Shoshin Jiu Jitsu Erie, PA

10/20/2026

This is a good one! At Shoshin we prioritize longevity, and this video gives some really nice guidelines to long term success while preserving relatively high intensity of training sessions! Give it a watch!

Fun fact, I've trained BJJ for over 20+ years and I've never injure...

10/05/2026

Aki joined us to train this Saturday at our sparring class... Here are a couple slick setups!

Don't neglect your stand-up like so many jiu jitsu guys do these days... Level up your game at our next workshop this Saturday, October 10th!

Contact us to reserve your spot now!

10/01/2026

🎌MEET YOUR JUDO SENSEI 3/6- Aki Kuraishi

In this third clip, Aki Sensei describes his early competitive career, coaching background, his favorite throw, and gives some insight into his coaching mindset.

Aki Sensei was a Japanese college champion competitor representing Kokushikan University. After university, Aki competed in Australia and the United States, and also coached in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and United States.

His favorite throw is Seoi Nage, partly because if he misses, it gives him an opportunity to work newaza (ground technique).

Despite his personal penchant for Seoi Nage, Aki Sensei doesn't like to impose his own preferences onto his students. So if a student wants to get good at a particular throw, he's ok with that as long as it's developed into a strong base for their overall game.

When I asked him if he believes in teaching systems of techniques that fit together or focusing on one technique and mastering it, he says "first, strong base. Then, make branch."

Come join us on the mat for our next Judo Workshop with Aki Sensei on Saturday October 10th from 11am-1pm!

Stay tuned for Part 4 of this series, coming at you in the next couple days!

09/28/2026

🎌MEET YOUR JUDO SENSEI 2/6- Aki Kuraishi

In this second clip, Aki Sensei describes some key differences in training in Japan compared to how we train in the United States. In Japan, when you join a school club, you're expected to train every day, whereas here, most people train as it fits into their everyday schedule.

Also, Aki Sensei explains that the most important life lessons Judo has taught him that apply off the mat are and

And finally, when asked about how to describe Kodokan Judo in 3 words, he replied "blood, sweat, respect!"

Stay tuned for the rest of the interview, and don't forget to sign up for our next Judo Workshop on Saturday, October 10th from 11am-1pm!

RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY! 👉 https://kick.site/vvjfwk9u

09/26/2026

Control is a main focus for all jiu jitsu practitioners, but we're not often taught how to control the standing position and use it to our advantage to dictate if, how, and when the fight goes to the ground. Judo gives you the tools to control the stand up game, and when you decide to go to the ground, judo teaches you how to get there quickly, safely, with precision.

To develop your standup game to its full potential and transform yourself into a takedown machine, join us for our next Judo Workshop with Aki Sensei on Saturday October 10th from 11am-1pm at Shoshin Jiu Jitsu!

🟢What? -- Judo Workshop
🟢Where? -- Shoshin Jiu Jitsu, Erie, PA
🟢When? -- Saturday October 10th from 11am-1pm (doors open at 10:30am)
🟢Why? -- Develop your standup, experience traditional Japanese training!
🟢Who? -- All jiu jitsu/judo students are welcome, and anyone curious about learning judo even with no experience!
🟢How? -- Visit the link below👇👇 to reserve your spot!

Follow this link to RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY!
https://kick.site/vvjfwk9u

09/25/2026

MEET YOUR JUDO SENSEI 1/6- Aki Kuraishi

In this first clip, Aki sensei explains that for him, judo started at two years old- meaning he's been practicing for 28 years!! He was born in Nagano Prefecture, and his father was a police judo coach. He attended Kokushikan- one of the top level judo schools in Japan- for middle school, high school, and university.

Stand by for more interview clips like this as we get to know Aki Sensei together!

09/25/2026

🎌💥AMAZING Judo Workshop with Aki Sensei this past Sunday!!

We kicked off our judo program with a BANG! We had 28 students from Erie, Pittsburgh, Youngstown, and Cuyahoga Falls!

Everyone had fun, learned a ton, and we're all excited for the next class coming up on Saturday October 10th from 11am-1pm!

We focused heavily on gripping mechanics, basic entry into Ogoshi, and fundamentals of pinning on the ground. There was also a special guard pass thrown in to satiate the BJJ in all of us, haha!

If you'd like to become highly proficient at controlling the stand up exchange and takedown battle, then Judo at Shoshin is for you!

09/23/2026

Groundswell unboxing video!

I was very curious about this project from the beginning, and I was happy to receive my copy of this new book, "Groundswell: the Rise of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in America!"

I have personal connections to three of the people in this book, so when I see they'd be featured in such a high profile book, I had to support the project on Kickstarter!

Steve Maxwell was the first person in our area of the country to hold any significant jiu jitsu rank, and in about 1995 he held a seminar in the Poconos mountains taught by Royce, Rorion, and Hélio Gracie. At this seminar, my stepdad was awarded his blue belt directly from Hélio. Thank you Steve Maxwell for that opportunity!

In 2017 I joined the Pedro Sauer Jiu Jitsu Association as a white belt student, and have trained with Pedro Sauer many many times since. He's a legend, and the nicest guy you'll ever meet!

In 2018, as a fresh blue belt, I visited VALENTE BROTHERS | Jiu-Jitsu in Miami Florida with my brother after having followed Pedro Valente and being inspired by him and his brothers to investigate and embody the philosophical and moral principles that jiu jitsu has to teach us, along side the martial arts. Since then, I've had 文武両道 embroidered on all my belts, to remind myself to be a scholar as well as a warrior.

Thank you to all the people who have contributed to the Rise of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in America.

But, let's not forget our history goes back much further than that... Thank you to all the Japanese teachers for spreading jiu jitsu all over the world at the behest of Kano Jigoro sensei... We owe it all to them and their courage to go to foreign countries and fight the best to prove the effectiveness of our martial art.

09/21/2026

It is quite rare in the United States to have two Fourth Dan judo sensei on the mat together... But today it happened, and they are both my teachers!

Rob Parsons was the first person to teach me anything about judo. His classes were transformational for me as a jiu jitsu practitioner and judoka.

Aki Kuraishi just came to the United States from Japan to study Gannon University

I'm proud to know them both, and I'm very excited for our future at Shoshin!

09/20/2026

🎌Incredible judo workshop today! 🥳🥳🥳

We put on our first judo workshop today at Shoshin Jiu Jitsu with Kuraishi Sensei, and it was a huge success!

Thank you to all who participated. 🙏🏼🙏🏼

We had students from a variety of schools in the Northwest PA/Northeast Ohio area, and it was a blast!

We hope to continue the momentum into our next event. Save the date!

Saturday, October 10th... Details coming, be ready for the sign up sheet and lock in your spot because at this pace we are going to fill up the mat!

See you all soon!