Aikidoka gathered at Inaka Dojo to celebrate the life and teachings of Wendy Whited Sensei (7th dan).
Whited Sensei founded Inaka Dojo in Beecher, Illinois. She was instrumental in establishing its parent organization, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU), and served as president until recently. She passed away on September 29, 2021. Fellow instructors, current and former students, and even relative newcomers traveled from both coasts as well as within the Midwest to remember her.
The seminar was held April 8-10 2022, organized by Kay Sandacz Sensei, current head instructor of Inaka Dojo. Robin Cooper Sensei (7th dan, Aikido of Madison) and Lee Crawford Sensei (6th dan, Aikido Northshore) were scheduled as featured instructors. When Cooper Sensei was unable to instruct on Sunday, instructors and senior students offered lessons drawn from their memories and experiences of Whited Sensei.
Whited Sensei was always a friend and supporter of the Chicago Aikikai. She was a constant presence whenever the dojo hosted seminars or dan testing, and directed many an aikidoka moving to Chicago to seek out the Aikikai as a home for training. She will always be in our hearts and will be dearly missed.
