Okinawa, Japan — While training at Paraestra Okinawa, I met Jon Valles, a former US Marine and a current MMA competitor, who welcomed me into Okinawa’s Jiu-Jitsu community. He was kind enough to invite me to dinner and to train Jiu-Jitsu at the US Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma with US Marines. This opportunity was too […]
Okinawa, Japan — While in Tokyo, I decided to hop on a flight to Naha, Okinawa. Thanks to low-fare airlines, I was able to purchase my one way flight for ¥6500(~$60 USD). Okinawa has its own rich history with beautiful beaches. Compared to Tokyo which was modern and densely populated, Okinawa was mainly tourist-free and quiet. In […]
Tokyo, Japan — As Tokyo is a megalopolis, I decided to stay in the opposite side of Tokyo after returning from Mt. Fuji in order to streamline my travel within the city. Shinjuku is a major commercial and administrative district in Tokyo that surrounds Shinjuku station, the world’s busiest railway station. In Shinjuku, I decided again to […]
Tokyo, Japan — After spending a few days in Kyoto, I decided to take an overnight bus to Tokyo. The bus ride is approximately seven hours, but I personally would not recommend the overnight buses due to the substandard quality of sleep during the trip. Compared to other cities in Japan, Tokyo was modern and densely populated. […]
Kyoto, Japan – After spending two weeks in Osaka and its surrounding cities, I relocated to one of the most famous cities in Japan, Kyoto. As one who is fond of historical landmarks, Kyoto is a perfect city for me. While being a tourist, I still managed to find a gym near my hostel to […]
Nara, Japan – While staying in Osaka, my friends and I decided to take a day trip to Nara. The city is located about 20 miles (30km) east of Osaka. You could easily access to Nara via train approximately in an hour (Train ticket = ~$7 USD one-way). Given that it is a small city, there are […]
Osaka, Japan – Since Tri-Force Osaka does not open Mondays, I decided to train in another gym in Osaka. As my friend, Naoki, recommended, I dropped by a Shooto/MMA gym in Namba, which is another shopping and nightlife district next to Dotonbori. The gym focuses on Shooto, which is a mixed martial arts championship in Japan. […]
Osaka, Japan – Tri-Force Jiu-Jitsu Academy Osaka is the first gym I visited since I started traveling. As I don’t speak Japanese, it has been challenging to find information about training schedules and visitor fees. However, Google Chrome’s translate feature has been tremendously helpful. I’ve even asked hostels’ front desks to call gyms and translate my […]
