Crawford Sensei began her aikido training in 1980 under the direction of Akira Tohei Shihan at the University of Wisconsin Aikido Club.

After relocating to Seattle in 1988, she became the Assistant Chief Instructor at Aikido Eastside in Bellevue, WA. and in 1995 opened Aikido Northshore.

She has trained extensively under the direct instruction of Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan.

Crawford Sensei also includes John Stone Sensei, Robin Cooper Sensei, George Ledyard Sensei, Raso Hultgren Sensei, Kevin Choate Sensei and Patty Saotome Sensei as having strong influences on her aikido.