Training Body and Mind
Self-confidence through self-defense training!
The Place where military trains
Beginner Classes for All Ages
Our beginner classes are designed for adults of all ages who are new to the sport of judo. Our experienced instructors will teach you the basics of judo and help you build a strong foundation.
Advanced Techniques for Experienced Judokas
For experienced judokas, we offer advanced classes that focus on refining techniques and developing new skills. Our instructors will help you take your judo to the next level.
Judo for Self-Defense
Judo is not only a competitive sport, but also a practical form of self-defense. Our instructors will teach you how to use judo techniques to defend yourself in real-life situations.
Join a Supportive Community
Our Joint Base Charleston Samurai Judo and Jujitsu program, we pride ourselves on creating a supportive and welcoming community. Our students and instructors are like family, and we're always happy to welcome new members to our dojo.
Experience the Benefits of Judo
Judo and Jujitsu is a great way to stay active and healthy. It's also a sport that teaches discipline, focus, and respect - values that can carry over into all aspects of your life.
About Us
Qualified Instructors
Instructors at the Weapons Station:
John Merwin,
- 5th Degree Black belt in Kuk Sool Won
- 5th Degree black belt in Hapkido
- 5th Degree Black Belt in Jujitsu
- 3rd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo.
- 2nd Degree Black belt in Judo
Coach, Kata Instructor and Judge, and referee.
Shannon Bistline
- 1st Degree Black Belt in Judo,
- 1st degree brown belt in Jujitsu
- 4 Stripe Purple Belt in BJJ.
- 3rd Brown in Ed Parker - Kenpo Karate
Certified Coach, Judge
Why learn judo and jujitsu?
Training positives are:
Physical
You can train to respond to any threat while getting a good aerobic workout. You tone up muscles and learn to defend yourself, while improving speed, flexibility, power, agility, balance, and reflexes.
Mental
Learn how to control yourself in any situation. Judo builds self-confidence. Judo encourages competitive spirit. For those not interested in competing, judo is a great recreational or defense activity.
Safety
Judo training includes how to fall without injury, a skill unique to judo and useful in everyday life. Our club is committed to taking every precaution to keeping students as safe as possible. Our experienced instructors use warm-up regimens to help eliminate pulls and strains.
Our jujitsu program is practical, traditional self-defense, with a focus on street survival and realistic ways to deal with or eliminate threats. We teach court defensible strategies, avoidance techniques, and methods of controlling others through holds and joint locks.
Judo is many things to different people:
art, sport, discipline, recreational or social activity, keep-fit program, means of self-defense, and way of life. It is to some extent all these, but to most participants it’s a sport. Introduced into the Olympics in 1964, judo has millions of players throughout the world. People practice staying in shape, excel in competition, and develop self-confidence. Most participate for the fun of it.
As in all sports, judo has a strict set of rules governing competitive play and ensuring safety. Judo offers those desiring to test their skills the opportunity to compete at levels ranging from club to Olympic competition. Weight, gender, and skill divisions are used in competition, plus age groupings for juniors and older players.
Judo emphasizes throws as well as pins but is best known for its spectacular throwing techniques. Judoka wear special garb, called a judogi, to help with the application of throws and other skills, enhancing control for safety in practice and competition.
If you like sports involving physical activity, you’ll probably love judo, an inexpensive, year-round activity that appeals to people from all walks of life. Judo provides the means for learning and improving oneself physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.
Judo developed from fighting systems of feudal Japan, principally jujitsu, the art of self-defense. Judo training gives a person an effective self-defense system if the need arises, providing a decisive advantage over the untrained individual. Instruction stresses both sportive and defensive aspects of judo.
COST
Free to All Active-Duty Military, Reserves, Retired, DoD Civilians and CAC Card holding Military Family Members
USJA Annual Membership costs $75 ($50 for active military and reservists) and includes:
- One year of martial arts insurance
- Free promotion examinations
- Free promotions below black belt in judo and jujitsu
- National registration of ranks
- Membership card that you print from online
- Eligibility to compete in USJA sanctioned local, regional, and national tournaments, and clinics and camps