The Santa Cruz Aikido Summer Retreat generates a training atmosphere of sincerity and mutual respect. We are committed to equal opportunity for Aikidoists of any gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation or rank. We all benefit from the skills and insight of experienced practitioners while welcoming and progressing with newer students of the art.

    In coming together for the 14th Annual Summer Retreat, we reaffirm the goal of integrating body, mind, and spirit in our practice. In addition to numerous daily opportunities for general keiko (training), the retreat offers classes with an emphasis on meditation and misogi - time to train, talk, eat, and dance together - many ways to deepen our experience of Aiki community and our personal development as students on "The Way of Harmony."

Motomichi Anno Shihan, 8th Dan
Chief Instructor, Aikido Kumano Juku, Shingu, Japan

Anno Sensei began his study of Aikido in 1954 in Shingu, at the dojo Osensei founded in his native region of Kumano. A student of Osensei during the last 15 years of the founder's life, Anno Sensei succeeded Michio Hikitsuchi, 10th dan, after his death in 2004, as Chief Instructor in Shingu. Anno Sensei's flowing movement, impeccable posture and emphasis on Osensei's message of harmony and love through Budo have made him an influential teacher of numerous western Aikidoists. Anno Sensei is a treasured member of the rapidly passing first generation of Aikido teachers who learned directly from Osensei. Anno Sensei teaches with lifelong inspiration and humility, and invites us closer to Osensei's art and spiritual path.
Do not miss this rare opportunity, as Anno Sensei joins us for the Santa Cruz Aikido Summer Retreat one more time.

Mary Heiny, 6th Dan
Seattle, Washington

After studying Aikido in Japan in the 60's and 70's, Mary Heiny served as Chief Instructor of several dojos in the United States and Canada. A North American treasure of Aikido with over 35 years experience, Mary Sensei's dynamic technique is complemented by her accessible and eloquent teaching style. She frequently teaches Aikido seminars in the United States, Canada, and abroad, bringing to every seminar a powerful message of the transformative nature of Aikido practice.

Linda Holiday, 6th Dan
Chief Instructor, Aikido of Santa Cruz, California

Linda Holiday began her study of Aikido in Santa Cruz in 1970. She trained intensively in Shingu, Japan for several years in the 70's and since 1976 has devoted herself to the founding and development of Aikido of Santa Cruz (formerly North Bay Aikido). Linda Sensei consistently focuses on the key concepts of Osensei's vision of Aikido in a down-to-earth way. Her classes are known for their physical vigor, misogi purification, and inclusive community spirit.

Jack Wada, 6th Dan
Chief Instructor, Aikido of San Jose, California

Since beginning his training in 1969, Jack Wada has dedicated himself to the integration of physical and spiritual practice in Aikido. His deeply based, refined and inspired technique, and his long years of weapons training and meditative practices, make Jack Sensei a tremendous resource. His articulate, insightful teaching style opens up areas of profound inquiry for Aikidoists of all levels.

In honor of the lifelong contributions that Anno Sensei has made to Aikido, and to showcase the skill and depth in the Aikido community in the West, the 2007 Retreat will include a public demonstration on Saturday afternoon. We will also take time to acknowledge our gratitude for the Sister City connection between Santa Cruz and Shingu, Japan. Aikido brought the cities together in 1974 through the involvement of Mary Heiny, Linda Holiday, and Jack Wada. The demonstration will bring together a number of high-level instructors in the Aiki spirit of harmony and mutual respect.

We are excited to announce that the 2007 Summer Retreat will be held at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorum, in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz. Built in 1939 and host to many of the city's most beloved events, the Civic's spacious training area, great energy, and central location make it an exciting place to fill with Aikido. The Civic is within easy walking distance of numerous restaurants, parking, and city bus lines. Out of town attendees have a range of options for housing; please see the last page for details.
Our Summer Retreat has been held many years at UCSC, but the West Field House is unavailable to us in 2007 due to earthquake retrofitting.

For our Retreat dojo...
Once again we have arranged to use Zebra Mats^TM Olympic sytle tatami mats to cover our training area! Contact us to purchase discounted mats after the retreat!
www.zebramats.com

The Santa Cruz Aikido Summer Retreat is characterized by the community feeling and intensification of learning that builds when a group of Aikidoists train together for several days. You will have the best experience, and give the most back to your fellow Aikidoists, by training this way.

Since it has been two years since Anno Sensei last came to teach in the U.S., and because he has announced that this is his last trip to the U.S., we have decided for this one Retreat to have a more open enrollment policy. The goal of this change is to maximize access to Anno Sensei's classes for the greatest number of students. In addition, Anno Sensei will teach a majority of the Retreat classes this year. Attending the full retreat will make the most of this special opportunity to study with Anno Sensei and our three other wonderful senseis who share the Kumano lineage. But if you cannot attend the whole retreat, you may also register for any combination of days or half days.

(see the schedule here)

Online Registration

Scholarship Fund

Dining options are varied: within walking distance of the Civic are many excellent cafes & restaurants of all price levels, a Trader Joe's and a health food store. We will give you a map of downtown with recommended locations marked. We will also be facilitating a simple order-in lunch on Thurs, Fri & Sat; you must pre-order by 9:15AM each day for this option. Saturday evening we will gather after dinner for Desserts and Dancing at Aikido of Santa Cruz!

Please see the map for parking suggestions. Three all-day lots (max $5/day) are within walking distance. Please contact us about a Civic parking lot permit if you are a participant with special needs.

The two closest airports to Santa Cruz are San Jose International [SJC] (30 miles) and San Francisco International [SFO] (75 miles). Shuttle service is available from either airport directly to the Retreat. Call the Santa Cruz Airporter at 1-800-497-4997 for rates and reservations.

Making connections and enjoying off-the-mat time with other Aikidoists is one of the great pleasures of attending a multi-day retreat. The Japanese word for retreat, Gasshuku, literally means "lodging together."
Various lodging options are available to retreat attendees from out-of-town - UCSC apartments, Hotels & B&B's, the Santa Cruz Youth Hostel - even sleeping in the Civic Auditorium! Convenient to public transport and three all-day parking facilities, the Civic will be easy to get to for locals and out of town visitors alike. Below are a range of options for lodging during the retreat; it is the responsibility of each retreat attendee to arrange their own accommodations.
Please Note: for all lodging options except UCSC, it is vital to reserve early, as Santa Cruz fills up in summer with vacationers.

UCSC - College Apartments
The University couldn't rent us the West Field House this year due to remodeling plans, but they have offered housing for people who would still like to enjoy the "village" aspect of coming to the retreat. The price is lower than most hotels ($85 per night single, $63.75 per night double with a specified roommate), and the apartment setup should make it easy for carpool connections to happen. Buses run frequently between UCSC and downtown Santa Cruz, or drive about 10 minutes to the Civic. 4 night stay required, room only (no meal plan) - parking is included. Meals at the dining hall may be pre-ordered at the time of booking lodging. UCSC accepts credit cards and checks. Book directly with the University by submitting the UCSC Housing form by June 30th.

Vacation Rentals
The bad news is that being a vacation destination, hotels & motels in Santa Cruz are very expensive in the summertime - especially on the weekends (they almost double in price). The good news is that being a vacation destination, Santa Cruz has a lot of vacation rental homes & condos! Most are significantly less expensive than a hotel (especially when filled to capacity) - and you have a kitchen. Our own search of www.vrbo.com turned up rentals that can house as many as 16 people to ones that are designed for 2 or 3. We suggest that you book as soon as you can, because vacation rental calendars do fill up quickly! Westside Santa Cruz or Seabright area will be the most convenient to downtown (10 minutes or less), but anywhere in the area will be fairly close. From Santa Cruz heading south (nearest to farthest), the areas likely to have rentals are: Twin Lakes, Pleasure Point, Opal Cliffs, Capitola, New Brighton, Seacliff, Rio del Mar, La Selva Beach. These are all coastal - if you can find something inland (Live Oak, Soquel, or in the San Lorenzo Valley) it may be less expensive.

Carmelita Cottages - Santa Cruz Youth Hostel
Santa Cruz has a lovely youth hostel on Beach Hill, very near downtown. $21 per night, bedding provided, access to a full kitchen. Has traditional hostel rules, including midday lock-out hours. Private/couples rooms available, surcharge may apply. The drawback for full retreat attendees is that they have a 3-night maximum stay - but this makes them convenient for people who cannot attend the whole retreat. See www.hi-santacruz.org, or call 831-423-8304.

Civic Slumber Party
The Civic Auditorium staff has kindly allowed us to offer overnight space to a limited number of people. This will be slumber party style: you bring all your own bedding, which will need to be neatly stowed each morning. In addition to the mat area, there are several carpeted rooms that can be slept in: the large dressing rooms will be gender-separated 24 hours per day, and there should be 2-3 other rooms available for sleeping (no private rooms). The Civic has showers (2 per gender) and a kitchen. Fee is $20 per night, to cover our costs to the Civic. Availability is limited. We will contact you to confirm space & collect fee.

Dojo Slumber Party
Aikido of Santa Cruz is just a few blocks from the Civic Auditorium. Traditionally our dojo hosts up to 10 people during the summer retreat, usually as a form of financial aid. We occasionally have room for a few others, this cannot be confirmed till after June 10th. Showers & a kitchen are available; bring your own bedding.

Hotels, motels, B&B's
Regular hotels/motels will be expensive (generally $100+/night for weeknights, most going over $200/night on weekends). If you are able to splurge on something romantic, Santa Cruz does have some wonderful lodging options, in addition to vacation rentals: the Babbling Brook Inn & the Adobe on Green Street are B&B's that are lovely and close to the Civic. We will be adding some specific hotel links for your convenience soon!

Making Connections