Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

Chicago

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.

Chicago Aikikai at Ginza Holiday Festival

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Ginza Holiday Festival demo team.
LtoR: Rob Brose, Satoko Bourdaghs, Qin Coe, Dwight Sora, Eric Sirota, Philip Bell (not pictured: Randy Smith)

Chicago Aikikai received a warm reception for its demonstrations on the Friday night and Saturday afternoon of the annual Ginza Holiday Festival held July 26-28 at the Midwest Buddhist Temple.

Obligatory goofy shot

Partnering Movement – Applying Aikido to Acting and Stage Combat

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Chicago Aikikai members Dwight Sora and Christian Boswell will facilitate a workshop introducing aikido concepts to actors for use in stage combat and fight choreography, as well as a means of focusing and relaxing, on Friday, September 29 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Those interested are asked to pre-register here. The dojo is requesting a $15.00 suggested donation for the workshop. [Read more…] about Partnering Movement – Applying Aikido to Acting and Stage Combat

Chicago Aikikai at Ginza Holiday Festival

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Chicago Aikikai has been invited to demonstrate at this year’s Ginza Holiday Japanese cultural festival held at the Midwest Buddhist Temple (MBT). The Aikikai will perform two demos at 7:30 pm on Friday, August 11 and at 4:00 pm on Saturday, August 12. This will be the temple’s first full-scale festival in three years, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The temple is located at 435 W. Menomonee St., Chicago, IL 60614.

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