My name is John Rodriguez. I started Danzan Ryu as an adult due to an enormous amount of stress I was dealing with. I had met and known Sensei Filiberto Gutierrez before I started Danzan Ryu. While I was going through this tough time, I approached my Sensei and asked for help on how to reduce my stress.
I told him that I was tired of being tired and, despite being 24 years old, I felt like a 60-year-old man.
My Sensei invited me to the dojo (Danzan Ryu Chicago) that same day, and I’ve been going ever since. Danzan Ryu has helped me manage and reduce my stress. It has also opened my mind to the pursuit of character perfection.
For these reasons, Danzan Ryu has become so important to me. Reading about the philosophy and goals of Danzan Ryu really struck a chord with me, and the idea of perfection of character is something I want to pursue or at least try. It’s only been a couple of months since I started, but I’m excited to continue this journey for as long as I can.
— John Rodriguez, Danzan Ryu Chicago