LIC Judo was founded by Max Severijns and Shintaro Higashi to create a place where people can safely learn high-level judo in New York City.

Max is a two-time Dutch national medalist with more than 20 years of competitive and coaching experience. He spent a decade training and teaching in Japan, Italy, Germany and the USA. Several of his former students have represented the Dutch national team and won European medals.

Shintaro is the founder and head instructor of KBI Judo on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. A former U.S. National Judo Team member, he received his sixth dan at age 32, making him one of the youngest judoka to achieve that rank. His teaching, writing and online work have made him one of the world’s most recognized judo instructors.


Gym Philosophy

Our dojo values curiosity. We encourage students to ask questions, solve problems, and develop an understanding of why techniques work. We respect tradition, and we are never afraid to learn from wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or anything that helps us become better judoka. 

Most importantly, we're building a dojo where people can train for decades. That means looking after your training partners, putting ego aside, and creating an environment where hard training and safety go hand in hand.


Teaching Approach

LIC Judo members that are new to judo start with the fundamentals and gradually build toward combinations, transitions, tactics, and live training. For more advanced students we focus on the throws that matter most in live rounds and revisit them often, adding new layers as students progress.

Our teaching draws on the Japanese university system, and approaches developed in other parts of the world. Some ideas have been around for generations, others have emerged through modern competition and the exchange of ideas with other grappling sports around the globe. We value patient teaching and work with each student to find what fits their body type, movement, and style of judo.


What New Students Can Expect

Your First Class 

There's no need to know anything before you step onto the mat. We'll introduce you to the basics and explain how the class is structured. Please remove all jewelry before class, tie back long hair, and make sure your fingernails and toenails are clean and neatly trimmed.

Getting Started

If you enjoy your trial class and decide to continue, we'll help you choose the membership that fits you best and answer any questions you may have. We'll also help you find a properly fitting gi and explain how classes, grading, and training work. From there, all you need to do is show up and keep training.

Progression

During your first few months, you'll focus on movement, breakfalls, and core techniques. As your confidence grows, you'll gradually take on more challenging drills, combinations, and live training.Students progress through judo's official Kodokan belt system. Promotions are earned through consistent practice.

The Dojo

Our dojo is located on the third floor and is accessible by elevator. Family and friends are welcome to watch class from the seating area. Street parking is available in the neighborhood. We're also easy to reach by public transportation, just a one-minute walk from the Jackson Ave-Vernon Blvd station (7 train), a three minute walk from the 21 St station (G train), and about a 12-minute walk from Court Square station (E and F trains).