Out of an abundance of caution, all classes (both mornings and evenings) will be cancelled starting Tuesday, January 27. Weeknight and weekend classes will run as scheduled until further notice.
Classes Cancelled Due to Frigid Weather (Jan 26-30)
Kagami Biraki 2026 at Chicago Aikikai
Chicago Aikikai celebrated its last Kagami Biraki in its current space on Friday, January 16. Training was led by a rotation of dan-ranked members, starting with Chief Instructor Marsha Turner Sensei. Guests included friends from Inaka Dojo, Ko Fu Dojo, and Lake County Aikikai.
Afterwards, attendees enjoyed eating and socializing at the traditional pot-luck dinner.
We also made sure not to forget the “biraki” (“opening”) part of Kagami Biraki. Cracking open the ceremonial sake cask. Christian Boswell, who just took his 3rd kyu test, doing the honors.
Vintage Aikido Films on YouTube
Thanks to the efforts of Chicago Film Archives, the recently rediscovered collection of 1960s era 16 mm films belonging to Illinois Aikido Club is now digitized and we are making them available to the public via YouTube.
First up is a 1969 local NBC news segment highlighting aikido and Illinois Aikido Club when it was on Bryn Mawr Avenue in the Uptown neighborhood. The footage includes class led by late Chief Instructor Isao Takahashi Sensei (1912-1972).
Next are several films featuring pioneering instructor Koichi Tohei Sensei (1920-2011). These include three privately made reels while he was visiting dojo in the US, and a professionally made visual textbook produced in Japan.
We have one more reel to go. However, it is in Japanese and we will be working to provide original subtitles. Stay tuned and check back for updates.
2026 Midwest Aikido Bridge Announcement
Asian American “Tea Talk” (Mental Health Workshop) at Chicago Aikikai
Chicago Aikikai will be hosting the latest in the “Tea Talks” Workshop series sponsored by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois using martial arts to discuss mental health and fitness. This follows previous workshops presenting Karate and Muy Thai kickboxing. Open to the general public (with registration) and no martial arts experience necessary. To register, go to the Zeffy link here.
Vintage Aikido Films of Illinois Aikido Club (UPDATE)
We have a video update to our previous post about some old 16 mm films from the 1960s the Chicago Aikikai recently recovered.