Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

Dwight

End of an era on Chicago Avenue

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Chicago Aikikai held its last seminar at 1444 West Chicago Avenue, its home since 2009 and the last one designed and built by Kevin Choate (1954-2012) who served as chief instructor and dojo-cho from 1981 until his passing. Instruction was led by Tres Hofmeister Shihan (7th dan, Boulder Aikikai), a longtime friend and guest instructor for many years.

Everyone enjoyed a great weekend of training. Although the dojo was already partially dismantled, the atmosphere was enthusiastic. Many regular members and guests actually commented the minimized dojo look was oddly refreshing and relaxing (Though everyone did miss the elaborate designs and calligraphy – already in storage).

Saturday night dinner was again catered by Torino Ramen, bringing in a variety of Japanese bento lunch boxes as they had for our last two seminars. There was a great opportunity to rest up after the vigorous training (and recent rise in local Chicago temperatures), chat and reminisce.

On the last day after class, Chicago Aikikai members and guests worked together to remove and stage the mats for later transport, and dismantle the wood frame for the mats. The wood pieces were then taken to a rental storage facility where they will be kept for the time being.

Chicago Aikikai will soon be making an official announcement on its new temporary location and plans to secure a long-term space. In the meantime, check out this video remembrance and farewell of its home at 1444 West Chicago Avenue.

Last Third Friday on Chicago Avenue!

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THIS FRIDAY, MAY 15 will be Chicago Aikikai’s last regular Third Friday class at its Chicago Avenue location. For the past several years, Aikikai members have been gathering every Third Friday evening for an extra weekly class followed by a potluck dinner. It has also become a regular date for kyu tests and our annual Kagami Biraki party. If you’re free, come join us this Friday, starting at 6:30 pm. (Pardon our dust; dojo dismantling continues apace)

E-mail issue

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It has come to our attention there is an issue with the dojo’s main e-mail address info@chicagoaikikai.org.

We are working to rectify this. In the meantime, if you wish to contact the dojo, please e-mail our backup account at chiaikikai@gmail.com.

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month!

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May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Although Chicago Aikikai’s membership has not been majority Japanese American since the early 1970s, its roots lay in the postwar Chicago Japanese American community that was established here by people coming out of the wartime internment camps. Along with Hawaii Aikikai (Honolulu) and Los Angeles Aikikai, it is one of several aikido dojo that owe a debt to nisei (second generation Japanese Americans) who were early students of aikido in the US.

Check out our History of Chicago Aikikai video playlist on our YouTube channel. We are also presenting a selection of historical photos from our archieves below.

 

Illinois Aikido Club founding members Sab Tanaka and Joe Takehara receiving instruction from Koichi Tohei when he guest taught at Illinois Aikido Club in 1964 when it was on 3223 North Clark Street.

 

1967 Chicago Tribune photo of demo by Illinois Aikido Club at the annual Ginza Holiday Japanese cultural festival held by Midwest Buddhist Temple (originally Midwest Buddhist Church).

 

Francis Takahashi (1943-2023), who served as the Illinois Aikido Club’s second chief instructor while stationed in Chicago with the U.S. Army from 1963-1965. Takahashi was the son of pioneering instructor Isao Takahashi (1912-1972), began his training under Koichi Tohei (1920-2011) in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was married to instructor Mariye Takahashi. He is seated beneath the circular mirror that was a physical representation of the dojo’s original logo (symbolizing the sun) and served as its original shomen at the dojo’s first location at 3223 North Clark Street.
Kisshomaru Ueshiba (1921-1999), son of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) and second Doshu (Leader of Aikido) teaching a seminar at Illinois Aikido Club at 1103 W. Bryn Mawr in 1973. The half-kneeling student to the right is Joe Takehara.

 

Illinois Aikido Club founding member Joe Takehara, beloved senior member Yuki Hara, and ASU founder and leader Mitsugi Saotome Shihan at Chicago Aikikai when it was on 3652 N. Lincoln Avenue in the late 1990s/early 2000s.

 

ASU Founder and Leader Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and Lake County Aikikai founder and chief instructor Charles Tseng (1936-2024) at Chicago Aikikai when it was on 3652 N. Lincoln Avenue (Photo by Christine Weyand, Thanksgiving Seminar 2005/06)

Schedule Update to Seminar (and Dojo Packing Weekend) with Tres Hofmeister Sensei

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There has been an update to the schedule for our upcoming Seminar (and Dojo Packing Weekend) with Tres Hofmeister Sensei.

The Sunday class will now run from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Afterward, Chicago Aikikai members will be loading components of the dojo into a moving truck for transport to our temp location (TBA) and a storage facility.

Any assistance from seminar guests will be greatly appreciated.

Dojo Work Weekends (related to move-out)

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Work is proceeding to dismantle the interior of Chicago Aikikai prior to our move-out in June.

Regulars and visitors please note that the class schedule will remain unchanged, but art and other design elements will be coming down and staged for moving.

If you have some free time and would like to help out, please contact the dojo regarding specific tasks. Larger take-down projects are being scheduled for certain weekends.