Rakuen Martial Arts Academy
(07) 5554 6465
Email: admin@rakuenjodo.com.au
Rakuen Martial Arts Academy
1/54 Paradise Ave, Miami QLD 4220
• Best Australian Judo Training Facility 2017
• Two Star Club 2017- Having between 50 - 75 Financial Members with the Judo Federation of Australia.
Rakuen Martial Arts is a unique Martial Arts Training Centre which offers a variety of classes to improve fitness, strength, endurance, self esteem, confidence and body awareness. Each class is scaled to an individual’s level with the emphasis on self improvement and enjoyment. Please find below some photos of our facility. Rakuen Martial Arts is a World Class Dojo, completely decked out with a Sprung Sub-Floor under Competition Quality Foam Tatami Mats. Our Facility Includes 290m2 Inside plus heaps of parking and a back area for our customers to enjoy, these include:
The name ‘Rakuen’ is Japanese for ‘Paradise Garden’. This name was chosen because of our location and beautiful surroundings of the Gold Coast. We aim to discover the Warrior within everyone. All people are unique and have unique battles in their life on and off the mat. The culture fostered in our classes teaches students that there is no battle they cannot overcome, we all have a Warrior within us.
Whether it's about keeping fit and making friends, or you just have the dream to one day become a World Judo Champion, - we are with you every step of the way. Fitness is the core principle behind the success of a professional athlete or simply the wellbeing of 'us' normal people. We're here to share some secrets, and help you shed some kilos, to help create a healthier, happier you.
At Rakuen Martial Arts we realise starting at a New Gym or Sporting Club can be exciting but just as much daunting, and even more so if it is a Martial Art. We have a family style culture at Rakuen Martial Arts to create a great atmosphere, which makes all members and new comers feel welcome.
Rakuen Martial Arts Kids Classes combine judo and fitness regimes for kids of all ages used in Japan, which aims to teach discipline, dedication, respect and coordination, as well as impart the values of a Martial Artist.
We want your child to learn life-skills such as teamwork, respect and innerconfidence – all whilst keeping them fit and healthy and learning a great self defence system.
Our aim is to build strong values within your little ones, while offering a positive and encouraging learning environment. Children in these classes will learn the following techniques:
Rakuen Martial Arts Adults Classes offer the following technique training in our classes:
Matthew Kinstler started his Judo Journey as an 8 year old in 1980 in Mackay, North Queensland, and then he continued attending Judo Classes during his high school years after moving to Perth in 1985. At the age of fifteen Matthew started his first job teaching kids Judo at the local PCYC in Midland, Western Australia and then in 2009 started teaching Judo Classes again at the Gold Coast PCYC before becoming a Founding Member of Rakuen Judo Incorporated in 2010.
After many years of teaching, practicing, competing and refereeing in Club, State, National and International Judo Competitions Matthew Kinstler can offer valuable personal experience of do’s and don’ts, in depth knowledge of all Judo Techniques and always the best advice to help bring out your best as a Skilled Martial Artist or Serious Athlete interested in regular competitions.
• Instructor - International Judo Federation
• Coach - International Judo Federation
• Coach - Australian Sports Commission
• Diploma Judo Management - International Judo Federation
• Black Belt Second Degree/Dan - International Judo Federation
• Advanced First Aid & CPR - Surf Life Saving Queensland
• Blue Card Holder - Police Clearance
• Referee Level A - Judo Queensland
• Author of Judo Essentials – Australian Grading Manual
Judo is a Martial Art, as well as being a Combat Olympic Sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. One of the main principals of Judo evolves the “maximum efficiency – best use of ones energy”, so it becomes possible for smaller people to overcome a larger and stronger opponent. The second main principal of practicing Judo is “mutual welfare and benefit”, meaning to be respectful and to contribute back to fellow Judoka and the Community. Judo’s most prominent feature seems to be its competitive element, where the objective is to either throw or takedown an opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue an opponent with a pin, or force an opponent to submit with a joint lock or a choke. Strikes and thrusts by hands and feet as well as weapons defences are a part of judo, but only in our Self-Defense Classes and Kata Classes. Punching and kicking is not allowed in judo competition or free practice fighting referred to as “randori”. A judo practitioner is called a “Judoka”.
Beginners to Judo will be given instruction on the Judo Dojo etiquette, shown charts of Judo’s various techniques, and given a brief rundown on the grading and competition processes. Once the class has bowed in we always start by warming up and doing stretching exercises and then practice our break falling and forward rolls. Newbies will be taken to the side during the first class and shown how to break fall and do the forwards rolls properly, as well as shown walking, turning, gripping and standing techniques. Usually a Newbie to Judo will be taught their first throw and first hold down technique during the first class. By the second or third class Newbies would have been taught 1-2 throws, 1-2 hold downs, an escape, a turnover, moving past legs, break falls, forward rolls, gripping, turning, walking, and standing techniques. Meanwhile teenagers and adults would have also been shown 1-2 strangles and 1-2 arm bars. Depending on individual ability and the number of classes a week students attend, one should be ready to grade to yellow after 3-8 weeks.
Classes are available six days a week. Each training session specializes in different activities for different age groups. Please refer to the Timetable for full details.Contact Matthew Kinstler by phone, email or text to arrange a FREE one on one “Judo Discovery Session”. During the Free Judo Discovery Sessions you will get a personal tour of the facilities and I will answer any questions you may have about the activities and membership options offered. Students who join must also be financial members of the Judo Federation of Australia (Qld) and follow a code of conduct or “Dojo Etiquette” for safety, hygiene, and respect to build good character.
A great myth is that there is a religious belief that goes along with Judo. This is not true. There is no religion taught with Judo. Please keep in mind that Judo came from Japan and it is a Japanese Martial Art, and it has many Japanese customs along with it. These may seem very strange to a Westerner, even ridiculous to some. The Dojo should always be a place for serious study of Judo. When you enter any Dojo you should enter with a clean mind, and pay attention to all instruction given. All students must be on their best behavior at all times in the Dojo and each student should set a high standard of discipline. The higher ranked students are expected to set an example while in the Dojo for the lower grade students to follow.
Among the traditional fixtures of a traditional Judo Dojo is a NAFUDAKAKE or name board. All the highest ranked Members of the Dojo are listed on the board according to belt rank, with the most senior ranks listed first, then moving down the board. Not many Australian Judo Dojos use this item in the Dojo because they share the space with other organisations. Also there should always be a picture of Jigoro Kano in the KAMIZA area (JOSEKI) seat of honor.
There should also be an area for all Judoka to put their thongs, shoes or slippers prior to going on the mat surface.
If you are a parent and you are sitting on the sidelines, you are not to give your children any instructions from the sidelines and at no time are you allowed to go on the mat to help instruct your child. Many instructors will ask you to leave the Dojo. When you or your child is in a class or training session, it is up to the Sensei, not you, to give instruction.
All student are to attend classes hygienically clean without strong body or mouth odour. Nails are to be clean and clipped so not to scratch others, If hair is long it is to be tied back, no watches, piecing, ring or other jewellery is to be worn.
Through very specific customs an orderly, functional and efficient method of conduct has been laid down for use in all Dojo. One of the very first items of etiquette which each Judo student must learn, is when they enter or leave any Dojo, they must perform a Ritsu Rei (standing bow) in and out of the Dojo. This Rei is not just a physical thing to do, but is also mentally done. By this I mean that when entering the Dojo each student clears his or her mind of all evil and negative thoughts, and feels good about themselves with the good thoughts in mind to be a better person for what they are about to learn, or what they have learned at the Dojo before leaving. The second time that they are required to Rei is when they are about to enter or leave the mat area. Also at this time their minds should be clean and fresh with desire to learn and to become at ease with them selves. The third time they Rei is before and after working out with a partner. This is done with much respect as you are asking your training partner for the pleasure of working out with you, also you are saying I come with a clean mind, and have no intention of hurting you; in the event I or you should suffer injury, no ill feelings shall exist between us.
All students and assistant Instructors shall take their position in the proper area of the Dojo and sit in a seiza position (kneeling seated) in order of belt rank after the Sensei first kneels down facing the class. Boys and Men to have their knees two fists apart and the Girls and Women to have their knees one fist apart. The right big toe should be crossing over the left big toe. There are two bows at the start and end of each class. The first being towards the photo of Professor Jigoro Kano, and the second toward the Sensei by sliding your hand down off your thighs to have both palms flat on the mat. After bowing together everyone raises to his or her feet in ranked order after the Sensei gets to his feet. At the end of the class the same bowing structure repeats except everyone bows to the Sensei first, then towards the photo of Professor Jigoro Kano and then turn to bow to each fellow student close by, before standing up in belt rank order after the Sensei is standing.
When in any Dojo you are to remain seated in the correct Seiza (kneeling seated) unless the Sensei tells you to sit some other way. The proper way to sit is ether the Seiza, or Anza (cross legged). At no time is anyone below the rank of Black Belt rank is ever allowed to sit in the Kamiza area of the Dojo. When you are seated in a Dojo it is improper to sit with your feet and legs stretched out in front of you, or to lay back on the mat in any manner, unless you are engaged in some kind of special training. It is also improper to lean back with one or both hands on the mat behind you.
As their names are called to be awarded they should take the appropriate place on the stand, step to the front when the official moves forward, bend at the waist and hold the bow while the official hangs the medal around your neck, then stand, ritsu rei and step back on the stand. Contestants will stay on the stand until all awards have been made for that division. Then they may step down from the awards stand. During any ceremony at a tournament, players shall be in complete Judogi, and not have a Jacket over the gi. Just report in the complete Judogi only. Also you should have some type or footwear for when you are not in the mat area. Wearing a pair of thongs are the best since they can be quickly taken off and put on. Never wear any type of footwear on the contest area. In proper etiquette at a tournament, all contestants line up in a single line facing the Kamiza (or head table area) by Dojo across the mat area. All officials will line up facing the contestants. A designated official will command "REI" and at one time all contestants and officials will perform ritsu rei. Next all officials will turn and face the Kamiza and again execute the Ritsu Rei.
1. Defense against attack (lower level judo) kendo should be incorporated
2. Cultivation of the mind and body by observing others train and doing kata (middle level judo)
3. Putting ones energy to use, making the most effective use of mental and physical energy acquired at lower and mid level judo.
Highest goals of judo is self-perfection for the betterment of society (upper level judo)