Some photos from our recent Third Friday class and potluck. Kyu tests were given for Joe Guerrier (2nd) and Xiaolu Wang (6th). Congrats to both on a job well done, and thanks to all dojo members who helped them prepare.

Anyone is welcome to come to our Third Friday classes to observe or participate. Please note the instruction is usually geared towards intermediate-advanced students. Extra points if you bring something for the potluck!

And remember, we’re counting down the Third Fridays in our current space until our move out next year in June 2026.

Chicago Aikikai recently received back some old 16 mm films of aikido demonstrations dating back to the 1960s. These belonged to the Illinois Aikido Club (as Chicago Aikikai was originally known). The dojo is hoping to preserve the original reels and also digitize them for archiving and viewing. Click on the link below for more information and to view a few reels we have managed to digitize so far. If you have any information, please e-mail info@chicagoaikikai.org.

Ray Pyter, who trained at Chicago Aikikai from the 1970s through to the mid-1990s, recently provided these old photos from the mid-to-late 1970s. At the time the dojo was still called Illinois Aikido Club (located at 1103 W. Bryn Mawr) and the chief instructor was Shigeru Suzuki Sensei. Several students appear with Suzuki Sensei in the photos, including Ray, Kevin Choate Sensei and Arthur Benjamin Sensei. If anyone remembers the names of the other students, please let us know at info@chicagoaikikai.org.