Martial arts and Gym memberships

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for some inexpensive, gaijin friendly martial arts classes in the Kobe area. Does anyone know of any or how I could find them?

Also I wanted to join a gym without killing my budget. How much do gym memberships cost on the whole? Thanks a lot!

[Osakan]

I don't know anything about martial arts, though I'm a black belt at no-can-do. With regard to gym membership, I'd make two suggestions:

The first, assuming that as much as you want from a gym is the opportunity to work out and that you're not too much concerned about soft-focus lighting or spa baths, I'd check whether there are any municipal gyms in your area before parting with your eikaiwa-denari to join a private gym. If there aren't, and you decide to go for a private gym, join one in the city centre if it isn't too inconvenient to do so. City centre gyms are usually rather more gaijin-friendly and, in the face of fierce competition that exists in the city centre but doesn't in the suburbs, are less likely to have exorbitant joining fees.

[Osakan]

http://home.att.ne.jp/orange/aiki/EnglishTopPage.htm


Hope it helps.

[Osakan]

That link mightn't work. If it doesn't, do a websearch for: Kawanishi Aikido Club.

The site is impressive in itself and the club looks super gaijin-friendly: all English language directions, a list of their fees and a lot of 'come join us' bonhomie.

[Hiyodori]

Full time memberships are usually around 10,000 to 12,000 yen per month, though can go much higher. Most fitness clubs have daytime only memberships, and some even have early morning, late night, weekend only, or some other type of limited time membership available for less.
Hiyodori

[Osakan]

There's an ad in this week's KFM for 'Karate Dojo Rakan Juku'. It's at Hanshin Nishinomiya station, rather more convenient than Kawanishi from Kobe.

Details: Master Yokota 0798-35-2247

It says: "full contact kick-boxing". Please be careful!

[Kent Brockman]

The Hands of Brockman are recognised by the local authorities as lethal weapons and are registered as such.