Aikido Kids of Tamalpais

Aikido Kids of Tamalpais includes activities such as Samurai games, basic sword-work through Jedi lightsaber training, watermelon splicing with wooden swords, and skill-building samurai obstacle courses. Camp days also feature calligraphy-inspired painting, action origami, Ikebana, Kyudo-inspired archery, learning how to make sushi, and time spent sitting back and listening to stories of wisdom and kindness. Participants learn about the seven virtues of the Samurai: fairness, courage, kindness, respect, honesty, success, and dedication.

• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Two-week sessions, Monday–Friday, 9am–3pm
• Price: Cost: $1300 for two weeks; uniforms are available for purchase for $54.63; rental uniforms available for $25

Aikido Kids of Tamalpais is described as an empowering, fun, and enriching after-school martial arts program for children and youth between the ages of four and eighteen that offers daily classes, Samurai summer camps, day camps, friendship seminars, and community events for those who want a more immersive experience. The program welcomes all levels in a dojo described as a multi-age, multi-rank, multi-dimensional learning environment, with training tailored to the capacities and skill levels of the children within each age group and careful attention paid to the learning style and pace of every student. The program is described as a supportive, safe, yet challenging space with an all-inclusive learning environment that focuses on helping children to advocate for themselves and each other, where children learn the power of empathy and compassion while understanding how to hold the line and say no when needed, and where Aikido is described as a deflective martial art that strives to create win/win situations for all and provides a dynamic structure for building powerful cooperative connections with others, developing clear communication skills, and learning to live in the world with an open, wise heart that is both compassionate and discerning.

Chief Instructor Dolano Arthur Sensei, founder of Aikido Kids of Tamalpais, is a mother of three, has been training Aikido for over 35 years, and holds the rank of 4th degree black belt. The program also offers community events for those who want a more immersive experience. Families are asked to pack a sack lunch and bring a backpack with plenty of water, walking shoes, flip flops or other slip-on shoes, sunscreen, and a hat, and to notify the program in writing of any food allergies, with all activities subject to change or substitution.

Last updated March 16, 2026.