Tres Hofmeister (7th dan, Boulder Aikikai) will be returning to teach at Chicago Aikikai for the first time since the pandemic, June 9-11. Details TBA.
Please feel free to send questions to info@chicagoaikikai.org.
NEWS & EVENTS
2023 Midwest Aikido Bridge Seminar
Milwaukee Shobukan will host the 2023 Midwest Bridge Seminar, March 24-26, marking the 11th year of the event. Aikidoka of all affiliations and lineages welcome. Headline instructors are Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan (7th dan, Boulder Aikikai), Kayla Feder (7th dan, Aikido of Berkeley) and Lisa Tomoleoni (6th dan, Aikido Shimobkukai). Additional classes will be taught by supporting instructors. 14 classes will be offered over the 3 days. Virtual attendance will also be available.
Schedule (US CST):
Friday March 24— 5:00-7:30 pm
Saturday March 25— 9:30 am-12:30 pm & 2:30-6:30 pm
Sunday March 26— 9:30 am-1:30 pm
There will be a karaoke and pizza party at the dojo Saturday after training (registration required)
Fees: All Days $185 / Saturday and Sunday $160 / Saturday Only $135 / Friday OR Sunday $65 / Virtual $50 / Saturday Party $20
Please register at the Aikido Shimbokukai homepage.
A limited number of scholarships are available, please contact if interested.
Participants asked to be prepared to show proof of vaccination at the door. The vaccination requirement has currently been dropped but this cannot be guaranteed to still be true in March.
Please feel free to send questions to Shimbokukai.Events@gmail.com
Two Views Seminar with Meido Moore & Lisa Tomoleoni
Meido Moore (6th Dan, Great Lakes Aikido) and Lisa Tomoleoni (6th dan, Aikido Shimobkukai) will teach a joint seminar under the theme “Two Shihan, Two Perspectives, One Class” on February 18-19 at Great Lakes Aikido (150 Fairway Drive, Suite 156, Vernon Hills, IL, 60061.)
Schedule (US CST):
Saturday, February 18, 10:00 am-12:00 pm & 2:00-5:00 pm
Sunday, February 19, 10:00 am-12:30 pm
Fees: $125 for the whole seminar, $100 for Saturday only, and $50 for Sunday only.
Please register online at the Aikido Shimbokukai homepage. In-person registration will also be accepted at the door.
A limited number of scholarships are available, please contact if interested.
Kagami Biraki 2023
Chicago Aikikai members and guests gathered to celebrate Kagami Biraki at their Third Friday class on Friday, January 20, 2023.
Rotating instruction was provided by Marsha Turner (Chief Instructor and Dojo-cho), Edward Reiff, Andrew Vitale, Dwight Sora, Qin Coe, Patrick Miller and Rob Brose. Class was followed by a potluck dinner.
Jan Nevelius Shihan at Aikido of Madison
Aikido of Madison again welcomes Jan Nevelius Shihan of Vanadis Aikido in Sweden for a friendship seminar March 10-12, 2023.
All participants will be required to be fully vaccinated (including any boosters for which you are eligible). At present the event is planned to be mask-optional, but that status may be altered depending on conditions. Attendance will be limited and pre-registration is required.
For full information: https://aikidoofmadison.com/events/seminars/
Bill King Passes Away
Bill King, former instructor and dojo-cho of ASU member dojo Cleveland Aikikai, passed away on January 15. During the 1980s and 90s he was a regular fixture of weekend seminars at Chicago Aikikai, frequently participating when Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan (Founder and Chief Instructor, Boulder Aikikai) and Mitsugi Saotome Shihan [Founder, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU)] were in town to teach. He is immortalized at the Aikikai by the photo at the top of the entrance stairs, taking ukemi for Ikeda Shihan.