Starting Tuesday, July 7, northside evening and weekend classes will be held at 3900 North Elston Ave. (home of Choyokan Kendo Dojo), Unit 100, in the 39th Ward at the border of the Avondale and Old Irving Park neighborhoods.
Starting Tuesday, July 1, southside morning classes will be held outdoors in Harold Washington Park at northwest corner of 53rd Street and Hyde Park Boulevard in Hyde Park. Check website or e-mail dojo for updates (no class in inclement weather). Note that an additional indoor location is being sought.
New class schedule
Sundays:
10:00am-12:00pm (north)
Tuesdays:
6:30am-7:30am (south)
6:30pm – 8:30 pm (north)
Wednesdays:
6:30am -7:30am (south)
Fridays:
6:30pm – 8:30 pm (north)
Saturdays:
10:00am – 12:00pm (north)
Please note that the schedule may be revised as we settle into our new spaces, and be sure to check the Classes page of the website for confirmation and updates.
As we will be guests in our temporary locations we ask all those training with Chicago Aikikai to observe their rules as well as ours. Visitors and prospective students are asked to call or e-mail the dojo to confirm an appointment before visiting.
Final Move-Out – Assistance Needed!
Following the 10:00am-11:30am morning class on Saturday, June 27, we will move mats and other materials to three different destinations:
* Mats and other items to 3900 N. Elston Aven., Unit 100 between 12:30pm-2:30pm
* Remaining items to go into storage to Extra Space Storage, 2850 N. Pulaski Rd.
* Large calligraphy and other items to various private homes
We are asking all members, past and present, as well as friends of the dojo to come help as we close out this chapter of the dojo’s long history.
Final Classes at Current Location
Chicago Aikikai’s final weekend class at 1444 W. Chicago Ave. will be held Sunday, June 28 11am-12:30pm, and our final class there altogether will be held 6:30-7:30am on Tuesday morning, June 30. Please consider joining us for either or both! Evening class on June 30 has been cancelled as we will not have access to the space after 11am on that date.
Future Space Plans
Based on current rents and the state of available properties in target neighborhoods, Chicago Aikikai has decided to sublease space for regular classes while continuing to fundraise and search for a suitable long-term location.
We are aiming for a 2 to 3-year window, during which we will explore options such as space-sharing with other martial arts groups, or establishing a flex space that could be rented to outside parties on a one-time or short to long-term basis. We also intend to investigate applying for local development grants and other public funding to accomplish this.
