East Bay Judo Institute - El Cerrito, California

Jeanell Johnson

My 7yo son & 9yo nephew attend EBJI three times a week. My son can't wait to attend each class and he LOVES it. My nephew is a bit more apprehensive, but once he walks through the doors he is game ready. They are currently a white/yellow belt and and happily awaiting the next belt test. They have gained a lot of focus & discipline from regular attendance that translates well into other parts of their lives, including school and other extracurricular activities.

In addition to weekly classes, they enjoy the team social gatherings for holidays, especially trick-or-treating and the summer picnic.

Sarah Abigail Ejigu

East Bay judo institute has been a place of growth for my family. My husband and three children are students there, and our wonderful friends there supported us with meals and more through my cancer treatments. Everyone shows up for one another on and off the judo mat, keeping us all in shape! Can’t say enough good things.

Serena Meyer

Maybe you're just looking around for somewhere near your house in the East Bay where your child can run off some extra energy? But perhaps like I was, you are looking for something a little bit more meaningful that will teach your child not to be afraid to be grabbed at school or to stick up for themselves. I think that Judo has more than met our goal to have a fiercely independent child learn deeper meaning and purpose!

Not only has East Bay Judo Institute taught our child how to become a healthy and physically active teenager, it has helped him build his confidence and other parts of his life as well. This isn't just some place where you drop your kid off, it's where they make lifelong friends and achieve their own personal goals in Judo.

It's also really helpful that the classes are affordable and way longer than other classes generally are. You will really get a lot of instruction for the money you invest here!

Brenna Clark

EBJI is an integral part of my life as well as my daughter’s life. The judo families and kids have formed a positive support system to help each of us grow and overcome challenges on and off the mat.

Nate Torra

I've been a member of EBJI for over 16 years. Not only does the club provide world-class instruction for judo, but the instructors also instill character building values in their students that extend well beyond the mat. As another perk, they just remodeled the dojo to expand the mat space and added spring floors, making it one of the best places to train in the Bay Area. Highly recommend!

Lili K

My son has been a part of the EBJI family since he was four and a half. He’s 16 now (?) and just got promoted to a purple belt. EBJI is a pretty special community that has taught him many lessons on the value of hard work, respect, discipline and resilience. Tough lessons, let me tell you, bc those advanced class workouts are no joke. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. He’s been able to build self-confidence by being on the competition team. They travel to quite a few tournaments every year (pre-covid), including an annual trek to Idaho and their annual EBJI tournament just down the street at El Cerrito High. As a parent, I also appreciate the ways EBJI fosters a strong community through new year potlucks, summer bbqs and other fun off-the-matt activities for the kids. In addition to being elite athletes, the instructors are really wonderful people that truly live EBJI’s motto of “Building Good People Through Judo.” And oh by the way, the org is a non-profit, the instructors aren’t paid and the dues are extremely affordable. Go support EBJI and sign your kids up…promise you won’t regret it!

Kristin Denver

I highly recommend the East Bay Judo Institute! The EBJI dojo is very committed to family and to the judo community. They prioritize giving back, developing positive character, and they run a fun but structured environment. Our son has thrived in this space and we as parents have made some wonderful friendships.

P. I.

With a traceable lineage going back the the Berkeley Judo Club of the 1960's (I used to see their posters all over UCB when I was a kid) Takayuki Kawakami, was instructor there for many years, and now the Head Sensei, is the Beloved Dan Israel.
This place has a sterling reputation for instruction, with the real values and ethics of Japanese martial arts often lost on americanized MMA schools and practices. Great place to begin your child's instruction, or if you just need to tighten up your Uchi Mata for use on your boss or inlaws.