Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

SEMINARS

Chicago Crosstown Seminar (Kiku Matsu Dojo and Chicago Aikikai)

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Reminder that Kiku Matsu Dojo, headquarters of Aikido World Alliance (AWA) and under the leadership of Andrew Sato Shihan, will be hosting the Chicago Crosstown Seminar with instruction by Laura DeGraff Sensei (Kiku Matsu Dojo) and Marsha Turner Shihan (Chicago Aikikai). The seminar will be held Saturday, September 12 – Sunday, September 13 at Kiku Matsu Dojo.

Chicago Crosstown Seminar
Kiku Matsu Dojo
4512 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60625
Saturday, September 12 – Sunday, September 13, 2026
Click HERE to register.

 

 

 

Training Photos from Seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and Senior ASU Instructors

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Day 1 of Seminar (Friday, October 3, 2025)

Class with Marsha Turner Sensei (Chicago Aikikai)

Class with Eugene Lee Sensei (Aikido Shobukan Dojo)

Day 2 of Seminar (Saturday, October 4, 2025)

Class with Robert Deppe Sensei (Aikido Shobukan Dojo)

Class with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan (Founder and Leader, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU))

Class with Kay Sandacz Sensei (Inaka Dojo)

Class with Don Ellingsworth Sensei (Tampa Aikido)

Class with Jim Alvarez Sensei (Aikido of Livermore)

Day 3 of Seminar (Sunday, October 5, 2025)

Class with Kamenna Lee Sensei (Aikido Shobukan Dojo)

Photos from Seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and Senior ASU Instructors

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Attendees of Chicago Aikikai’s Oct 3-5, 2025 seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and senior ASU instructors (Jim Alvarez, Robert Deppe, Don Ellingsworth, Eugene Lee, Kamenna Lee, Kay Sandacz, Marsha Turner). Seated in front of the shomen designed and built by Saotome Sensei in 1983.

Second group photo in front of the calligraphy of “Bushin” (武神) by Saotome Sensei given to the dojo in 1983 and featured on the commemorative seminar T-shirt. In back, Chicago Aikikai members hold the old exterior sign that was used when the dojo first moved to its Lincoln Avenue location in the mid-90s.

Group photo of Chicago Aikikai members with Saotome Sensei.

Photos of Chicago Aikikai Chief Instructor and Dojo-cho Marsha Turner with Saotome Sensei, and guest instructors Eugene Lee Sensei and Kamenna Lee Sensei, including one with Turner Sensei receiving a dogi from Saotome Sensei branded for senior leader instructors.

Pre-and post-class time at the Oct 3-5, 2025 seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and senior ASU instructors.

Seminar dinner celebration on Saturday, October 4.

Torino Ramen restaurant in Wilmette provided a great spread for the Saturday night seminar dinner. It included this elaborate sashimi platter that was both delicious and inspired some hijinks (Qin Coe gets an unexpected surprise from Dwight Sora while receiving a post-training massage from Rob Brose).