Founders
Meet Astrid and Daniel Brasse, co-founders of Aikido By the Bay. Their journey began at Field Aikido in Melbourne, Australia, where their paths first crossed and their shared passion for Aikido ignited. In 2002, they brought their love for this martial art to the Bay Area, spurred by Astrid’s acceptance of a post-doctoral position at Genentech. Daniel, returning from an immersive experience as a live-in student under Morihiro Saito Sensei in Iwama, Japan, serves as the head instructor. He offers a deep reservoir of knowledge and expertise to his students.
"At Aikido By the Bay, we prioritize building strength, flexibility, and discipline in a nurturing and inclusive setting. Our dojo is committed to aiding each student in enhancing their Aikido techniques and achieving their highest potential. Embark on a transformative journey with us and explore how Aikido can positively impact your life."
Founders
Meet Astrid and Daniel Brasse, co-founders of Aikido By the Bay. Their journey began at Field Aikido in Melbourne, Australia, where their paths first crossed and their shared passion for Aikido ignited. In 2002, they brought their love for this martial art to the Bay Area, spurred by Astrid’s acceptance of a post-doctoral position at Genentech. Daniel, returning from an immersive experience as a live-in student under Morihiro Saito Sensei in Iwama, Japan, serves as the head instructor. He offers a deep reservoir of knowledge and expertise to his students.
"At Aikido By the Bay, we prioritize building strength, flexibility, and discipline in a nurturing and inclusive setting. Our dojo is committed to aiding each student in enhancing their Aikido techniques and achieving their highest potential. Embark on a transformative journey with us and explore how Aikido can positively impact your life."
Our Team Members
Our dedicated staff comprises highly experienced individuals in Aikido training, each with a remarkable track record in their respective professional careers. They are deeply passionate about sharing their extensive knowledge and committed to empowering students, enabling them to surpass their goals and unlock their maximum potential.
Daniel Brasse
Bruce Mendenhall
George Lane
Leslie Cruz
Marcel Barraza
Michel Vidal-Naquet
Alfred Sung
Joice Chan
Alfredo Wilson
Marinela Aquino
Glafira Valencia
Our Team Members
Our dedicated staff comprises highly experienced individuals in Aikido training, each with a remarkable track record in their respective professional careers. They are deeply passionate about sharing their extensive knowledge and committed to empowering students, enabling them to surpass their goals and unlock their maximum potential.
Daniel Brasse
Bruce Mendenhall
George Lane
Michel Vidal-Naquet
Joice Chan
Marinela Aquino
Leslie Cruz
Alfred Sung
Alfredo Wilson
Glafira Valencia
Marcel Barraza
& SELF-DEFENSE
Our self-defense classes and workshops aim to equip participants with the skills to effectively handle physical and verbal conflicts. Through realistic and practical interventions, attendees learn to identify and respond to various types of behavior and stages of conflict. While some of the techniques taught may have origins in Aikido, our self-defense workshops are not limited to Aikido alone, the scenarios practiced are close-to-life situation. Check out our "Self-Defense" tab for upcoming workshop schedules. We also offer specialized group or individual lessons, for pricing and more information: email us
TRADITIONAL
Our classes always begin with a warm-up routine that includes a range of stretching and light rolling exercises. These daily stretches not only prepare the body for practice, but also provide long-term benefits. During class, students will practice falls, throws, joint locks, strikes, and pins, as well as traditional Japanese weapons such as the boken, jo, and tanto. Aikido training in the Iwama style offers a full-body workout and can be performed in pairs or in larger groups. The intensity of practice can vary depending on each student's level of proficiency, fitness, and experience.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
Instructors at Aikido By the Bay are certified by the Aikido World Headquarters and have studied at the Aikido Founder's dojo in Iwama, Japan under the tutelage of Morihiro Saito Shihan, 9th Dan. Daniel Brasse Sensei also leads seminars internationally and offers specialized self-defense workshops for law enforcement and non-Aikido practitioners.
The dojo is a member of the TAA, Takemusu Aikido Association in the United States and dan certificates are issued by Aikikai, the Aikido International Headquarters in Japan. Additionally, higher dan level tests are supervised by Bill Witt Shihan, 8th Dan.