Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

Chicago Aikikai

End of an era on Chicago Avenue

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Chicago Aikikai held its last seminar at 1444 West Chicago Avenue, its home since 2009 and the last one designed and built by Kevin Choate (1954-2012) who served as chief instructor and dojo-cho from 1981 until his passing. Instruction was led by Tres Hofmeister Shihan (7th dan, Boulder Aikikai), a longtime friend and guest instructor for many years.

Everyone enjoyed a great weekend of training. Although the dojo was already partially dismantled, the atmosphere was enthusiastic. Many regular members and guests actually commented the minimized dojo look was oddly refreshing and relaxing (Though everyone did miss the elaborate designs and calligraphy – already in storage).

Saturday night dinner was again catered by Torino Ramen, bringing in a variety of Japanese bento lunch boxes as they had for our last two seminars. There was a great opportunity to rest up after the vigorous training (and recent rise in local Chicago temperatures), chat and reminisce.

On the last day after class, Chicago Aikikai members and guests worked together to remove and stage the mats for later transport, and dismantle the wood frame for the mats. The wood pieces were then taken to a rental storage facility where they will be kept for the time being.

Chicago Aikikai will soon be making an official announcement on its new temporary location and plans to secure a long-term space. In the meantime, check out this video remembrance and farewell of its home at 1444 West Chicago Avenue.

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month!

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May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Although Chicago Aikikai’s membership has not been majority Japanese American since the early 1970s, its roots lay in the postwar Chicago Japanese American community that was established here by people coming out of the wartime internment camps. Along with Hawaii Aikikai (Honolulu) and Los Angeles Aikikai, it is one of several aikido dojo that owe a debt to nisei (second generation Japanese Americans) who were early students of aikido in the US.

Check out our History of Chicago Aikikai video playlist on our YouTube channel. We are also presenting a selection of historical photos from our archieves below.

 

Illinois Aikido Club founding members Sab Tanaka and Joe Takehara receiving instruction from Koichi Tohei when he guest taught at Illinois Aikido Club in 1964 when it was on 3223 North Clark Street.

 

1967 Chicago Tribune photo of demo by Illinois Aikido Club at the annual Ginza Holiday Japanese cultural festival held by Midwest Buddhist Temple (originally Midwest Buddhist Church).

 

Francis Takahashi (1943-2023), who served as the Illinois Aikido Club’s second chief instructor while stationed in Chicago with the U.S. Army from 1963-1965. Takahashi was the son of pioneering instructor Isao Takahashi (1912-1972), began his training under Koichi Tohei (1920-2011) in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was married to instructor Mariye Takahashi. He is seated beneath the circular mirror that was a physical representation of the dojo’s original logo (symbolizing the sun) and served as its original shomen at the dojo’s first location at 3223 North Clark Street.
Kisshomaru Ueshiba (1921-1999), son of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) and second Doshu (Leader of Aikido) teaching a seminar at Illinois Aikido Club at 1103 W. Bryn Mawr in 1973. The half-kneeling student to the right is Joe Takehara.

 

Illinois Aikido Club founding member Joe Takehara, beloved senior member Yuki Hara, and ASU founder and leader Mitsugi Saotome Shihan at Chicago Aikikai when it was on 3652 N. Lincoln Avenue in the late 1990s/early 2000s.

 

ASU Founder and Leader Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and Lake County Aikikai founder and chief instructor Charles Tseng (1936-2024) at Chicago Aikikai when it was on 3652 N. Lincoln Avenue (Photo by Christine Weyand, Thanksgiving Seminar 2005/06)

Dojo Work Weekends (related to move-out)

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Work is proceeding to dismantle the interior of Chicago Aikikai prior to our move-out in June.

Regulars and visitors please note that the class schedule will remain unchanged, but art and other design elements will be coming down and staged for moving.

If you have some free time and would like to help out, please contact the dojo regarding specific tasks. Larger take-down projects are being scheduled for certain weekends.

2026 Shihan Appointments

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Our parent organization, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU), just announced the names of senior ASU instructors who have been appointed Shihan (師範) or “Master Instructor,” including our own chief instructor, Marsha Turner Sensei. The appointments were done by the Examination Committee for the Appointment of Shihan at Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan.

Our heartfelt congratulations to all those who have been recognized for their years of dedication, self-development and teaching in the art of aikido.

You can also learn more about Marsha Turner Sensei from her instructor profile video on our YouTube channel, and this interview that appeared on the website Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

2026 Shihan Appointments

We are pleased to announce that the following ASU members have been appointed Shihan by the Examination Committee for the Appointment of Shihan at Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Congratulations to all!

Jim Alvarez, Aikido of Livermore
Lee Crawford, Bond Street Dojo
Robert Deppe, Aikido Shobukan Dojo
Eugene Lee, Aikido Shobukan Dojo
Chetan Prakash, Redlands Aikikai
Gary Small, Aikido of Maine
Marsha Turner, Chicago Aikikai

This honor reflects their deep experience, technical mastery, and long-standing dedication to the transmission of Aikido and its values through their leadership, engagement, and support of ASU.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Saotome Sensei, whose vision and lifelong commitment to Aikido continue to guide and inspire our community. We also offer our sincere thanks to Doshu and the Aikikai Foundation for this recognition.

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding leaders in our community.

What is a Shihan?

Shihan (師範) is a Japanese term indicating a”master instructor” or “teacher of teachers,” used primarily in martial arts for highly skilled, senior instructors. Those awarded usually hold a rank of 5th to 7th degree black belt or higher, and it represents a formal title recognized by a Japanese headquarters or association, rather than just a rank.

Etymology

shi (師 – model/example) and han (範 – master/exemplar). Hence, shihan means an exemplar or model.

Proper Use

Shihan is not used as a name extension or form of address like –san or –sensei. Address a Shihan as “Sensei” or “[Name]-sensei” in regular dojo conversation. However, do use it when referring to them in a formal introduction or announcement (especially written).

Seminar (and Dojo Packing Weekend) with Tres Hofmeister Sensei

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Chicago Aikikai will host its final seminar at its current location (1444 W. Chicago Ave.) the weekend of June 5-7, 2026 with instruction by Tres Hofmeister Sensei (7th dan, Boulder Aikikai). Registration is open to students of aikido of all levels, regardless of affiliation.

Participants may register at $200.00 for the full weekend or $60.00 per class online HERE.

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CLASS SCHEDULE

Friday

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Saturday

10:00 am – 12:00 pm,

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm (followed by dinner at the dojo)

Sunday

9:00 am – 11:00 am

(Class will be followed with loading and transport of dojo materials to new temp location and storage)

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You can learn more about Hofmeister Sensei by watching this Zoom interview taken in advance of his 2024 seminar at Chicago Aikikai on our YouTube channel.

The seminar will also serve as a work weekend for final dismantling of the dojo’s interior. As previously announced, Chicago Aikikai must move by the end of June (for more info, see our Dojo Move page). It is our hope that dojo members, together with volunteers among seminar guests, will be able to complete the final take-down of interior features and loading for transport (to locations for short/long-term storage and training). Any assistance available will be greatly appreciated.