The Monthly Dojo Drop: Groundslam OKinawa
Location
-1 Chome-12-1 Minato, Nago, Okinawa 905-0014
-No dedicated parking available on-site but coin parking nearby
Lead By
Takahiro Ono & Yuki Ono
Class Attended
Monday Gi- Regular Class 8:00pm- 10:00pm
Vibe
A very beginner‑friendly and well-structured class with very welcoming leadership. The classes start with great fundamental drills and exercises to build a strong all around game. The instruction is very technically clear manner while not being so formal that you don’t feel comfortable asking questions.
Facilities
Clean, well‑maintained facility with one toilet, shared locker room, plus one shower.
Decent sized mat space that comfortably supports multiple matches at once.
Visitor Notes
Drop‑in fee- may vary, best to contact ahead for clarification
Reaching out via social media before visiting is recommended.
Staff speaks mostly Japanese but is very accommodating and kind.
Training Style
Technical instruction with plenty of time to drill and apply techniques in live scenarios.
Coaches are hands‑on, attentive, and quick to clarify details when needed.
Sparring intensity is self‑paced — competitive but always safe and respectful.
Good For
Grapplers of all skill levels seeking instruction not only in BJJ but also MMA style training and striking. Whether you’re looking for a home gym or just dropping in to make new friends, this location is highly recommended.
My Experience
Groundslam Okinawa is a really fun team to train with and their technique is very strong. They do a lot of exercises and drills to improve their guard and you can tell by how well they move during training. I think many teams could learn from their style of warm ups and guard movement drills. Both of the brown belts that teach there, Takahiro and Yuki are very technical and active competitors in both MMA and BJJ and bring a lot of knowledge to the mats. Everyone was very welcoming and eager to train with me and when it was time to spar we had great competitive and technical rounds without anyone going too hard or trying to hurt each other. I look forward to going back to visit this team the next time that I am in Nago.
