I met Dr. Kento Kamiyama several years ago during a Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT) Seminar. NKT is a treatment modality that addresses the central nervous system through specific assessments and corrective exercises. I was just beginning to step away from a professional modern dance career and into the health and fitness industry as a personal trainer. I began as a classically trained dancer which provided me with a good understanding of human movement but I needed to learn much more in order to train the general population how to move well and exercise. Dr. Kamiyama became a life-line for me in this process. He always makes me feel comfortable to ask my many questions and provides me with the most intelligent answers.
When Dr. Kamiyama became a lead instructor for NKT and started leading his own study groups on the material, I was thrilled! These groups are attended by other professionals in the field including physical therapists, athletic trainers, chiropractors, and massage therapists. His way of teaching is always well thought out so that tough and complicated concepts are clearly understood. He is truly invested in his students and wants to make sure no one is left behind during the learning process.
Not only is Dr. Kamiyama a teacher and mentor, he became my physical therapist as well. I spent over a year training for The StrongFirst Kettlebell Instructor Certification (SFG), which is one of the most intense programs in the industry. One of the requirements is to perform 100 kettlebell snatches in under 5 minutes. Dr. Kamiyama is an SFG himself so he understands first hand the rigors of learning the bell. During my training, I developed “trigger finger” also known as stenosing tenosynovitis. In just one visit Dr. Kamiyama solved the problem. He watched me do a few kettlebell swings and was able to see the issue right away. I had an intrinsic core “leak”, meaning I lost deep abdominal stability during the swing and was relying too much on my fingers. Most doctors or therapists would have sent me home with anti-inflammatories and told me to rest rather than finding the true cause of the problem. Using his strong physical therapy education, Neurokinetic Therapy and Postural Restoration knowledge, along with his own kettlebell background, Dr. Kamiyama was able to coach me and send me home with the correctives that addressed the root of the problem. I performed my exercises as recommended and my pain was gone, never to return. With Dr. Kamiyama’s help, I was able to pass the snatch test and become a certified SFG. If only I knew him when I was dancing!
After having studied from Dr. Kamiyama and seeing him myself for treatment, he became my first choice of clinicians to refer clients to if they were experiencing pain. One gentleman in his mid-forties had neck pain since he was a child. After seeing Dr. Kamiyama his pain occurred much less frequently and after just a few visits the pain ceased. Another woman in her 80’s with spinal stenosis had a wobbly gait and can now balance on one leg. On the other end of the spectrum, an advanced male climber who continued to plateau in his training due to reoccurring injuries, is now a mid 5.11 climber on a scale 5.0-5.15.
Dr. Kamiyama is devoted to helping his clients achieve physical and mental health. His passion for anatomy and human movement leads him to constantly seek out more knowledge by taking a variety of continuing education courses so he can always bring his patients the best of himself. I know many clinicians and practitioners in the field are inspired by Dr. Kamiyama, his professionalism, and high standard of care.

As an avid weight lifter and general exercise enthusiast, working out is my life and one of the few activities that allows me to achieve peace and serenity. However, for the past four years I had been experiencing chronic pain in my traps and upper back. I had seen chiropractors, physical therapists, exercise physiologists, so called “gurus” and nothing worked. Nothing. I was at a loss and at the age of 23 I was ready to accept my fate of being in constant pain. And then one of my many physical therapists recommended I see Kento Kamiyama.
When I first met Kento, I described the general pain and he immediately put me through tests to identify the issues. Little by little, Kento discovered the route of my problem that no other doctor or therapist diagnosed: I was breathing incorrectly.
After giving me a series of corrective exercises, I began to notice significant improvement.
I not only feel better, I look better. Before seeing Kento I was asymmetric and it drove me crazy. For those of you who place the ultimate premium on fitness, when your body doesn’t reflect your work, it’s extremely frustrating. I can now lift more efficiently and the results speak for themselves. He also practices out of a great gym filled with extremely informed individuals who can also lend a hand if needed.
Kento has a keen ability to look at an isolated issue and use a full body approach to correct the issue. I had pain in my traps and Kento realized that I wasn’t utilizing my obliques and back to breathe–nothing to do directly with my trap, but that is where the pain manifested. Using his amazing puzzle solving skills, Kento was able to not only solve my trap issue, but improve my overall flexibility and functionality.
Through combining eastern and western methods, along with regularly teaching, Kento uses the most effective methods and is hands down the most knowledgeable therapist I’ve dealt with. He is a very kind-hearted individual who genuinely listens to what is causing you pain. Kento is not arrogant in the slightest and truly wants to help you improve. During one session, he realized that I did not need the full hour so he offered me a very generous prorated fee; he was happier to see me feeling well than to get a bigger check.
Can’t is not in this man’s vocabulary; he will do whatever it takes to fix any problems you’re experiencing. I strongly encourage anyone who is in any sort of physical pain to seek this man out. You will not be sorry and your results will speak volumes.

Great class yesterday! The content not only reinforced the holistic approach I strive to enforce when treating clients but also emphasized the importance of breathing efficiently and effectively and how much it plays a role in overall function. I walked away from that course with new tools for my toolbox and a great experience. It appeared everyone was engaged the entire day (something I do not typically see when taking continuing ed), which can only be attributed to the great instructor. Content is content. But, when you have someone who’s passionate about the information, engages the class through hands-on activities and open discussion, you create an unforgettable learning experience.