Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

Dwight

A Guide to the Art of Chicago Aikikai

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Chicago Aikikai must move by June 2026, and its current build is the last one designed by the late Kevin Choate Sensei (Chief Instructor from 1981-2012) with guidance from Mitsugi Saotome Shihan. Thus, an effort is being made to document and preserve the history and meaning of all of its art and design elements. A Guide to the Art of Chicago Aikikai has been prepared, and is available to view or download for freeby clicking on the link here.

(First page of A Guide to the Art of Chicago Aikikai shown below)

Training Photos from Seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and Senior ASU Instructors

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Day 1 of Seminar (Friday, October 3, 2025)

Class with Marsha Turner Sensei (Chicago Aikikai)

Class with Eugene Lee Sensei (Aikido Shobukan Dojo)

Day 2 of Seminar (Saturday, October 4, 2025)

Class with Robert Deppe Sensei (Aikido Shobukan Dojo)

Class with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan (Founder and Leader, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU))

Class with Kay Sandacz Sensei (Inaka Dojo)

Class with Don Ellingsworth Sensei (Tampa Aikido)

Class with Jim Alvarez Sensei (Aikido of Livermore)

Day 3 of Seminar (Sunday, October 5, 2025)

Class with Kamenna Lee Sensei (Aikido Shobukan Dojo)

Photos from Seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and Senior ASU Instructors

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Attendees of Chicago Aikikai’s Oct 3-5, 2025 seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and senior ASU instructors (Jim Alvarez, Robert Deppe, Don Ellingsworth, Eugene Lee, Kamenna Lee, Kay Sandacz, Marsha Turner). Seated in front of the shomen designed and built by Saotome Sensei in 1983.

Second group photo in front of the calligraphy of “Bushin” (武神) by Saotome Sensei given to the dojo in 1983 and featured on the commemorative seminar T-shirt. In back, Chicago Aikikai members hold the old exterior sign that was used when the dojo first moved to its Lincoln Avenue location in the mid-90s.

Group photo of Chicago Aikikai members with Saotome Sensei.

Photos of Chicago Aikikai Chief Instructor and Dojo-cho Marsha Turner with Saotome Sensei, and guest instructors Eugene Lee Sensei and Kamenna Lee Sensei, including one with Turner Sensei receiving a dogi from Saotome Sensei branded for senior leader instructors.

Pre-and post-class time at the Oct 3-5, 2025 seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and senior ASU instructors.

Seminar dinner celebration on Saturday, October 4.

Torino Ramen restaurant in Wilmette provided a great spread for the Saturday night seminar dinner. It included this elaborate sashimi platter that was both delicious and inspired some hijinks (Qin Coe gets an unexpected surprise from Dwight Sora while receiving a post-training massage from Rob Brose).

Commemorative Mitsugi Saotome Shihan T-shirt

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We are less than a week away from our seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan. Chicago Aikikai’s last ever seminar in its current space, and likely the last time Saotome Sensei will visit to teach.

In commemoration of the event, as well as Saotome Sensei celebrating his 50 years in the United States in 2025, we are offering brand new T-shirt design.

The front is calligraphy by Saotome Sensei of Bushin (武神): “Martial Spirit,” pursuit of mastery in budō (武道), “martial arts”. The left-side text is i Aikido Gasshūkoku Budōkan (為合気道合衆国武道館), indicating the calligraphy was gifted to Chicago Budokan, an early 1980s effort by Chicago Aikikai to expand into a budōkan, an interdisciplinary martial arts space. Below this is Ganjin (巖仁), Saotome Sensei’s pen name. The original piece is displayed at Chicago Aikikai to this day.

The back features ASU’s official logo for Saotome Sensei’s 50th Anniversary, while the left shoulder features Chicago Aikkai’s modern logo. This was adopted in 1988 when the dojo began using its current name, combining the original circular logo created when Illinois Aikido Club was incorporated in 1963 with a cloud motif used extensively by Saotome Sensei in designing the Budokan.

Seminar attendees will receive a T-shirt as part of their registration. If you are not attending the seminar, consider purchasing the T-shirt at our Etsy store in celebration of Saotome Sensei’s life and legacy. Your purchase will also help support Chicago Aikikai in fundraising for a new dojo space, as it must relocate by June 2026.

For $35 from today until the end of the seminar.

Thank you, Ikeda Sensei

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Chicago Aikikai enjoyed its final seminar with Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan (8th dan, Boulder Aikikai) at its current location at 1444 W. Chicago Avenue, September 12-14. New and old faces included guests from Inaka Dojo, Aikido of Western Illinois, Lake County Aikikai, Greater Detroit Budojuku, Milwaukee Shobukan, Aikido Club of Nile, Abiding Spirit Aikikai and Aikido of Wales.

Former Chicago Aikikai member Takashi Kozawa provided some video clips taken the Sunday of the seminar. For the last day, Ikeda Sensei slowed things down for focused study of connecting one’s center to their partner and breaking their balance. Clips may be viewed on the dojo’s YouTube channel.

The seminar also provided Chicago Aikikai with the opportunity to celebrate Ikeda Sensei’s recent promotion to 8th dan by Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo). Saturday night after class, Chicago Aikikai had Japanese food brought in from Torino Ramen restaurant in Wilmette, which included a customized celebratory cake.

Congratulations and thank you so much, Ikeda Sensei!