Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai Hollywood Branch

Happy Birthday to Akira and Ben.
They are no longer physically on the mat with us, but they live on in our memories of their kindness and good cheer. They were always working hard to attain a higher level of ability in Daito Ryu.
Ben March 1st
Akira March 15th

This evenings class is going to be a little thin on attendance due to the Iowa Kenshukai, but we remaining members will be on mat as usual this Saturday and Sunday.

Relive the magic of our 2019 Kenshukai at Hollywood Dojo, where we were honored to have two Aiki legends on the mat - Kiyama Shihan and Carmack Sensei, showcasing North America's finest examples of top-level Aiki waza.

Kiyama Shihan back at the Coastal Dojo days.
So grateful for the amazing times in that dojo.

Great post from Quintana Sensei sharing his lessons from Kiyama Shihan.

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.

Kiyama Sensei will be on the mat with us here in LA this Friday and Saturday. Looking forward to getting some good training in.
Fuji Dojo 1999 give or Take a year. After class shenanigans.

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.