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| Linda Holiday-sensei with Motomichi Anno - Shihan in 2002 | Linda Holiday-sensei with Jack Wada-sensei in 2002 |
I started my study of Aikido in 1970 as a first year student at UCSC, under Robert Frager Sensei and Frank Doran Sensei. In 1973 I went to Japan, and spent a year of intensive training in Shingu. Between 1973 and 1980 I spent about 3 years living and training there, under Chief Instructor Michio Hikitsuchi (10th dan) and other shihan such as Motomichi Anno, Yasushi Tojima, and Motoichi Yanase. (I also trained at Hombu Dojo & a few other dojos in Japan.) Other instructors who have had a major influence on me include Mitsugi Saotome, Hiroshi Kato, and Terry Dobson.
I began to teach Aikido in Santa Cruz in 1976, when Jack Sensei went back to Japan and handed the UC Santa Cruz dojo over to me. In 1982, a core group of students, Glen Kimoto Sensei, and I started North Bay Aikido in the town of Santa Cruz, out of a desire to serve the community through a more full spectrum of classes, including children's classes. Now, we serve about 200 students each month, half of which are under 18. We incorporated as an educational non-profit organization in 1986. In 1996, after 10 years of fundraising, we bought and remodeled our own dojo building in Santa Cruz. This dojo is big enough to host seminars with visiting instructors and special events like our Summer Intensives. It is like a dream come true, and I feel very grateful for the community which has made this possible.
Other facts -- I received my black belt in 1973, and fifth dan in 1997 [ed: 6th dan in 2005]. I have a Masters Degree from Stanford University in East Asian Studies. I speak Japanese, have served as translator for Japanese Aikido shihan in America, and I am collaborating on a book about Aikido philosophy and practice, with Motomichi Anno Shihan. I practice Japanese calligraphy and enjoy writing poetry.