Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

Dwight

Rocks with Japanese calligraphy for sale (New building fundraising)

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Samples of river rocks for sale with Japanese calligraphy painted on them. All proceeds go to support our new building fund efforts.

The rocks come from our interior rock stream feature, which we unfortunately cannot take with us.

The calligraphy is courtesy of Chicago Aikikai member Xiaolu Wang, who painted many herself and is leading a team of volunteers to assist.

Unfortunately, we are not set up (yet) for online or mail-order purchases. Consider making an in-person visit to the dojo before it moves to purchase a rock.

We may also be bringing some for sale to the Midwest Aikido Bridge Seminar, March 20-22 at Milwaukee Shobukan dojo.

Kagami Biraki 2026 at Chicago Aikikai

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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

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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.