Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

NEWS & EVENTS

Chicago Aikikai December Donation Match Challenge

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A donation match challenge has just been issued to the dojo!

If the dojo can raise $500 before December 31, 2023, we have a pledge for a 1-to-1 match. Which means we could raise a total of $1000 in less than three weeks! And, of course, anything you donate to the dojo is tax deductible (check with your tax advisor) as the dojo is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation.

To participate in the December Donation Match Challenge, there are two ways to donate

  1. Mail a check to the dojo (include a note about the Donation Match):
  2. Dojo PayPal link (indicate that payment is for Donation Match)

 

Marsha Turner

Chief Instructor and Dojo-cho

Chicago Aikikai (Illinois Aikido Club)

 

 

Chicago Aikikai closed for Thanksgiving

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Just a reminder that the dojo will be closed for regular training this Thursday through Sunday, November 23 through November 26, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.

感謝祭おめでとうございます！

INTRODUCING OUR NEW CLASS SCHEDULE

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Closing out 2023 and looking to 2024, Chicago Aikikai is excited to announce its brand new class schedule.

The aim is to provide a structure and environment for the highest level of training at all levels. Chicago Aikikai is always looking to improve the instruction and support it provides its community.

This new schedule was designed with a great deal of thought on the part of instructors and member input.

Main changes:

1. Weeknight classes consolidated to Tuesday and Thursday evenings (and Third Fridays).

2. Two more hours of training each week:

(1) Additional 7:30 – 8:30 pm weekday classes

(2) Yudansha-supervised open-mat practice

3. Special topic classes (all members welcome)

 

We believe the new schedule will provide these benefits:

  • Create more structure in training.
  • Improve the training experience.
  • Provide more access to our diverse instructor line-up

The new schedule will be rolled out on Saturday, December 2nd and posted on our classes page.

 

 

Passing of Francis Takahashi (7th dan), former instructor of Illinois Aikido Club

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This was posted today, Saturday, November 11 on the Facebook page of Aikiweb.com.

(NOTE – Article states that Takahashi Sensei taught at Chicago Aikido Club, but it was actually Illinois Aikido Club, precursor to Chicago Aikikai).

I just received the sad news that Francis Takahashi (7th dan) has passed away.  I’ll include a bio below which he wrote when he used to write for AikiWeb in the 2010’s. 

Beyond what he wrote about himself, I always experienced him as a sweet and kind gentleman.  I would often find him at various seminars that I attended, watching attentively and smiling.  It always seemed like he was happy to learn and to share his knowledge and experience.

My condolences go out to his family, friends, students, and loved ones.

Francis Takahashi was born in 1943, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Francis began his Aikido journey in 1953, simultaneously with the introduction of Aikido to Hawaii by Koichi Tohei, a representative sent from Aikikai Foundation in Tokyo, Japan. This event was sponsored by the Hawaii Nishi System of Health Engineering, with Noriyasu Kagesa as president. Mr. Kagesa was Francis’s grandfather, and was a lifelong supporter of Mr. Tohei, and of Aikido. In 1961, the Founder visited Hawaii to help commemorate the opening of the new dojo in Honolulu. This was the first, and only time Francis had the opportunity to train with the Founder. In 1963, Francis was inducted into the U.S. Army, and was stationed for two years in Chicago, Illinois. He was the second instructor for the fledgling Chicago Aikido Club, succeeding his childhood friend, Chester Sasaki, who had graduated from the University of Illinois, and was entering the Air Force. Francis is currently ranked 7th dan Aikikai, and enjoys a direct affiliation with Aikikai Foundation for the recommending and granting of dan ranks via his organization, Aikikai Associates West Coast. Francis is the current dojo-cho of Aikido Academy in Alhambra, California.