Reach your Goals at Eastside Dojo!

Eastside Dojo is a Judo dojo in Plano, Texas. Judo is a modern martial art and Olympic sport based on throws, pins and submission moves. We provide an open environment for all to learn and work out together - with the common goal to improve skill, wellness, and ability to compete. Whether you are coming to feel more confident in your self-defense, build the key trait of resilience in your children, or looking to scratch a competitive itch, Eastside Dojo will help you reach and exceed your goals.

Club News

High Performance Program

led by Olympic Bronze Medalist - N. Sainjargal

In order to grow competitive Judo in Texas, Eastside Dojo has brought on a decorated Olympian as its full-time High Performance coach: Mongolian judoka Nyam-Ochir Sainjargal.  Or as he is affectionally called "Nyamka". Nyamka won the Olympic Games bronze in London 2012 and won bronze at the 2015 World Championships in Astana. Nyamka was World #1 from april 2013 to april 2014 in the 73KG weight class, one of the toughest weight classes in Judo.

Nyamka's mission is  to develop our youth into national contenders and champions. He will ensure that our athletes have the conditioning, techniques, strategies and mindsets needed to succeed.

Promotions at Eastside Dojo

Eastside has a simple promotion philosophy. Participation drives excellence. The more you practice, the better you get. Testing is helpful, but it is participation that builds resilience, perseverance and character.

Bantams

Bantams are kids aged from 5 to 8 years old. Typically they will progress from a white belt to a white-green belt by the time they are 8.

Intermediates

Intermediates are kids aged from 9 to 12 years old. Typically they will progress from a white belt to a blue-black belt by they time they are 12.

Juveniles

Juveniles are teens aged 13 to 16, and will tend to move from Green to brown within a 2-3 year period and as seniors to a black belt within 1 to 2 years.

Seniors

Seniors are participants 17 and up. The progression for Seniors runs from white to yellow to orange to green to brown and eventually to black belts.

Kids at Eastside

Judo is a great sport for kids. Attending judo classes will increase strength and coordination as most sports will. However, throwing techniques are unique to judo and the emphasis in judo on learning and mastering falling techniques are simply not done in other sports. These are true life skills that will enhance participation in other sports and activities throughout a judokas life.

Even more important than the physical skills learned in judo class, are the skills of cooperation and partnership. Though judo is a sport where participants fight each other, in practice there is no learning or improving without cooperation and partnership. The classes at Eastside Dojo emphasize this. All judo drills are done with a partner, the tori (person performing a technique)  and the uke (person receiving the technique).

Everyone wants to be a good tori, but being a good uke is essential for learning and we will instill that in our students. As well, bigger or more experienced kids are taught to help younger or smaller kids. While we want to see kids in judo class become more athletic and learn judo technique, more important is for them to learn how they improve and how they can affect the improvement of others.

Girls in Judo

Adults in Judo

It is great to learn new skills as an adult. Judo class provides exercise that can add strength, stamina, coordination as well as control weight. Judo classes/workouts are not easy, they are challenging and rewarding. In beginner judo classes you will sweat, your pulse will increase, your adrenaline will pump, and your body will learn moves it has never done before. In more advanced classes there will be more emphasis on randori(sparring) both in newaza(grappling) and tachi waza(standing)

COMPETITION