Jeff Reed
Jeff Reed Sensei ⋙ Sandan (3rd degree black belt)
Jeff started his Aikido training in 2002 at UCSC with Yoshi Shibata Sensei. He joined the Aikido of Santa Cruz dojo in 2006 and received his 3rd degree black belt from Linda Holiday Sensei in March of 2023. He continues to periodically teach the Intro Series and has recently began assisting in the Youth Program classes.
“I particularly enjoy creating a safe and fun space for new students to approach their Aikido practice. I love it when I can be there when someone has an ‘ah ha!’ moment during class. I learn so much from my training partners in that moment, both about my own practice and how it’s possible to exist in the world in a state of joy. It’s the greatest feeling.
When I started, I was motivated solely by a desire to become proficient in the martial aspects of the art. It took me an embarrassingly long amount of time to understand the real practice was not simply physical. There is so much more.”