An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido
Our friend Thomas Krumroy at Lakeshore Aikido in Ohio has generously donated his talents and efforts to turn the remnants of Chicago Aikikai’s old canvas mat covering into works of art. Here is a sampling of what he has accomplished. These will eventually be priced and sold via our Etsy store. However, if anything catches your attention now, please e-mail info@chicagoaikikai.org. All proceeds will go to the Kevin Choate Sensei Memorial Building Fund.
Samples of river rocks for sale with Japanese calligraphy painted on them. All proceeds go to support our new building fund efforts.
The rocks come from our interior rock stream feature, which we unfortunately cannot take with us.
The calligraphy is courtesy of Chicago Aikikai member Xiaolu Wang, who painted many herself and is leading a team of volunteers to assist.
Unfortunately, we are not set up (yet) for online or mail-order purchases. Consider making an in-person visit to the dojo before it moves to purchase a rock.
We may also be bringing some for sale to the Midwest Aikido Bridge Seminar, March 20-22 at Milwaukee Shobukan dojo.
We are less than a week away from our seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan. Chicago Aikikai’s last ever seminar in its current space, and likely the last time Saotome Sensei will visit to teach.
In commemoration of the event, as well as Saotome Sensei celebrating his 50 years in the United States in 2025, we are offering brand new T-shirt design.
The front is calligraphy by Saotome Sensei of Bushin (武神): “Martial Spirit,” pursuit of mastery in budō (武道), “martial arts”. The left-side text is i Aikido Gasshūkoku Budōkan (為合気道合衆国武道館), indicating the calligraphy was gifted to Chicago Budokan, an early 1980s effort by Chicago Aikikai to expand into a budōkan, an interdisciplinary martial arts space. Below this is Ganjin (巖仁), Saotome Sensei’s pen name. The original piece is displayed at Chicago Aikikai to this day.
The back features ASU’s official logo for Saotome Sensei’s 50th Anniversary, while the left shoulder features Chicago Aikkai’s modern logo. This was adopted in 1988 when the dojo began using its current name, combining the original circular logo created when Illinois Aikido Club was incorporated in 1963 with a cloud motif used extensively by Saotome Sensei in designing the Budokan.
Seminar attendees will receive a T-shirt as part of their registration. If you are not attending the seminar, consider purchasing the T-shirt at our Etsy store in celebration of Saotome Sensei’s life and legacy. Your purchase will also help support Chicago Aikikai in fundraising for a new dojo space, as it must relocate by June 2026.
For $35 from today until the end of the seminar.
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.
