Aikido By the Bay – Kids Martial Arts Classes
Aikido By the Bay, 811 S B St., San Mateo, CA 94401
About
Aikido By the Bay – Kids Martial Arts Classes offers training in Aikido, self-defense, and weapons training for children. Classes take place in an indoor space that is 2400 square feet, clean and spacious, and optimized for safety with superior ventilation and room to move.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Price: Introductory “New To Aikido” package with two classes for $55
The program is led by founder and head instructor Daniel Brasse, 5th dan, who is a full-time instructor with over 40 years of practice in Japanese martial arts and experience teaching Aikido and self-defense to people of all ages and to police domestically and abroad. The leadership team also includes senior instructor Bruce Mendenhall (5th dan); instructors George Lane (4th dan), Michel Vidal-Naquet (4th dan), Joice Chan (3rd dan), Marinela Aquino (3rd dan), Glafira Valencia (2nd dan), and Marcel Barraza (2nd dan); and dojo manager Jocelyn Wong. Daniel’s martial arts experience began in 1978, and the Aikido By the Bay children’s program was expanded in 2015 at the Swiss International School in Switzerland, where the Aikido club became part of the after-school program and continues under Basel Aikikai. The dojo states that it is not just about self-defense but about self-development, with structured training where kids learn patience, respect, and ways to navigate conflict without aggression, and to engage with others in a positive, meaningful way. Instructors at Aikido By the Bay have decades of martial arts experience between them, and the staff are described as highly experienced individuals in the martial arts with notable professional backgrounds.
Aikido By the Bay notes that it focuses on martial arts for kids in San Mateo and presents Aikido as an antidote to antisocial behavior in the digital age, with a focus on social skills, confidence, discipline, focus, conflict resolution, resilience, respect, teamwork, leadership, communication, and traditional Japanese etiquette and respect for tradition. The dojo is described as a vibrant community where people of all ages and fitness levels come together to support one another, and it has affiliated dojos including Aikido Silicon Valley, Sunset Cliffs Aikido, and the Takemusu Aikido Association.
Parent and student testimonials describe the studio as a place where instructors are patient and kind with kids, give individual instruction, and teach respect, determination, a sense of community, and the importance of tradition. Multiple reviewers highlight Daniel Brasse as knowledgeable, dedicated, passionate about Aikido, and an exceptionally good instructor, and describe the dojo atmosphere as warm, friendly, cordial, and family-like. Reviews also mention that the dojo is very clean and safe, that it is spacious with room for students to practice at a safe distance, and that there is a strong emphasis on weapons training. Several testimonials note that there are many class options, that the community includes people of all ages, and that the dojo feels like a supportive place to train and study martial arts.
Last updated June 21, 2026.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Price: Introductory “New To Aikido” package with two classes for $55
The program is led by founder and head instructor Daniel Brasse, 5th dan, who is a full-time instructor with over 40 years of practice in Japanese martial arts and experience teaching Aikido and self-defense to people of all ages and to police domestically and abroad. The leadership team also includes senior instructor Bruce Mendenhall (5th dan); instructors George Lane (4th dan), Michel Vidal-Naquet (4th dan), Joice Chan (3rd dan), Marinela Aquino (3rd dan), Glafira Valencia (2nd dan), and Marcel Barraza (2nd dan); and dojo manager Jocelyn Wong. Daniel’s martial arts experience began in 1978, and the Aikido By the Bay children’s program was expanded in 2015 at the Swiss International School in Switzerland, where the Aikido club became part of the after-school program and continues under Basel Aikikai. The dojo states that it is not just about self-defense but about self-development, with structured training where kids learn patience, respect, and ways to navigate conflict without aggression, and to engage with others in a positive, meaningful way. Instructors at Aikido By the Bay have decades of martial arts experience between them, and the staff are described as highly experienced individuals in the martial arts with notable professional backgrounds.
Aikido By the Bay notes that it focuses on martial arts for kids in San Mateo and presents Aikido as an antidote to antisocial behavior in the digital age, with a focus on social skills, confidence, discipline, focus, conflict resolution, resilience, respect, teamwork, leadership, communication, and traditional Japanese etiquette and respect for tradition. The dojo is described as a vibrant community where people of all ages and fitness levels come together to support one another, and it has affiliated dojos including Aikido Silicon Valley, Sunset Cliffs Aikido, and the Takemusu Aikido Association.
Parent and student testimonials describe the studio as a place where instructors are patient and kind with kids, give individual instruction, and teach respect, determination, a sense of community, and the importance of tradition. Multiple reviewers highlight Daniel Brasse as knowledgeable, dedicated, passionate about Aikido, and an exceptionally good instructor, and describe the dojo atmosphere as warm, friendly, cordial, and family-like. Reviews also mention that the dojo is very clean and safe, that it is spacious with room for students to practice at a safe distance, and that there is a strong emphasis on weapons training. Several testimonials note that there are many class options, that the community includes people of all ages, and that the dojo feels like a supportive place to train and study martial arts.
Last updated June 21, 2026.
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