Having had the privilege of coming to Japan and training, I am currently looking at ways to make this available to people across the world. My hope is to be able to help non-Japanese come to Japan and study the martial arts that they love, and get help in finding dojo that will train them. I've known several people here in Japan who have had trouble finding what they wanted to do, or even come across excess hostility, which drove them from doing what they wanted.

My idea is to set up a place for people to stay and help them find friendly places to train here in Japan. I was able to get aid from certain foreigners when I first came here, and this is something I would like to pass on and make available to others.

Is this something people would be interested in? Would you want to come to Japan and get additional instruction in your art? I'm trying to gauge interest and not trying to sell anything, so please either respond to this message or PM me if this is the kind of thing you'd enjoy doing.

lol...a budo boarding house w/ tour-guide?

Before you do that, try this: ask all of the dojo's Sensei in Japan that you now have connections with, if they think it would be a good idea. I'm thinking....no. If they wanted to be visible to tourists, they would have done so on their own.

Also, would Fukuoka be the most convienent location? Being 300 miles to Osaka, 600 miles away from Naha or Tokyo?

just some things to think about. sorry if it came off sarcastic.
[edit]here are also some things to think about:
http://www.koryubooks.com/library/mskoss6.html

Maybe if you'd have asked a decade or so ago, I might have played with the thought of going to Japan to train..

I haven't even been to all the places I want to train at here.I would like to go to Japan,to visit,not to train.

This is available: there is an international student program for Japan, China, and Korea. The idea is that you are there to learn the language, but it is done through immersion, you can take MA at the same time. It's called world link education. I don't work for them and I have never used their service so I have no idea of the quality.
Roger

i think its a good idea... you just need to get a good number of people that can currently afford it and that want to go...

its a good idea, but it will take a little work on your part

What would we have to benefit from training in Japan? Is it somehow superior? I don't see how it would be.

I plan to visit Okinawa in the future, with a view of training. However I think the main reason would be to try to expierience okinawan culture at its source, people, food, weather, living the lot......... ah and also train.

I plan to take a month out for this trip, I want to really expierience life in okinawa, and try to understand karates roots and history.

I hope to train in a few dojos, however this is out of my control.

I certainly wouldnt look at a 'pay' your money type trip, I need to be invited, therefore when and how and with who is out of my control.

Im sure i would benefit massivly as a martial artist from this expierience, and it would awnser many questions, and explain many things.

However I do not believe for 1 minute that the actual karate will be any better than what i currently do, apart from the fact that I hope to train 4-6 hours a day which is not possible in my normal life, I am lucky to have fantastic guidence from superb Sensei at home.