Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

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.