THE ACADEMY
​1. Our founder and Chief Sensei, Shintaro Nakano, brings authentic Japanese judo from Japan to the Bay Area. With his warm and friendly personality, he has created a family dojo where everyone is welcome.
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2. Train with our expert coaches, including Megumi Ishikawa, former Japan National Team member. You will receive expert guidance and genuine care for fitness, competition, or personal growth.
3. Nakano Judo Academy leads in both training and judo research, sharing expert insights on YouTube. Respected nationally and globally, we’re one of America’s top judo schools.
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Ready to start your journey? Discover how judo can transform your life!
Founder & Director of Japanese Judo
Shintaro Nakano
Kodokan/United States Judo Federation
6th DAN Black Belt
Shintaro Nakano is a Kodokan 6th Dan Black Belt born in Miyazaki, Japan. He began his judo journey at the age of five, learning the traditional values and spirit of judo from an early age—respect, discipline, humility, and perseverance.
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A graduate of Chuo University in Tokyo, Nakano Sensei was an eight-time member of the Japanese National Judo Team, where he trained and competed alongside many of the world’s top athletes. These experiences shaped his deep technical knowledge and his understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
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After moving to the United States, Nakano Sensei served as a Judo Coach at San Jose State University, one of North America’s premier collegiate judo programs. During his tenure, he helped support the team’s back-to-back National Collegiate Judo Championship titles and coached elite athletes including Marti Malloy, who earned a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games and a silver medal at the World Championships.
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Today, Nakano Sensei is dedicated to developing students of all ages through world-class instruction while teaching the life lessons of judo—confidence, resilience, and strong character.
Youth High Performance Guest Coach
Megumi Ishikawa
Former Japan National Team Member
Nakano Judo Academy is proud to welcome Megumi Ishikawa, a former Japanese Judo National Team member, as an instructor for our Kids & Junior Judo Program.
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Megumi Sensei brings world-class experience from Japan’s elite judo system, along with a passion for helping children grow through martial arts. Her teaching style focuses not only on technique, but also on the values that make judo special, respect, discipline, confidence, and resilience.
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With her high-level competitive background and friendly personality, Megumi Sensei creates a positive and motivating environment where kids can safely develop strong fundamentals, improve athletic ability, and build character while enjoying the journey of learning judo.
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We are honored to have her as part of the Nakano Judo Academy team and look forward to offering our students an even higher level of instruction.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted more than 50 seminars and clinics in cities such as San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Boise, Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Honolulu, Hilo, Montreal, and Quebec.
Santa Clara Judokas Shine at Junior Olympics
Santa Clara, CA — July 31, 2024
The dedication and hard work of the young athletes at Nakano Judo Academy have paid off in a big way! Four of our talented judokas proudly represented Nakano Judo Academy at this year's Junior Olympics, bringing home not just medals, but also honor and recognition for their incredible achievements.
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Led by Sensei Shintaro Nakano, our team trained relentlessly for months to prepare for this prestigious event. Their performance on the national stage showcased not only their technical skill and athleticism but also the values of discipline, respect, and perseverance that are core to judo.
