Chicago Aikikai has received word of the passing of Charles Tseng, Founder and Chief Instructor of Lake County Aikikai.
Tseng Sensei’s aikido career is deeply intertwined with the history of Illinois Aikido Club (as Chicago Aikikai was originally known). He joined Illinois Aikido Club in 1970 after seeing a demonstration the dojo gave at the Midwest Buddhist Temple‘s annual Ginza Holiday Festival under the guidance of Isao Takahashi Sensei.
In January 1972 ,Tseng Sensei visited Hombu Dojo (World Aikido Headquarters) in Tokyo, where he met Akira Tohei Sensei, who was then invited to instruct at the Illinois Aikido Club in April of that year.
In September 1975, while still training at Illinois Aikido Club, Tseng Sensei started a new dojo (eventually Lake County Aikikai) at the Lake County YMCA in Mundelein. Then in December, he traveled with 10 Illinois Aikido Club members to an aikido winter training camp in Sarasota, Florida, where they met Mitsugi Saotome Shihan for the very first time.
In January 1977, the Lake County Aikikai moved to the campus of the College of Lake County, and its classes became part of the college curriculum.
Tseng Sensei was a long-time friend and supporter of Chicago Aikikai. He often hosted Saotome Sensei when he visited Chicago, and would attend seminars at Chicago Aikikai together with his students. A clock gifted to Chicago Aikikai by Tseng Sensei and Lake County Aikikai hangs on the wall at the top of the entrance stairs.
Our condolences to Tseng Sensei’s family and students.
