An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido
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, 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.
Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan [8th dan, Chief Instructor of New York Aikikai, President of the United States Aikido Federation (USAF)] died peacefully on Sunday, January 15.
Born in 1938, he entered aikido Hombu Dojo (headquarters) as an uchi deshi (live-in student) in 1955 at the age of 17. He first came to the U.S. in 1964 to demonstrate at the World’s Fair in New York, and assumed the position as chief instructor of New York Aikikai. At that time, he was the only aikido teacher from Japan on the East Coast.
As President of USAF, his home when visiting Chicago was naturally the Midwest Aikido Center (MAC), the local USAF member dojo. However, in the early days of American aikido and prior to the founding of MAC or USAF, he was known to visit Illinois Aikido Club, as Chicago Aikikai was originally known. Our condolences to his family, friends and students around the world. Mitsugi Saotome Shihan [Founder, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU)] is quoted on the ASU Facebook page saying ““Yamada Sensei had a huge influence on aikido in the United States and I respect him.” Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan (Founder and Chief Instructor, Boulder Aikikai) posted “We lost another great Aikido teacher, January 15th, 2023. Rest In Peace.”
Chicago Aikikai will hold its annual kagami biraki class on Friday, January 20, 2023, to celebrate training in the New Year.
Training will be from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm led by Marsha Turner Sensei, followed by a potluck dinner.
Members past and present, as well as fellow aikidoka from other dojo, are invited to join us for class.
Friends, family and visitors are welcome to observe and join in the party afterward.
If you are planning to attend and bring something for the potluck, please e-mail info@chicagoaikikai.org.
Kagami biraki (鏡開き) is the traditional kick-off for the New Year held in many Japanese martial arts dojo.
It means “opening the mirror,” and references the breaking of ceremonial rice cakes (kagami mochi) or the top of a cask of sake.
According to history, the fourth Tokugawa shogun (supreme warlord), Tokugawa Ietsuna, was the first to hold a kagami mochi ceremony 300 years ago. On the eve of war, he gathered the lords in his castle to break open a sake cask.
This month’s 3rd Friday class (November 18, 2022) will be led by Chicago Aikikai member Satoko Ogura Bourdaghs. The class will cover the basics of Japanese etiquette and language as they are used in aikido practice. Some of the topics Satoko will cover are proper bowing, addressing one another, uniform wear and care, and showing respect. She will also offer tips on helping to remember aikido techniques.
Satoko is a lecturer in Japanese Language at the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations of the University of Chicago. https://ceas.uchicago.edu/directory/satoko-ogura-bourdaghs.
Chicago Aikikai welcomes board-certified dance movement therapist Eve Chalom, who will be using the dojo as a base for her work. Eve is also a former competitive figure skater, yoga and qigong teacher, and brain injury specialist (among other areas of expertise). She will be offering private sessions, and an open gentle movement class 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm on select Wednesdays ($20 suggested donation. See healingthroughmovement.squarespace.com for details).
Regular Chicago Aikikai members should note that aikido class will no longer be held on Wednesday evenings, and not to enter the dojo during non-class hours without prior clearance by seniors.