Jeanne Sofen
Jeanne Sofen Sensei ⋙ Yondan (4th degree black belt)
Jeanne Sofen began her study of Aikido in 1988 at Aikido of Santa Cruz. She enjoys teaching weekly and was on the Board of Directors for more than ten years. Her practice focuses on exploring techniques, cultivating awareness of her body, mind, spirit, and that of her partner, and training with gratitude. She is inspired by her teachers Linda Holiday Sensei and Glen Kimoto Sensei, as well as Motomichi Anno Sensei, Mary Heiny Sensei, Richard Strozzi Heckler Sensei, and others. Jeanne has been fortunate to practice with Anno Sensei in Shingu Japan, and has participated in many workshops including Training Across Borders in Loutraki, Greece in 2015. She is a professional artist, painting imagery from nature. Jeanne is especially grateful that on her first day of Aikido, she met the man who would become her husband-David Sofen- at the time a blue belt helping in the Beginning class!