Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

Aikido

Vintage Aikido Films on YouTube

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Thanks to the efforts of Chicago Film Archives, the recently rediscovered collection of 1960s era 16 mm films belonging to Illinois Aikido Club is now digitized and we are making them available to the public via YouTube.

First up is a 1969 local NBC news segment highlighting aikido and Illinois Aikido Club when it was on Bryn Mawr Avenue in the Uptown neighborhood. The footage includes class led by late Chief Instructor Isao Takahashi Sensei (1912-1972).

Next are several films featuring pioneering instructor Koichi Tohei Sensei (1920-2011). These include three privately made reels while he was visiting dojo in the US, and a professionally made visual textbook produced in Japan.

We have one more reel to go. However, it is in Japanese and we will be working to provide original subtitles. Stay tuned and check back for updates.

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.

Short clips from Oct 3-5, 2025 seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and senior ASU instructors

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We have a new playlist on our YouTube channel featuring short video clips from classes at Chicago Aikikai’s seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and senior ASU instructors, held October 3-5, 2025. Our last seminar at Chicago Aikikai’s 1444 West Chicago Avenue location.
Click on the clip below to start the playlist, or go to the link here to see the entire playlist contents.

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).

Commemorative Mitsugi Saotome Shihan T-shirt

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We are less than a week away from our seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan. Chicago Aikikai’s last ever seminar in its current space, and likely the last time Saotome Sensei will visit to teach.

In commemoration of the event, as well as Saotome Sensei celebrating his 50 years in the United States in 2025, we are offering brand new T-shirt design.

The front is calligraphy by Saotome Sensei of Bushin (武神): “Martial Spirit,” pursuit of mastery in budō (武道), “martial arts”. The left-side text is i Aikido Gasshūkoku Budōkan (為合気道合衆国武道館), indicating the calligraphy was gifted to Chicago Budokan, an early 1980s effort by Chicago Aikikai to expand into a budōkan, an interdisciplinary martial arts space. Below this is Ganjin (巖仁), Saotome Sensei’s pen name. The original piece is displayed at Chicago Aikikai to this day.

The back features ASU’s official logo for Saotome Sensei’s 50th Anniversary, while the left shoulder features Chicago Aikkai’s modern logo. This was adopted in 1988 when the dojo began using its current name, combining the original circular logo created when Illinois Aikido Club was incorporated in 1963 with a cloud motif used extensively by Saotome Sensei in designing the Budokan.

Seminar attendees will receive a T-shirt as part of their registration. If you are not attending the seminar, consider purchasing the T-shirt at our Etsy store in celebration of Saotome Sensei’s life and legacy. Your purchase will also help support Chicago Aikikai in fundraising for a new dojo space, as it must relocate by June 2026.

For $35 from today until the end of the seminar.