Daito ryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai North American Hombu Dojo

06/06/2026

The 2026 Kodokai Kenshukai: Strengthening Tradition Through Training and Fellowship

Each year, the annual Kenshukai provides an opportunity not only to deepen the understanding of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai, but also to strengthen the friendships and bonds that unite the organization across countries and generations. This year's gathering in Sapporo was no exception.

This year's Kenshukai brought together approximately 25 Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai members from Japan and the United States, creating an outstanding opportunity for training, fellowship, and the continued strengthening of international friendships within the Kodokai community.

The North American delegation consisted of Danny Kiyama Sensei, U.S. Hombu-cho; Donald Quintana Sensei, U.S. Fuku Hombu-cho; Destrie Roy, Hollywood Branch Dojo-cho; and U.S. Kodokai members Sawyer Kalmus, Vito Lapiccola, and Charles Cunningham. It was an honor for the delegation to represent the United States alongside such dedicated practitioners and friends, all sharing a common commitment to the preservation and advancement of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai.

The annual Kenshukai was held at the Hokkaido Prefectural Comprehensive Sports Center, better known as Hokkai Kitayell, where participants had the privilege of learning from Kodokai Shihans Masakuni Matsumoto, Sōdanyaku; Toru Takahashi, So Hombu-cho; and Yoshio Araya, Fuku So Hombu-cho. Their decades of experience, dedication, and commitment to preserving the traditions of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai made every moment of instruction invaluable.

Beyond the official training, United States participants were also fortunate to enjoy four additional training sessions with Yuji Takigahira Sensei, Takeshi Shin-naka Sensei, and Tsukumi Yonaya Sensei. Held at the Nakajima Koen Sports Center and Kitagas Arena Sapporo, these sessions provided invaluable opportunities to deepen the understanding of Daito-ryu and reflected the generosity and spirit of sharing that defines the Kodokai.

This year's Kenshukai was also marked by the absence of Iori Manabe Shihan, who unfortunately was unable to attend. He was deeply missed by all in attendance. Over many years, Manabe Shihan has generously shared his knowledge, guidance, and friendship with practitioners from around the world. His instruction has had a profound impact on the understanding of Daito-ryu Kodokai by countless students, and many owe a great deal of their growth to his patience and willingness to teach. The Kodokai community treasures the countless lessons he has shared over the years.

Over the course of five days, participants took part in four additional training sessions and two Kenshukai sessions, totaling nearly 18 hours of training. It was an intensive and rewarding experience that challenged everyone physically and mentally while providing countless opportunities to deepen their understanding of Daito-ryu. Every session offered new insights while reinforcing the principles and traditions that have been passed down through generations.

Just as valuable as the time spent on the mat were the moments shared away from training. Participants enjoyed wonderful meals together, exchanged ideas and experiences, strengthened old friendships, built new ones, and continued learning from one another in an atmosphere of mutual respect and camaraderie. These moments are every bit as important as the training itself and serve as a reminder that the Kodokai is not simply an organization, but a family united by a common tradition and a shared passion for learning.

The journey was unexpectedly extended by one day when Typhoon Jangmi canceled all flights into Tokyo. While travel disruptions are rarely welcome, the extra day provided another opportunity to spend time together, reflect on an incredible week, and further appreciate the friendships that make these journeys so meaningful.

Congratulations to everyone who received promotions during this year's Kenshukai. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to preserving the traditions of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai are truly inspiring and well deserved. These promotions represent countless hours of training, perseverance through challenges, and a commitment to carrying the art forward for future generations.

The North American delegation returned home with hearts full of gratitude for the exceptional instruction from the Kodokai Shihans and instructors, the friendships that continue to grow stronger each year, and the privilege of being part of such a remarkable tradition. Every trip to Japan serves as a reminder that there is always more to learn, both on and off the mat, and the North American Kodokai looks forward to the next opportunity to train with its friends and teachers in Japan.

Domo arigato gozaimash*ta to everyone who made this unforgettable experience possible.

05/29/2026

Members of the North American Daito ryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai gather to train with the Japan Hombu members for the annual Kenshukai in Sapporo Japan. This is day one!

03/10/2026

This past weekend, Daito Ryu of Cedar Rapids hosted their Spring Kenshukai, bringing together students and guests from several regions for a few days of focused training and study in Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu Kodokai. Participants traveled in from California, Missouri, Illinois, and nearby Iowa City, with Kiyama Sensei leading the training sessions. Kenshukai provide an opportunity for deeper practice beyond the regular class schedule and reflect the continuing spirit of Sessatakuma (切磋琢磨) within the Kodokai community.

02/04/2026

Continuing a series of reflections on the teachings passed down by Hayawo Kiyama Shihan, this post touches on the principle of 忍耐 (nintai), the quiet perseverance required to remain on the path of training over time. Within the Kodokai, nintai has long been understood as essential to shugyo and to the steady transmission of budo and bujutsu. May these teachings continue to guide our community and support the preservation of Daito-ryu across generations.

In a previous post, I wrote about 我慢 (gaman) and how Kiyama Shihan taught it as the way we meet difficulty in the moment. How we stay present with frustration, discomfort, and correction without reacting or turning away from the work.

忍耐 (nintai) builds directly on that idea.

When Kiyama Shihan spoke about training, he made a quiet but important distinction between gaman and nintai. If gaman is about how you meet difficulty in the moment, nintai is about how you continue over time.

忍耐 (nintai) is often translated as patience or perseverance, but in Daito-ryu training it points to something deeper. Nintai is the ability to stay on the path for years, not just weeks or months, without needing constant reassurance, public recognition, or visible progress.

In Daito-ryu, real understanding unfolds slowly. Techniques do not reveal themselves all at once. Progress is often subtle and easy to miss. There are long stretches where training feels ordinary, repetitive, or unclear. Nintai is what allows a student to stay present through those periods without becoming restless or discouraged.

Without nintai, people often leave when progress feels slow. They look for something new, something faster, or something that promises results without time. With nintai, depth begins to form. The same techniques start to feel different. The same training begins to reveal new layers.

This is where Kiyama Shihan would often say "Turtle, turtle, turtle, always wins the race, you don't need to hurry up."

What he was pointing to was not speed or talent, but consistency. You keep training. You keep showing up. You do not rush ahead, and you do not give up when progress feels invisible.

Nintai does not mean stubbornness or blind endurance. It is paired with awareness, sincerity, and honest effort. You remain patient, but engaged. You persist, but attentive.

In many ways, nintai is what allows shugyo to become real. Gaman gets you through difficult moments. Nintai is what keeps you training long enough for those moments to add up to real understanding.

This is one of the quieter lessons passed down in Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu Kodokai from Kiyama Shihan. There is no rush and no promise of instant results, only steady training and time.

In Daito-ryu, the turtle really does win the race.

02/02/2026

Daito-ryu of Cedar Rapids will host Chief Instructor Daniel Kiyama Sensei for its annual Spring Kenshukai. The Deputy Chief Instructor and Cedar Rapids dojo-cho, Donald Quintana, will also be present to help guide the training.

Those interested in attending should apply for an invitation. Space is limited due to the size of the dojo. Inquiries may be sent to [email protected]

Daito ryu of Cedar Rapids Spring Kenshukai
March 6th to 8th, 2026
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

We are honored to host this year’s Spring Kenshukai at the Cedar Rapids Dojo. This annual training is open to active members of the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai and those attending by invitation. Space is limited due to the size of the training area. To apply for an invitation, please email [email protected]

Chief Instructor Danny Kiyama Sensei will be leading the weekend’s training, joined by Deputy Chief Instructor Donald Quintana, Cedar Rapids Dojo Cho. The weekend will emphasize careful technical study, refinement through repetition, and training in the spirit of the Kodokai tradition.

This is a rare opportunity to train together in a dedicated setting with fellow members committed to preserving and transmitting Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.

01/19/2026

8-year-old Hayawo Kiyama of Los Osos was fishing with his aunt when lightning lit up the sky: “It was wide and thick but without sound, an unsettling and unnatural event.”

11/25/2025

Sharing a few thoughts on the teachings passed down by Hayawo Kiyama Shihan, especially the principles of shugyo, gaman, and nintai. These values have long guided training within the Kodokai in the U.S.A. and continue to shape our understanding of budo, the martial way that refines character, and bujutsu, the practical skills handed down through generations. May these teachings continue to resonate throughout our community and support the ongoing preservation of our art.

Shugyo...

Training in a traditional martial art like Daito-ryu is more than learning technique. It is both budo, the martial way that shapes our character, and bujutsu, the practical skills passed down through generations. Together, they form the path we walk every time we step onto the tatami.

My Sensei, Hayawo Kiyama Shihan, taught me that real growth comes through shugyo (修行). Shugyo is disciplined, sincere training that polishes the spirit through steady effort. It asks us to face our own rough edges and refine them over time. He also taught me the importance of gaman (我慢) and nintai (忍耐).

(我慢)Gaman is quiet endurance, the willingness to keep going when things are difficult.

(忍耐) Nintai is patience that runs deep, the kind that allows understanding to develop slowly and honestly.

These principles carry us through the frustrating days when progress feels out of reach.

With time, something shifts. Movements soften. Timing becomes clearer. A technique finally settles into the body. These breakthrough moments are born from the hours of training that no one sees, the repetition, the effort, and the willingness to stay with the art.

This is the heart of budo. Not chasing perfection, but refining who we are through the practice itself. Keep training with sincerity and let each step shape your spirit.

(Shugyo Shikishi by Tomiharu Kato Sensei, former Kodokai Menkyo Kaiden Shihan and direct student of Horikawa Kodo, founder of the Kodokai Branch of Daito ryu Aikijujutsu)

11/05/2025

As the Cedar Rapids dojo of Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu Kodo Kai nears its first anniversary, the Dojo-cho shares a reflection on maintaining the art’s sincerity and spirit as taught by his teacher, Hayawo Kiyama Shihan. The dojo remains faithful to the values of humility, patience, and truth in training, carrying forward the living spirit of the old San Luis Obispo Hombu Dojo. Its tatami, kamidana, nafudakake name board, and kanban now reside in Cedar Rapids, linking the past to the present and the teacher to the student.

Preserving the Spirit: Why Our Daito Ryu Dojo Will Never Become a Commercial Venture

There is a quiet dignity in tradition. In the old days, the teacher did not advertise. The art spoke for itself, and those meant to find it eventually did.

Horikawa Kodo Sensei, the founder of our branch of Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu (the Kodokai), once said that if he had one good, dedicated student, that would be enough.

Today, many martial arts are marketed like fitness programs: contracts, slogans, and promises of “Instant Aiki.” Another school proudly lists fifteen belt ranks between white and black, costing around $1,675 to reach shodan in three or four years. That does not include monthly dues or training fees. It is quite the racket.

Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai is not like that. Here, there are only three levels between beginner and black belt (Shokyu, Chukyu, and Jokyu), and it often takes four to five years to reach shodan. In our tradition, black belt does not mean mastery; it means you have finally become a real student. A solid foundation in Jujutsu has been laid, and the study truly begins here.

A commercial dojo must always sell you something: uniforms, "approved" sparring gear, and merchandise, all conveniently marked up. But a traditional dojo exists to preserve a living art, not to generate profit.

Our dojo is small, just twenty-five tatami mats, but every inch of that space is filled with spirit, sweat, and sincerity. You will not find trophies or suits of samurai armor here. The dojo is simple, uncluttered, and dedicated entirely to the practice of Daito Ryu. It is not a studio for customers; it is a place of practice for students.

True budo and bujutsu training is about building character, cultivating patience, humility, and integrity. It is about developing good people who contribute to their communities, not creating clients and sales. The lessons extend far beyond the tatami. They shape how we move through the world, how we treat others, and how we face adversity with composure and respect.

We are not here to sell instructional videos or promote our own egos. We are here to practice sincerely, to learn to be who we are with authenticity, and to be at peace with that.

Our training is not about fighting or competition. It is about self-defense, awareness, and control. The goal is to end conflict efficiently and safely, with minimal harm and maximum understanding. In Daito Ryu, true skill is measured not by how much force we use, but by how little is needed.

We stay small for a reason. We move slowly for a reason. We teach with sincerity, not sales tactics.

We do need students to continue the tradition, and we welcome as many as wish to follow this path. But the door opens only to sincerity, not to speed or status.

Our goal is not to grow big, but to grow deep. To train sincerely, to teach responsibly, and to keep the tradition alive without diluting its meaning.

That is why this dojo will never become a commercial venture. It will remain what it was meant to be: a place of study, respect, and quiet pursuit of something true.

This is the way I was taught by my teacher, Hayawo Kiyama Shihan, and this is how the dojo in Cedar Rapids will be run. Though it is a fairly new dojo, it stands on an old and honorable foundation, one built on respect, patience, and truth in training. The tatami in the Cedar Rapids dojo come from the old Hombu Dojo in San Luis Obispo, California, as do the kamidana, the nafudakake, and the kanban. The spirit of that dojo lives on here, carried forward with sincerity and gratitude.

Daito Ryu of Cedar Rapids