Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

Chicago Aikikai

Thank you, Ikeda Sensei

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Chicago Aikikai enjoyed its final seminar with Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan (8th dan, Boulder Aikikai) at its current location at 1444 W. Chicago Avenue, September 12-14. New and old faces included guests from Inaka Dojo, Aikido of Western Illinois, Lake County Aikikai, Greater Detroit Budojuku, Milwaukee Shobukan, Aikido Club of Nile, Abiding Spirit Aikikai and Aikido of Wales.

Former Chicago Aikikai member Takashi Kozawa provided some video clips taken the Sunday of the seminar. For the last day, Ikeda Sensei slowed things down for focused study of connecting one’s center to their partner and breaking their balance. Clips may be viewed on the dojo’s YouTube channel.

The seminar also provided Chicago Aikikai with the opportunity to celebrate Ikeda Sensei’s recent promotion to 8th dan by Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo). Saturday night after class, Chicago Aikikai had Japanese food brought in from Torino Ramen restaurant in Wilmette, which included a customized celebratory cake.

Congratulations and thank you so much, Ikeda Sensei!

 

 

 

Building Fund Update

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Announcements on our recent building fund activity. Inaka Dojo contributed $3,000 from their recent seminar taught by Marsha Turner Sensei on August 15-17. Held in tandem with Chicago Aikikai’s demos at the Anime Magic convention August 22-24, furoshiki workshops led by member Satoko Boudaghs brought in $340.00 in donations. However, the biggest news is a $7,500 contribution by an anonymous donor.

Chicago Aikikai would like to thank all of its members, friends and supporters.

Chicago Aikikai demos at Anime Magic

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Chicago Aikikai made a return to the annual Anime Magic convention, held August 22-24 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and Donald P. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. The dojo gave four demos over the three days of the convention. In addition, member Satoko Bourdaghs led workshops in the art of furoshiki (Japanese wrapping cloths), which participants could take home with a donation to dojo’s building fund for a new space.

Thank you Tres Hofmeister Sensei

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Great seminar this past weekend with Tres Hofmeister Sensei (7th dan, Boulder Aikikai). Terrific turnout from many of our fellow dojo and everything went smoothly thanks to all the Chicago Aikikai members who worked on the event.

Congratulations also to Chicago Aikikai members who took their dan tests this past week at the seminar: Satoko Bourdaughs (shodan), Rob Brose (nidan), and Eric Sirota (shodan).

We also celebrated  Tres Hofmeister Sensei’s recent recognition as a Shihan by Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo) with a cake after dinner on Saturday of the seminar.

Also, special shoutout to Chicago Aikikai member Joe Guerrier (below left, pictured in a 2024 publicity shot) who injured his leg earlier in the week and was unable to train at the Tres Hofmeister seminar, but was there everyday going the extra mile working registration, T-shirt sales, food prep and cleanup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicago Aikikai returning to Ginza Holiday Festival

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Chicago Aikikai will be returning to give demos at the annual Ginza Holiday Japanese cultural festival at Midwest Buddhist Temple (MBT). Catch us onstage at 6:30 pm on Friday, August 8 and 3:30 pm on Saturday, August 9. And be sure to shop and sample some of the food.

Chicago Aikikai has given numerous aikido demonstrations over the years at the Ginza Holiday, an annual Japanese cultural festival and fundraiser hosted by the Midwest Buddhist Temple (MBT) in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. The temple started as the Midwest Buddhist Church in 1944 and began holding the festival in 1955. Chicago Aikikai began giving demonstrations not long after its founding in 1963 as Illinois Aikido Club.

 

Making Movies at Chicago Aikikai

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On Sunday, April 13, regular morning class was cancelled at Chicago Aikikai to accommodate the filming of Blade of the Waning Kingdom, an independently produced feature-length martial arts movie being made in Chicago.

 

Aside from training, Sundays are usually pretty sedate around Chicago Aikikai and its surrounding neighborhood, and usually only get really busy during seminars. Today, however, it was buzzing with cast and crew, as parts of the dojo served as makeup and wardrobe rooms and multiple different locations.

Chicago Aikikai members were invited to participate or observe the production. Joe Guerrier and his daughter Dee came for a while in the morning to watch the production process. Dwight Sora served as liaison between the dojo and production and also assisted the fight choreographer. Rob Brose and Christian Boswell also performed fight choreography as featured extras in a training scene, and Christian later did double-duty as part of a ninja entourage.

All in all, the filmmakers had a lot of thanks and praise for Chicago Aikikai’s willingness to let them film in the dojo. Cast and crew were asked to attend the regular Sunday intro class one week prior to receive proper orientation in conduct and care of the space, and many expressed in signing up as regular or trial students.

Blade of the Waning Kingdom is a low-budget adventure film set in a mythic world inspired by classic Japanese and Chinese martial arts films. Once completed, the filmmakers hope to submit it to film festivals and make it available for streaming viewing.