Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU)

Congratulations to New ASU Shihan

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World Aikido Headquarters (Hombu Dojo) has officiallly recognized several nanadan (7th degree black belt) instructors within our parent organization, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU), as Shihan (Master Instructors). These include Tres Hofmeister (Boulder Aikikai) and Robin Cooper (Aikido of Madison), guest instructors at our 2023 Nanadan Seminar, and George Ledyard (Aikido Eastside) and Chuck Weber (Baltimore Aikido), guest instructors at our 2024 Nanadan Seminar. Congratulations to all. The complete list of those recognized may be found at the ASU website.

Thank you to our Nanadan guest instructors!

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Chicago Aikikai had a great seminar September 13-15 with guest instructors George Ledyard (7th dan, Aikido Eastside) and Chuck Weber (7th dan, Baltimore Aikido). Both instructors, senior students of Mitsugi Saotome Shihan, brought their years of experience and insight to classes focusing on the fundamentals and keys to practicing randori (乱取り; multiple person attacks). The seminar, titled “Aikido Beyond Thought”  is part of Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU)‘s ongoing series of Nanadan (7th degree black belt) seminars under the banner of “Bringing Saotome Sensei’s Legacy Forward“.

Our deepest gratitude to Ledyard Sensei, Weber Sensei, and of course Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU) and all the guests who attended.

Nanadan Seminar with George Ledyard Sensei and Chuck Weber Sensei

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Click here to register.

Please note registrations limited to 50.

 

SCHEDULE:

Friday evening

6:30pm-7:25 – 55 min

Break 10 min

7:35pm-8:30pm – 55 min

Saturday morning

9:30am-10:45am – 75 min

Break 15 min

11:00am-12:15pm – 75 min

Group photo following circle after class

2 hr lunch break – 12:30pm-2:30pm

Saturday afternoon

2:30pm-3:45 – 75 min

Break 15 min

4:00pm-5:15pm – 75 min

Evening party / food at the dojo 6pm+

 

Sunday morning

9:30am-10:45am – 75 min

Break 15 min

11:00am-12:15pm – 75 min

The Asian American Roots of Chicago Aikikai and Aikido in Chicago

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“To practice Aikido fully, you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.”

-Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido

Aikido, a martial way

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, so it seems like a good time to turn back the clock and look at the Asian American origins of Chicago Aikikai and its place in bringing the Japanese martial art of aikido to the Windy City. [Read more…] about The Asian American Roots of Chicago Aikikai and Aikido in Chicago

ASU Nanadan (7th Dan) Seminar June 9-11

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Chicago Aikikai is pleased to host Tres Hofmeister, Sensei, and Robin Cooper, Sensei, in one special co-taught event June 9-11, 2023. This seminar will be the second of four high-level instructor pairings around the country under the umbrella “Bringing Saotome Sensei’s Legacy Forward,” sponsored by Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU). [Read more…] about ASU Nanadan (7th Dan) Seminar June 9-11