About us
Kokushi Budo Institute is one of the oldest martial arts school in NYC established in 1963 on the Upper West Side.
We teach traditional Japanese martial arts such as Judo, Japanese Jiujitsu, Aikido and Karate. We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming, family-friendly environment—whether you're an adult seeking to refine your skills or a kid just starting out.
Meet Head Instructor Shintaro Higashi
NYU Stern Executive MBA
M.A Education
Former IJF 43rd world rank
2x World Team member (2010, 2011)
2x National Judo Champion
Beijing Olympic Trials qualifier
2x All State Wrestling, HS and NCAA
BJJ Black belt
3x World Cup Medalist (Brazil, Samoa, Miami)
Established 1963
Our Dojo History
The lineage of our school traces directly to Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo. One of Kano’s top students, Hikoichi Aida, helped spread judo internationally and later developed a number of talented students in Japan, including Nobuyoshi Higashi.
Born in Kumamoto, Japan in 1937, Nobuyoshi Higashi trained intensely from a young age, balancing farm work, education, and daily judo practice. He later studied and competed at Kokushikan University, one of Japan’s leading judo institutions.
As part of Japan’s effort to spread judo internationally, Higashi was sent abroad to teach and ultimately came to New York. In 1963, he founded the Kokushi Budo Institute, establishing a dojo grounded in the principles passed down through the Kano lineage.
In addition to judo, Higashi trained under Masutatsu Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate, and Kenji Tomiki, founder of Tomiki Aikido, earning black belt rank under both masters. Eventually he synthesized all his experience and developed his own style of Jiujitsu called Kokushi Ryu Jiujitsu.
Today the school continues under the leadership of his son, Shintaro Higashi, a former international competitor and multiple-time national champion. The dojo remains committed to the tradition and philosophy passed down through its lineage:
Kano → Aida → Higashi Sr→ Higashi Jr.
