Nakano Judo Academy

Nakano Judo Academy offers Kids’ Fundamentals, Junior Fundamentals & Olympic Techniques & Training, Kids & Juniors All-Level, Friday Night Stand-Up Circuit, Competition Training, and private lessons. Other offerings listed are Adult All-Level Technical Training, Judo for Women, Adults Fundamentals & Progressions, and Top Takedowns & Gripping Lab for Judo & Jiu-Jitsu.

Programs

• Kids’ Fundamentals — Ages 5 to 6 · Mon-Fri
• Junior Fundamentals & Olympic Techniques & Training — Ages 7 to 12 · Mon-Fri
• Adult All-Level Technical Training — Ages 13+ · Mon-Fri
• Judo for Women — Ages 13+
• Adults Fundamentals & Progressions — Ages 13+
• Top Takedowns & Gripping Lab for Judo & Jiu-Jitsu — Ages 13+
• Friday Night Stand-Up Circuit — Ages 5-12 · Friday
• Kids & Juniors All-Level — Ages 5-12
• Competition Training — For All Competitors

At a glance

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• General schedule: Classes are scheduled daily. Students are encouraged to participate in as many classes as they like.

About the provider

The academy’s program schedule says classes are scheduled daily, and students are encouraged to participate in as many classes as they like. Shintaro Nakano is listed as Founder & Director of Japanese Judo, and Megumi Ishikawa is listed as Youth High Performance Guest Coach. The mission statement says the academy follows a traditional Japanese Judo curriculum and emphasizes respect, discipline, mutual benefit, confidence, health, and lifelong development through judo. Shintaro Nakano is a Kodokan/United States Judo Federation 6th DAN Black Belt, a former eight-time member of the Japanese National Judo Team, and a former Judo Coach at San Jose State University. Megumi Ishikawa is a former Japanese Judo National Team member.

• Private Lessons — Anytime
• Camps and clinics
• Hawaii Judo Camp

Introductory curriculum is designed for absolute beginners. The academy welcomes all ages, kids and adults. Concussion safety training is mentioned in the kids, juniors, and all-level programs.

What families say

“Shintaro Nakano brings to SJSU Judo the Japanese version of Judo, which is a little bit different in that they do a lot of execution on a move with speed. He moves fast and he throws all our big guys, so of course they are just amazed that he could do this. But he is showing us what true judo looks like.” — Yoshihiro Uchida, America’s first Olympic Judo Coach

“Nakano-sensei learned really early traditional style of judo. He brings us back to basics and tweaks things so it is a little more correct. He gives a lot of one-on-one attention, so if you have a question he knows the answer. He’s gonna help you and every time he sees you make the same mistake, he will fix it and remind you.” — Marti Malloy, 2012 London Olympic Medalist

Last updated September 4, 2026.