About Us
Meet our Teachers
Teachers
Ron Wada
Ron Wada holds a 6th degree black belt (rokudan) in Aikido. He began his Aikido training in 1979 under the late Steve Sasaki Sensei in Berkeley, CA. He has also trained under Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei, the late Akira Tohei Sensei, and the late Kazuo Chiba Sensei. Ron has been training and teaching Aikido under Hans Goto Shihan at Bay Marin Aikido since 1998. Ron’s classes focus on learning and practicing how to fall safely (ukemi), how to create a strong, grounded yet flexible core structure for executing technique, and how to move effectively. He strives to help each student experience the exhilaration and joy of training.
Lichen Brown
Lichen Brown started aikido in 1995 and joined Bay Marin Aikido in 2001. She holds the rank of 4th degree black belt (yondan). Lichen is interested in the Diamond-Willow-Water-Air framework of aikido as taught by our Chief Instructor, Hans Goto Sensei, from his teacher Morihiro Saito Sensei. This framework explores the progression from hard, static, basic technique to softer, flowing, more advanced form. In this study, Ron Wada Sensei is influential. Saito Sensei’s teachings focus on kihon (basics) and emphasize the parallels between taijitsu (empty-handed techniques) and training with aikido weapons such as the jo (short staff) and bokken (wooden sword). In Saito Sensei’s (Iwama) lineage, Lichen’s other influences include Hoa Newens Sensei and Ginny Breeland Sensei. Lichen has also trained in the Motomichi Anno Sensei (Shingu) lineage under Anno Sensei, Mary Heiny Sensei, Linda Holiday Sensei, and others in that lineage. Lichen’s classes focus on core principles foundational to the practice of aikido, imparted through experiential learning, and taking to heart O’Sensei’s teaching that aikido should always be practiced with a feeling of pleasurable exhilaration!
Nathalie Costello
Nathalie Costello began her Aikido journey 25 years ago in Switzerland, initially inspired by a coworker to join a 6 a.m. class. Despite her coworker not continuing, Nathalie fell in love with Aikido from the very first session and has practiced ever since. After moving to the United States, she adapted from the flowing Shingu style she learned in Geneva to the more structured Iwama-style techniques at Bay Marin dojo, overcoming early frustrations and challenges. For Nathalie, Aikido is essential because it grounds her physically, teaches mindfulness, and helps clear her mind. She continues to train for the art’s aesthetics, the focus gained from practicing with traditional weapons, and the philosophy that guides her both on and off the mat—especially in her work as an educator and speech pathologist. Nathalie believes Aikido is valuable for all ages, fostering patience, perseverance, and global awareness in children, and encouraging older adults to start without fear, as their life experiences enrich the dojo community. Above all, she finds that Aikido’s learning never stops and keeps her humble.
Bob Bates
Bob Bates holds a 4th degree black belt (yondan) in Aikido. He started his training in 2002 at Bay Marin Aikido with Hans Goto Shihan. Bob has also trained extensively in the area of embodied leadership with the Strozzi Institute and Leadership Embodiment International. Embodied leadership brings together the Aikido principles of spirit and harmony with leadership best practices, helping leaders build compassion, connection and confidence. These Aikido based practices have had a profound impact on Bob’s own life and the lives of his executive coaching clients in Silicon Valley. Bob is also an advanced student in the Israeli self-defense system Krav Maga. His classes primarily focus on the practical aspects of Aikido as a method of self-defense while adhering to O’Sensei’s vision of bringing peace and harmony to the world.
Micheline A. Côté
Micheline A. Côté holds a 4th degree black belt (London) in Aikido. She started her Aikido training in Point Reyes Station under David Gamble Sensei and Robert Paton Sensei in 1997 and has practiced for the last 18 years (with a 3 year hiatus to heal her knee). She continued her training from 2000 to the present with Hans Goto Shihan. The focus of her classes is to emulate Goto Sensei’s instructions and to develop a connection with the Kototama and misogi (purification). She also has practiced TaiChi under Ellen Serber in Point Reyes Station for two years. Côté integrates her Aikido into a daily practice of cultivating awareness. Her trips to Japan have opened a door to gratitude, beauty and grace that she expresses on the mat. The refinement of her practice can also be seen in the flower arrangements throughout the dojo.