Linda Holiday, Shihan, 7th Dan Aikikai

Linda Holiday is a senior American Aikido Instructor. She moved to Japan in 1973 to receive direct instruction from teachers who studied with O’Sensei. Linda was one of the first Westerners to undertake rigorous physical and spiritual training in the remote Kumano region. Since returning from Japan, she has devoted herself to the development of Aikido in the West. In 1982, she founded Aikido of Santa Cruz, a nonprofit, educational organization and dojo of which she is the Head Instructor.
Author and translator of Journey to the Heart of Aikido: The Teachings of Motomichi Anno Sensei, Linda Holiday has an MA in East Asian Studies from Stanford University, as well as, a 7th degree black belt from Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. She enjoys leading seminars internationally and conveying Aikido as a practice of peace.