Help Chicago Aikikai maintain 65+ years of training in Japanese martial arts
Chicago Aikikai, established 1963 as Illinois Aikido Club and the Midwest’s oldest dojo (studio) for the Japanese martial art of Aikido, is fundraising for a new long-term space for Aikido training.
This Giving Tuesday (December 1, 2026), donate to the Kevin Choate Sensei Memorial Building Fund so we might raise $250,000 in order to secure, move into, and build out a dojo suited to offering high-quality training and honoring the traditions of our art.
The fund, named after the late Kevin Choate Sensei (Chief Instructor from 1981-2012), has so far collected $77,078.00 since its March 2025 launch. Please include us in your 2026 giving plans so we can reach our goal.
Does your company have a matching program?
Please consider using the match to augment your contribution to Chicago Aikikai. Every dollar matters! Check with your employer today.
Support us with a purchase
You can also support Chicago Aikikai by visiting our Etsy store and purchasing a T-shirt or one of our new paintings made using pieces of the canvas that used to cover our training mats.
What your support means
Chicago Aikikai is currently subletting from Choyokan Kendo Dojo and 606 Karate & Self-Defense. Securing our own long-term space would help us offer the following:
- Volunteer-led classes weekend mornings, and early mornings and evenings twice weekly
- Seminars led by nationally and internationally-recognized guest instructors requiring honorariums plus paid travel and accommodations.
- Live demonstrations needing advanced choreography and rehearsal (Chicago Aikikai demonstrates at the annual Ginza Holiday Festival hosted by Midwest Buddhist Temple and the Anime Magic convention)
- Specialty focus and custom-designed workshops (Chicago Aikikai hosted an Aikido-focused mental health workshop in 2025 in partnership with Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois)
- Space sharing for groups involved in other Japanese martial arts and cultural practices
Chicago Aikikai (Illinois Aikido Club) is a 501(c)3, organized exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes. All donations are fully tax deductible in the USA and may be deductible in other countries as a charitable donation. Please check with your tax advisor.
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