Dear Chicago Aikikai Members,
2023 is almost over, marking 60 or 62 years for the dojo, depending on when you start counting. A lot of effort went into both training and maintaining our space – from teaching, test prep and cleaning to PR, demos and seminars. Thank you to all from our Chief Instructor to our newest beginners for being a part of it.
If you want to catch some final training for the year, there’s still four more classes to go: two Thursday night (12/21) with Andrew Vitale, and two Saturday morning (12/23) with Dwight Sora.
Looking forward to 2024, we will be holding our kagami biraki to officially usher in the New Year at our Third Friday class on January 19. Also, our first seminar of the year is already set: Tres Hofmeister (Boulder Aikikai, 7th dan) will be returning June 7-9. ASU Grants are also available for the 2024 Summer Camp in DC, the Shrine Sessions, Nanadan Seminars and Winter Intensive 2025 (applications accepted for one month once registration has opened).
We were very well received at this year’s Ginza Holiday Festival at Midwest Buddhist Temple, and may be invited back in August 2024. We might also have an opportunity to do a demo at the Anime Magic Convention August 30-September 1 thanks to Eric Sirota’s contacts.
We’re still in post-pandemic recovery and need to boost our membership. Be sure to note and share our current membership packages, new flyers and Sunday intros. As always, it always helps to like/subscribe our Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube pages. Plus, it’s not too late to contribute to our Donation Challenge!
Aikido is not easy. Not in learning, teaching or operating a dojo. It has less written rules than many of its fellow arts, which can be quite freeing, but also confusing (plus there’s a bunch of unwritten cultural rules). Therefore, cheers to everyone for your perseverance, your continual willingness to step outside your comfort zone, and most of all, your presence. In the spirit of shinchoku (進捗) or progress, let us move forward into 2024.
On behalf of the senior instructors of Chicago Aikikai.
Dwight Sora, your humble website/social media manager
Wishing everyone a healthy and happy holiday season. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year
Some 2023 Highlights
Testing/Promotion
Christian Boswell (6th kyu)
Joe Guerrier (5th kyu)
Bill Rowe (3rd kyu)
Yvonne Matos (6th kyu)
Eric Sirota (1st kyu)
Martha Turner (5th kyu)
Kate Warren (5th kyu)
New members
Philip Bell
Michael Buss
Chris Dignan and daughter Allie
Joe Guerrier and daughter Dahlia (Dee Dee).
Aaron Heard
Brian Kron
Maxwell Novoselac
Andrew Rathgeber
Other
– Farewell and good luck to Martha Turner on relocating abroad. Thank you for all your work on the dojo website these past years.
– Warm welcome back to Satoko Bourdaghs after returning from an extended stay in Japan