What martial arts training costs in Okinawa
Monthly fees, joining fees, kids' and visitor rates — from published prices, checked 31 October 2026.
This guide is built only from fees that gyms publish on their own websites, plus one gym that gave us its prices directly. Every number links back to the listing it came from, so you can check it. We give ranges and the number of gyms behind each range rather than averages, because the samples are small.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (8 gyms)
| Gym | Adult monthly | Kids monthly | Joining fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axross Jiu-Jitsu (Okinawa City) | ¥8,800 | ¥4,400–¥6,600 | ¥11,000 |
| Carpe Diem Okinawa (Chatan) | ¥8,000 (beginner) – ¥15,000 | ¥9,000 | ¥10,000 |
| The Blackbelt Japan (Naha & Koza) | ¥9,500 +tax | ¥5,000 +tax | ¥10,000 +tax (kids ¥5,000) |
| Impacto BJJ (Chatan & Ginowan)* | ¥10,000 | ¥8,000 | not stated |
| COA Jiu-Jitsu Academy (Naha) | ¥11,000 | ¥4,400–¥6,600 | ¥10,000 |
| Carpe Diem Naha (Shuri) | ¥12,000 (women ¥8,000) | ¥8,000 | ¥10,000 |
| Pacific Grappler (Okinawa City) | ¥15,000 | ¥9,000 | ¥5,000 |
| Kuro Hata BJJ (Uruma) | ¥15,000 | ¥10,000 | ¥5,000 |
*Impacto's fees were reported to us by the gym and are not on its website; its kids' class is at the Chatan dojo. Many gyms also offer cheaper women's, student, daytime or limited-class plans; see each listing.
In short: adult BJJ runs about ¥8,000–¥15,000 a month at these gyms, kids' classes about ¥4,400–¥10,000, and joining fees ¥5,000–¥11,000.
Kickboxing and Muay Thai (6 gyms)
| Gym | Men monthly | Women monthly | Kids monthly | Joining fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maki Gym Itoman | ¥8,800 | ¥6,600 | ¥6,600 | ¥11,000 (women/juniors ¥5,500) |
| Nago Muay Thai School | ¥8,800 | ¥5,000–¥6,000 | ¥6,000 | ¥10,000 (women/kids ¥5,000) |
| DROP (Ginowan) | ¥9,900 | ¥7,700 | ¥7,700 | ¥10,000 (kids ¥5,000) |
| Y'ZD Tomigusuku Gym | ¥11,000 | ¥7,700 | ¥5,500 | ¥11,000 |
| PoliDia (Naha) | ¥10,780 (5×/month) – ¥12,980 | same | ¥8,580–¥10,780 | ¥10,000 + ¥1,100 |
| Refinas Naha (fitness chain) | ¥11,800 (4×/month) – ¥16,800 +tax | ¥9,800–¥14,800 +tax | — | ¥15,000 + ¥2,000 +tax |
In short: men pay about ¥8,800–¥12,980 a month at the dedicated kickboxing gyms, with the Refinas fitness chain higher. Women's rates at most of these gyms are ¥5,000–¥7,700, and kids' classes ¥5,500–¥10,780. Joining fees are ¥10,000–¥15,000, often reduced for women and children.
Full-contact karate
Shinkyokushin Yoshida Dojo publishes one fee schedule for its seven Okinawa branches: ¥9,900 a month for adult men and ¥8,800 for children (from age 3), women and junior/senior high students, plus a ¥5,000 joining fee (campaign rate), an ¥11,000 yearly federation fee and a ¥14,300 gi. The Kyokushinkaikan and Sekai Sokyokushin groups do not publish fees.
Traditional karate, kobudo and aikido
Most traditional dojo do not publish fees; they are usually explained when you visit. The few published examples are not enough to call typical, but they give a sense of scale:
- Asato Dojo (Naha, teaches in English): ¥7,500 a month per style for adults or kids; visitors ¥3,000 a class.
- Yoshinkan Okinawa Aikido Association: ¥3,000 a month.
- MCCS Martial Arts (on base, installation access needed): $50 a month for Isshin-ryu, Kenpo or kobudo; BJJ $100 for adults.
Community-hall clubs (kendo, judo, many karate groups) are often much cheaper, but you will usually need to ask.
Visitors, drop-ins and trials
- Drop-in or visitor fees at gyms that publish them: ¥1,500 (COA), ¥2,000 (Pacific Grappler), ¥3,000 (Carpe Diem Okinawa, Carpe Diem Naha, Asato Dojo), ¥3,300 (Maki Gym) and ¥5,000 (Kuro Hata).
- Free trials are common at BJJ and kickboxing gyms — from one class to a week, and Axross currently advertises a free month.
- Some gyms take visitors by appointment only (Carpe Diem Naha refuses unannounced visits), and Y'ZD Tomigusuku does not take visitors at all.
See all trial classes for visitors.
Costs people forget
- Two months up front. Many gyms collect the joining fee plus two months' fees on day one, then switch to bank transfer from a Japanese account.
- Sports insurance (スポーツ保険) is often required — roughly ¥800–¥2,000 a year at the clubs that list it.
- Uniform and gear: a gi or dogi, gloves, shin guards. Several gyms rent or lend gear for trials.
- Yearly or federation fees at some dojo, for example ¥11,000 at Shinkyokushin.
- Tax: most prices include tax; Blackbelt Japan and Refinas quote before tax.
Asking about fees
It is normal to ask. Useful phrases: Gessha wa ikura desu ka? (月謝はいくらですか？ — how much is the monthly fee?) and Nyūkaikin wa arimasu ka? (入会金はありますか？ — is there a joining fee?). See also dojo etiquette, the kids' classes page and our beginner guide.
Published 2026-10-31 · Updated 2026-10-31. Spot an error? Tell us.