Sensei Aimee’s first exposure to the martial arts was as an undergraduate at MIT, where she studied European fencing. She began her study of DanZan Ryu JuJitsu after moving to the San Francisco Bay Area for graduate school in 1988, earning her black belt from Professor James R. Musselman in 1995. She currently studies under Nancy and Matt Bigham at the Kodai no Bushido Dojo in Santa Clara. To broaden her training, she has also studied Choy Li Fut Kung Fu, Tai Chi Chu’an, Ten Chi Do, and gymnastics. As a volunteer on the Ft. Miley Adventure Ropes Course in San Francisco, she learned facilitation skills and developed her ability to help students overcome their fears. Teaching JuJitsu helped Aimee discover a gift for education; in “real life,” she teaches middle school science and math.
 

Stephen R. Balzac

Sensei Steve started his study of the martial arts at the age of fourteen with Aikido and European fencing. Steve fenced on the varsity squad while attending MIT, and on the national circuit for several years after graduation. He started DanZan Ryu JuJitsu after moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1989. Steve received his shodan (first degree black belt) in 1995 from Professor James Musselman at the KoDenKan Institute in Belmont. Steve received his nidan from the AJJF in 1999 and his sandan in 2001. Steve has studied Choy Li Fut Kung Fu and currently practices Ten Chi Do, as well as continuing to study JuJitsu. In addition to his martial arts training, Steve has practiced Seifukujitsu (therapeutic massage) since 1990. He holds certifications from the KoDenKan Institute and the DanZan Ryu Seifukujitsu Institute.
 

All of our instructors maintain current certification in First Aid, CPR, athletic taping and trauma management, and Seifukujitsu (therapeutic massage).
Sensei Steve fixes a headache