGI

The thing I really like is a plant by the name of Encephalartos Horridus. This Sago Cyad from South Africa has a boldness to it that also encompasses a kind of delicacy, with it's beautiful blue leaves. This plant has a beauty of presence. It is hearty and leaves nothing to waste in it's refinement.

Instructor

JASON COTTRELL

The thing I like.
To tell you the truth, when I was a child I never used to like sports. I was always into reading books and watching TV. I was pretty much a couch potato.
But when I came to Japan 13 years ago, I didn't have any friends living close by and I didn't like Japanese TV. Actually I never watched TV for the first 2 years I was in Japan. So to fill my time I joined a gym near my work and started working out 4-6 times a week.
Nowadays I like to spend a lot of my free time working out at the gym or running outside. I even try to work out or run when I vacation overseas!
So I guess the thing I like is working out and running.

Instructor

YUSUKE HONMA

I like music. When I was a first year junior high school student, I started listening to a thrash metal band called PANTERA, the album was called Far Beyond Driven. This album really blew me away. After that I became a real music fan. Actually, the truth is that I am also in a band. If I wasn't into BJJ then I'd probably want to be a musician. In the past I was pretty one dimensional when it came to music but now I listen to a wide range of foreign music as well as Japanese music without regards for genre or period. Recently I have been listening to Aphex Twin and Radio Head which are in the iTunes top rankings.

Instructor

RINTARO ISHIGE

 The thing I like is riding. Cars, Bikes, Bicycles, anything is ok. I enjoy everything from the process of choosing what to ride, to the sense of speed when combined with the season, the weather and the distance to suit the day’s plans. Even when going to the same place the speed changes depending on my ride so in the blink of an eye I am able to enjoy a different view.

Instructor

YOSHIHIKO MATSUMOTO

The thing I like is "Bread".
Of course I like Sandwiches, Bagels, Toast that I have toasted at home, but I especially like those hard crispy breads like German Bread, but I am not any kind of expert on bread types though. One of my special favorites are the breads that have raisins, walnuts or other nuts in them. In the future I would love to become a Bread Shop owner.

Instructor

HIROSHI“IRON”NAKAMURA

I really did try to think of something else that I'm into but...

I am only into Martial Arts!!

Instructor

SHOTARO SUZUKI

I like bicycles.

Since July this year (2013) I changed my work place and now I cycle from the nearest station to work. I also use my bike to ride to Aoyama dojo now.

The bike I ride only has 1 single gear. It is the type of cheap, simple and easy to maintain bike that even messengers like to use.

When talking about fixed gear bikes you have to know that when you pedal you go, then you pedal backwards you go backwards. It is very much like a tricycle in this respect. So when you are riding you can't stop pedaling. This is the particular thing that I find most enjoyable about it. You get the feeling that you and the bike are part of one machine working together. On top of that, it feels like the continuous pedaling is also good for hitting my dieting goals. As I am trying to lose weight at the moment it really is a big help.

Nowadays all of my inner city commuting is done by bicycle. It is usually faster than either walking or taking the train. You can also get to places via roads that you might not regularly know. I always get the feeling that I can discover new things when I do this.

By the way, the shortest course between Mita and Aoyama takes about 20 minutes. The route is dotted with the various countries' embassies and you get the feeling of flowing through a high class neighborhood. As there are a lot of hills the fixed gear is a bit tough at times.

I'm now looking forward to finding more interesting places to ride.

Instructor

KOICHI WARAGAI

It's not really something that I like but more about something that I'm trying to like, Trains.
Up until now, aside from Jiu-Jitsu, anything that I could possibly count as a hobby was generally related to my work. But now I have a 2 year old boy who is fascinated by trains. It is definitely a boy thing.

He also likes "Booboo!" (Cars) and busses, but because we have recently taken the Bullet train a lot, when at home he suddenly pipes up with "Bullet Train!". He is also fond of shouting out, "Chuo Line!", "JR!", "Saikyo Line" and lots of other train related words. I think it has to do with a picture book about trains which we got from some relatives.

He often points and asks "This?" And wants to know the names of the trains. Mostly I just answer with the "E ~ Model" which is written there in the book because I'm not really sure.

Now you know I'm not really at the Trainspotter level but I have recently found myself thinking "This train is futuristic and cool!".

Recently we go to our nearest station and ride to a nearby station. When he sees a train leaving the station while standing on the platform he always says,"Bye Bye Train" and waves. On occasion the train conductor looks back and waves at him, when is happens he is a bit surprised and will tense up.

One more thing. I'm thinking about taking him to the train museum. No matter what, first of all I, being the type who likes to have information first, would like to keep going down the Train-mania road. In the ideal that my son will be able to answer any question he is asked.