Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

NEWS & EVENTS

Asian American “Tea Talk” (Mental Health Workshop) at Chicago Aikikai

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Chicago Aikikai will be hosting the latest in the “Tea Talks” Workshop series sponsored by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois using martial arts to discuss mental health and fitness. This follows previous workshops presenting Karate and Muy Thai kickboxing. Open to the general public (with registration) and no martial arts experience necessary. To register, go to the Zeffy link here.

Kagami Biraki 2026 at Chicago Aikikai Third Friday Class

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Chicago Aikikai members, their families and friends are invited to its annual kagami biraki event, held at the dojo’s first Third Friday Class of 2026.
Reflect upon the last year and welcome the new with a round of training, followed by a potluck dinner and social hour. The event is FREE and open to members of the general public. Newcomers to aikido may observe or try things out. If planning to step on the mat, please wear loose-fitting clothing.
ABOUT KAGAMI BIRAKI
Kagami biraki (鏡開き, lit. ‘opening the mirror’; understood as “breaking of the mochi”) is a traditional Japanese ceremony where a kagami mochi (a large ceremonial rice cake) is broken open. It traditionally falls on January 11 (odd numbers are associated with good luck in Japan). The term also refers to the opening of a cask of sake at a party or ceremony. The fourth Tokugawa shōgun, Tokugawa Ietsuna, was the first to hold a kagami mochi ceremony 300 years ago. Many Japanese martial arts dojo use the kagami biraki ceremony to signify their first practice of the New Year