East Bay Judo Institute

More than twenty years ago, I had the opportunity to take judo at San Francisco State University under Professor Matsumoto. At a time when my life felt pulled in many directions by school, relationships, and everyday pressures, his class became a place of balance and peace for me. I was truly amazed by the effect judo had on my mind and spirit. It brought a therapeutic calm and a sense of clarity that helped me find my center during a very formative time in my life. I often wish I had continued training after graduating from SFSU. Life moved on quickly, but the lessons stayed with me. Now, years later, I’ve been given a second chance through my five-year-old daughter. When she became old enough, I enrolled her at The East Bay Judo Institute, and the changes I’ve seen in her have been incredibly meaningful. Since starting classes, she has become more disciplined, calm, and thoughtful—qualities that extend well beyond the dojo. From the very beginning, our family has been welcomed with genuine warmth and kindness. The school feels less like a place to train and more like a family, rooted in an age-old tradition that I am deeply humbled to be part of. In January, my fiancée will also begin classes, making this journey something we now share as a family. The Matsumoto family is widely respected throughout the community, having taught and influenced so many instructors in the area. They truly are the cornerstone of the judo community, carrying forward not just the art itself, but its values of respect, discipline, and humility. I am sincerely grateful for everything Professor David Matsumoto has given to me and now to my family. It is an incredible honor that my daughter has the privilege of learning from his daughter, Sayaka Matsumoto, who represented the United States in the 2008 Olympics and continues the family’s remarkable legacy. My family and I are deeply honored and thankful to be part of such a special and meaningful institution. Anthony Di Donato

As a parent, I’ve had the privilege of watching both of my children grow up in the EBJI dojo community—my daughter for 12 years and my son for 10 years, and more years to come. During this time, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication, thoughtfulness, and consistency that the EBJI Senseis bring to students' journeys. One thing that I’ve observed is that advancement in Judo is not simply about “time served.” My son, for example, remained a green belt for three years while my daughter advanced more quickly. Each student progresses at their own pace, based on many factors that the dojo carefully considers. I respect and trust the Senseis’ judgment on when a student is ready for the next level. Promotions are earned by merit, effort, growth, etc. —not just by showing up or by the calendar. There are certainly days when training is tough, but that’s part of what makes the experience so valuable. Judo, like life, teaches resilience: the ability to push through challenges, to respect others, and to grow stronger through discipline and effort. I’ve seen my kids carry these lessons well beyond the mat. What I very much appreciate about EBJI is not only the technical instruction, but also the community. The Senseis and senior students put in a tremendous amount of work to support the kids’ development and to foster an environment where everyone helps one another. It’s truly a place where respect and camaraderie are emphasized alongside skill. For my family, EBJI has been a wonderful and transformative experience. I’m grateful for the many years my children have been able to learn and grow here, both as judoka and as people.

As a dojo owner and sensei myself, I can confidently say that East Bay Judo Institute is one of the best judo schools in the Bay Area. Sensei Matsumoto and Sensei Sayaka have built a truly exceptional environment, one that balances the traditional values of judo with a deep understanding of modern teaching and competitive development. The technical level at EBJI is outstanding. Every class is taught with precision, purpose, and passion. Sensei Matsumoto’s depth of knowledge and attention to detail are remarkable, and Sensei Sayaka brings a dynamic and inspiring energy that connects beautifully with both youth and adults alike. At this dojo, there is a culture of mutual respect, humility, and constant growth. Whether you’re a beginner stepping on the tatami for the first time or a competitor aiming for the next level, you’ll find an incredibly supportive and knowledgeable community here. I have great respect for what the EBJI team has accomplished and the legacy they continue to build. It’s always a pleasure to collaborate, exchange ideas, and watch their students represent the true spirit of judo. Highly recommended for anyone serious about learning authentic judo in a positive, high-level environment. 🥋

My 8 year old son has been attending classes at East Bay Judo for about 6 months. He fell in love with the sport immediately, and I think a lot of that has to do with the great instructors. They manage to teach respect and discipline while keeping the classes fun and engaging. There is also a heavy emphasis on safety - learning to fall without hurting yourself and keeping other students safe starts on day one. All of the instructors are volunteers and put so much time and energy into each student because they WANT to be there. They are very good at assessing the needs and abilities of each child. Promoting to the next belt level is a fully individual experience based on attendance, behavior in class, self-motivation, and ability to follow directions to improve their skills. We love the community at EBJI and have felt included and cared for. My son is learning such valuable skills both on and off the mat!

Insults and breaking athletes down - Please look at this, take the feedback to heart East Bay Judo Institute and make appropriate changes. The positive: Japanese tradition, Kodokan Judo, old school rules, bowing and discipline. I visited my my 8 year old daughter, to take a class each. For the children's practice it was great and calm. For the adults / teenagers practice it went way too far. I've been an Athlete for my entire life; from basketball, soccer, college football, CrossFit, olympic weightlifting, gymnastics, and I have coached many of these sports, I have never experienced coaches treat young teenage Athletes like the way they did here. Yes, the coaches / sensei's have plenty of knowledge, but that does not give them the right to insult and demoralize the judokas / athletes. It's the part of old school coaching that becomes abusive and leaves athletes with negative self talk and a low self esteem throughout their entire life. I am speaking from my own experience. I did not stand up for myself when I was younger, but now at 35, I know what is right from wrong. Examples of what was said during practice: "Same judo for 6 years; you have not gotten any better" "You are sick huh??? Let me show you what sick is Puke boy Puke (Repeatedly throwing young student to the ground)" "Go throw that belt in the trash You don’t deserve it" Boy throws newly received upgraded belt in the trash I am writing this as a wake up call, that there is another way: to empower / build up and NOT to break athletes down. Discipline and hard work can be empowered through goals, motivation, challenges, and powerful reinforcement! This is a legit facility, very knowledgeable coaches, deep tradition, amazing group of athletes, but when something is not right, I got to call it out. The only reason I am giving two stars is because this experience rattled me to my core. If there was empowerment and motivation, the stars would be 4.5-5, because the rest of the experience was very solid.