I checked this out a few days ago and here`s what I found.
1. Directions: Assuming you come from central Tokyo. Take the Toyoko line from Shibuya. Try to get the Limited Express cos its only four stations (the Express is about 8, don`t even think of getting the local train). Cost is Y260. Change at Yokohama onto the JR Negishi line. It goes from JR platform 3 and is via Ofuna, and on the maps it is blue. Get off at Kannai station. Its 2 stops and costs Y130 (but the ticket machine button you press has the kanji on it rather than the price, its second from the left, next to the Y150 button).
Take the exit for the Yokohama Cultural Centre (signposted in English), turn left coming down the stairs. Take the pelican crossing and continue in a straight line directly down a seedy back road with lots of bars. That road ends 300m later onto a main road. Look right and Pancrase Yokohama is right next to you in the basement, with the Pancrase `X` symbol on an advertising board.
2. Price: Y20,000 membership, Y10,000 per month. Not sure if you can pay per class. Classes appear to be evenings only, but again I`m not sure.
3. Gym: Unlike a previous post, I think the gym is just one floor in the basement (that`s all I could see when I went in), not 3 floors. Its the size of a normal british boxing gym and has the same smells and atmosphere. There`s a ring, matted area, rack of MMA gloves and pads, changing area.
I went there after Rings (its virtually next door to Yokohama Cultural Centre) so they were just closing up and I couldn`t observe a class. I just talked to Osami Shibuya who was teaching that day.
4. Teaching: Seems to be all Pancrase, with a little catch-wrestling. No gi work was advertised and no-one had gis with them.
The strong point seems to be the teaching rota. Every day is a different pro teacher who you would have heard of. Can`t remember every name but each week included days by: Minoru Suzuki, Minowa Ikusa, Takafumi Ito, Osami Shibuya etc.
The atmosphere was good and they were very friendly.
The only other gym I`ve been to in Tokyo is Purebred. In comparison I`d say Purebred has better facilities and more varied training, whereas Pancrase has teaching from more seasoned pros and more of them. But I think the choice would depend mostly on where you live.
Nick
1. Directions: Assuming you come from central Tokyo. Take the Toyoko line from Shibuya. Try to get the Limited Express cos its only four stations (the Express is about 8, don`t even think of getting the local train). Cost is Y260. Change at Yokohama onto the JR Negishi line. It goes from JR platform 3 and is via Ofuna, and on the maps it is blue. Get off at Kannai station. Its 2 stops and costs Y130 (but the ticket machine button you press has the kanji on it rather than the price, its second from the left, next to the Y150 button).
Take the exit for the Yokohama Cultural Centre (signposted in English), turn left coming down the stairs. Take the pelican crossing and continue in a straight line directly down a seedy back road with lots of bars. That road ends 300m later onto a main road. Look right and Pancrase Yokohama is right next to you in the basement, with the Pancrase `X` symbol on an advertising board.
2. Price: Y20,000 membership, Y10,000 per month. Not sure if you can pay per class. Classes appear to be evenings only, but again I`m not sure.
3. Gym: Unlike a previous post, I think the gym is just one floor in the basement (that`s all I could see when I went in), not 3 floors. Its the size of a normal british boxing gym and has the same smells and atmosphere. There`s a ring, matted area, rack of MMA gloves and pads, changing area.
I went there after Rings (its virtually next door to Yokohama Cultural Centre) so they were just closing up and I couldn`t observe a class. I just talked to Osami Shibuya who was teaching that day.
4. Teaching: Seems to be all Pancrase, with a little catch-wrestling. No gi work was advertised and no-one had gis with them.
The strong point seems to be the teaching rota. Every day is a different pro teacher who you would have heard of. Can`t remember every name but each week included days by: Minoru Suzuki, Minowa Ikusa, Takafumi Ito, Osami Shibuya etc.
The atmosphere was good and they were very friendly.
The only other gym I`ve been to in Tokyo is Purebred. In comparison I`d say Purebred has better facilities and more varied training, whereas Pancrase has teaching from more seasoned pros and more of them. But I think the choice would depend mostly on where you live.
Nick
