I first had the opportunity to train with Howard Popkin Sensei in 2019 at one of his seminars, and I was immediately struck by three things: his high-level skill, his approachable openness, and his incredible clarity of instruction.
Recently, I’ve had the privilege of studying with him privately on a consistent basis, and the depth of his knowledge continues to exceed my expectations.
As a combat sports athlete with a background in BJJ, Judo, Shuai Jiao, Sumo, Kickboxing, and MMA, I am well aware that some Daito Ryu demonstrations can look “out there” or even staged to the uninitiated. I understand the skepticism; I’ve seen the videos too. However, I can assure you that the skills Howard teaches—coming down from Seigo Okamoto —are profoundly real and highly functional.
The results were immediate. After just my first lesson, I was able to use the specific technical details and internal principles Howard explained to hold one of my much larger, stronger Sumo training partners at bay. Despite his size advantage, he could not budge me even one inch.
The subtle off-balancing skills and structural mechanics taught in Daito Ryu are an absolute game-changer. For any BJJ player, Judoka, or Tomiki Aikido practitioner looking to refine their kuzushi and understand the “invisible” physics of grappling, training with Howard is an invaluable investment.
Jamie Nottingham