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.
Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU)
Mitsugi Saotome Shihan Seminar Highlights Video
We have a new video up on the Chicago Aikikai YouTube channel featuring highlights from our recent seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and senior ASU instructors.
Training Photos from Seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and Senior ASU Instructors
Day 1 of Seminar (Friday, October 3, 2025)
Class with Marsha Turner Sensei (Chicago Aikikai)
Class with Eugene Lee Sensei (Aikido Shobukan Dojo)
Day 2 of Seminar (Saturday, October 4, 2025)
Class with Robert Deppe Sensei (Aikido Shobukan Dojo)
Class with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan (Founder and Leader, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU))
Class with Kay Sandacz Sensei (Inaka Dojo)
Class with Don Ellingsworth Sensei (Tampa Aikido)
Class with Jim Alvarez Sensei (Aikido of Livermore)
Day 3 of Seminar (Sunday, October 5, 2025)
Class with Kamenna Lee Sensei (Aikido Shobukan Dojo)
Congratulations to New ASU Shihan
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!
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
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