1December 2013

Aikido Instructor’s New Book HOMAGE TO MENTOR

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls HOLIDAY RECIPES

Shopping, Lighted Trees ‘GOTTA GO!’ EVENTS

December 2013

!"#$%&'("&)*+%$,)Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre To Perform ‘Nutcracker’

14 December 2013

Linda Holiday has been on a literal and spiritual journey to live her life according to the teachings of Aikido.

She recently released a book, “Journey to the Heart of Aikido,” to tell others about her more than 40-year journey and the per-son who inspired her to become a high-ranking Aikido practi-tioner and chief instructor at Aikido of Santa Cruz. In October, her teacher, 82-year-old Motomichi Anno Sensei, attended her book launch. “It was a tremendous honor that he came to Santa Cruz ... to celebrate the launch of ‘Journey to the Heart of Aikido,’” Holiday said.

Journey to JapanHoliday first went to Japan to study Aikido in 1973, when

she was only 20. She took a leave of absence from UCSC, where she was an art and music student. She had been taking Aikido classes too.

“They became so fascinating to me that I dropped every-thing else, and went off to Japan with a friend from UCSC who had also been taking the Aikido classes,” she explained. “I had no idea that the trip to Japan would change my life so much. After the first year of training in Japan, I was dedicated to Aikido as a life path. In the 70s I went back and forth to Japan a number of times, and spent a total of about three years living there. I go back for a visit just about every year — it feels like a second home to me.”

Although she spent some time in Tokyo, the unique aspect of her trip was that she was one of the first non-Japanese ever to live in the remote area of Kumano, Japan, and undertake intensive Aikido training there, with high-level teachers who had been direct students of the founder of Aikido — Morihei Ueshiba, 1883-1969. The Aikido dojo (school) in the city of

Shingu was very traditional, and emphasized rigorous physical, mental and spiritual training that required students to dig very deep to find endurance and inner strength.

According to Holiday, she trained in two-three Aikido classes a day, every day, plus additional time between classes. In addition, she and her fellow students were “on” for many hours of the day and night, accompanying teachers and learning all they could from being with them.

“I was very impressed by the focus, depth and wisdom that they seemed to bring to every moment,” she said. “It was defi-nitely spiritual as well as physical training. In the first chapter of ‘Journey to the Heart of Aikido,’ I invite the reader into those fascinating experiences with me.” After returning to the States, Holiday would go on to prog-ress through the Aikido ranks. She was awarded a 6th degree black belt — called a“6th dan”—in 2005 by Anno Sensei. (Anno Sensei himself received 8th dan in 1978, which makes him one of the highest level living Aikido teachers). There are actually 10 levels (“dan”) of black belt, but it is extremely rare for someone to receive 9th or 10th dan, according to Holiday.

HonoringHer AikidoMentor Linda Holiday, chief instructor at Aikido of Santa Cruz, writes about an inspirational Journey with Anno Sensei.

by Ryan Richards Editor

Author Linda Holiday holding her new book with her mentor, Motomichi Anno Sensei in Shingu, Japan in 2013. Photo courtesy of Michael Smith

A detail from the cover of Linda Holiday’s new book, “Journey to the Heart of Aikido.” Photo courtesy of Linda Holiday

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Anno Sensei was born in 1931 in the Kumano region of Japan, where many traditions and spiritual practices of Japan have been kept alive.

Motomichi Anno is an

Anno Sensei is one in the world today.

He is one of the few remaining members of a generation of Japanese master-teachers who received direct instruction

Anno Sensei has studied Kumano Juku Dojo since 1954, and served as its chief instructor for nine years.

He has been an 8th degree black belt since 1978.

In 2009, Anno Sensei received the prestigious

FACTS ABOUT ANNO SENSEI

The chief instructor of the dojo where she trained in Shingu (the late Michio Hikitsuchi) had received 10th dan from the founder of Aikido. At these high levels, rank is no longer primarily a marker of physical skill; it also represents intangible qualities such as depth of understanding, teaching skills and service to the art.

“It was definitely spiritual as well as physical training. In the first chapter of

‘Journey to the Heart of Aikido,’ I invite the reader into those fascinating experiences

with me.”

Kumano, Japan

Holiday taught her first Aikido class in 1974, just back from her first year in Japan. But it was in 1976 that she began to teach Aikido in Santa Cruz, first at UCSC for six years, then in 1982 as the chief instructor of Aikido of Santa Cruz (which

Linda Holiday teaching a class at her dojo, Aikido of Santa Cruz, in 2012. She has been teaching Aikido since the mid-1970s. Photo courtesy of Beau Saunders

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was then called North Bay Aikido). Aikido of Santa Cruz is a nonprofit educational organization offering classes in the physi-cal and philosophical practice of Aikido, for adults of all ages, teenagers and children ages 6-12. “It’s a large, lively commu-nity of people dedicated to learning Aikido as a dynamic ‘Art of Peace,’” Holiday remarked.

Although she met Anno Sensei in Japan in 1973, most of “Journey to the Heart of Aikido” is based on her translation from Japanese of interviews and classes with Anno Sensei since 1999, when she started bringing him to the US to teach. “I was impressed with how naturally and effectively Anno Sensei was able to communicate about the heart of Aikido with people from an entirely different culture than his own,” she said. “I asked his permission to record his classes and conversa-tions with students, and began generating the material that the book came from. At times I interviewed Anno Sensei specifi-cally on material I wanted to put in the book. But overall the material emerged quite naturally as Anno Sensei conveyed the essence of what he had experienced and learned from the founder of Aikido, to people here in the West.”

Components of Aikido Asked the differences between Aikido and other forms of martial arts, Holiday explained that Aikido has many aspects in common with traditional Japanese martial arts, which emphasize self-development and spiritual understanding as the ultimate goals of training as a lifelong pursuit. Aikido is quite different in essence from some of the modern martial arts that have become competitive sports, mostly populated by young athletic men, she explained. Aikido is a non-competitive training of body and spirit that is accessible to everyone — young and old, male and female. The spirit of Aikido, which is integrated and expressed in the invigorating physical training, is one of harmony: within oneself, with others, and with nature. The founder of Aikido emphasized Aikido as a way of peace, saying, “There is no opponent in Aikido,” and “Aikido is love.” One of the fundamental concepts of Aikido is misogi (purification). Holiday said misogi is a practice of coming back to yourself — of returning, over and over, to what is best and most pure in your own spirit.

“Life throws many challenges at us and it’s easy to get caught up in the everyday struggles and lose our way,” Holiday said. “The practice of misogi is to let go of those struggles and to renew a sense of inner peace and vitality.”

The ancient Japanese people developed specific techniques for misogi, including challenging, invigorating practices such as meditating under waterfalls. But “misogi” is essentially an approach to life in which a person consciously refreshes oneself physically and renews the spirit on a regular basis. Aikido prac-tice is a form of misogi purification.

Aikido draws on inner strength rather than physical strength, according to Holiday. The techniques and practices of Aikido do not rely on physical power for their effectiveness. In fact, she said if one uses physical force, the person is not practicing Aikido.

“Aikido uses the power of harmony,” Holiday noted. The ability to harmonize is dependent on a sensitive awareness of oneself and others, and the intention to resolve conflict rather than just achieve a one-sided victory. Aikido practice develops the ability to hold an awareness of one’s inner world, and to refine and purify it, at the same time dealing effectively with others — even while under attack. Also, in Aikido training stu-dents work with the breath and with an awareness of “ki,” the vital energy that flows through every person. Aikido techniques rely on “ki” rather than physical strength, and everyone has

1982Linda Holiday founded Aikido of

Santa Cruz. a nonprofit educational organization and dojo.

The Year Aikido of Santa Cruz opened:

Linda Holiday, Aikido instructor and author of “Journey to the Heart of Aikido,” sits next to her mentor, Motomichi Anno Sensei, in the Kumano Juku Dojo, Shingu, Japan, in 2012. Photo courtesy of Beau Saunders

17December 2013

Foundations of AikidoDeveloped in the 19th century, Aikido is a Japanese martial art guided by harmony.

ikido is a modern Japanese martial art and a way of personal growth. The guiding principle of Aikido is harmony: inner harmony of mind, body and spirit; har-

mony with other people; and oneness with nature. The name Aikido means “The Way of Harmony with Life-Energy.”

As an art of self-defense, Aikido is based on the high-est ethic of the martial arts: the non-violent resolution of conflict. Aikido has been described as “philosophy with a physical expression’’ and “meditation in action.” As a path of personal development, it is challenging and rewarding on many levels: physical, psychological, social and spiritual.

History of AikidoAikido was developed in the 20th century by Morihei

Ueshiba O’Sensei (1883-1969). He was an extraordinary martial artist, a master of the sword, the staff, the spear and the art of Jujutsu. O’Sensei also had a strong spiritual drive, reflecting over the futility of a path based on victory over others. Modern Aikido has been created by O’Sensei through a unification of his mastery of the martial arts with his spiri-tual and ethical insights.

Dojo etiquette In an Aikido dojo, the observation of basic forms of

etiquette is integral to the creation of a respectful and atten-tive atmosphere, which is conductive to learning. Although Japanese forms are unfamiliar to most Westerners, over a period of time they not only become comfortable expressions of courtesy, but also, as we come to understand the levels of meaning behind the forms, they can enrich and further our practice. Most basic to these forms is a bow, a gesture of respect and gratitude.

Dynamics of AikidoThe essence of all Aikido technique is spherical motion

around a stable, energized center. Even when the direction appears to be straight forward or backward, close observa-tions reveal the Aikidoist’s movement to be circular. Some techniques may result in spectacular high-falls; others are small, deft movements to imbalance or immobilize the part-ner. —Information courtesy of Aikido of Santa Cruz

“ki.” That is one of the reasons Aikido practice is accessible to so many different kinds of people, Holiday explained.

Anno Sensei, who lives with his wife on his family home-stead in the countryside of western Japan, taught two classes at Aikido of Santa Cruz when he visited Santa Cruz in October for the book launch.

“He is more inspiring than ever,” Holiday said.

40th year of Santa Cruz-Shingu Sisterhood Holiday’s relationship with the sensei has not only awarded

her with personal growth that she passes on to her students. The City of Santa Cruz is a beneficiary as well. The city’s Sister City connection with Shingu, Japan, which started in 1974, is a result of Holiday’s Aikido connection.

For information on Linda Holiday’s new book, visit jour-neytoaikido.com. For information of Aikido of Santa Cruz, visit aikidosantacruz.org. Aikido of Santa Cruz is at 306 Mission Street,, Santa Cruz.

Aikido of Santa Cruz has a four-week Beginning Aikido Class starting Tuesday, Jan. 7.

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17December 2013