Chicago Aikikai aikido dojo

An inclusive community for exploring the Japanese martial art of aikido

Illinois Aikido Club

Passing of John Eley

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We just received word from Ted Ehara of Chicago Ki-Aikido of the passing of Jonathan (John) Eley, who died the morning of Tuesday, July 14 in a care facility from a heart attack.

Eley was one of the first non-Japanese members of the Illinois Aikido Club (as Chicago Aikikai was originally called). In February 1961, he responded to an invitation from founding member Norman Miyagi and visited the dojo’s first location at 3223 N. Clark Street for a Sunday class, and as he related in an interview, “I was converted.”

Eley remained with the Illinois Aikido Club until 1974, training under Chester Sasaki, Francis Takahashi, Isao Takahashi and Yoshihiko Hirata. When Koichi Tohei split from Hombu Dojo, Eley chose to follow him as a student of Tohei’s Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido (The Ki Society).

In 1975, Eley organized the Chicago Ki Society at University of Chicago, and served as chief instructor of Chicago Ki Aikido until today.

Our condolences to all of Eley’s friends, family and students.

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)

Vintage Aikido Films on YouTube

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Thanks to the efforts of Chicago Film Archives, the recently rediscovered collection of 1960s era 16 mm films belonging to Illinois Aikido Club is now digitized and we are making them available to the public via YouTube.

First up is a 1969 local NBC news segment highlighting aikido and Illinois Aikido Club when it was on Bryn Mawr Avenue in the Uptown neighborhood. The footage includes class led by late Chief Instructor Isao Takahashi Sensei (1912-1972).

Next are several films featuring pioneering instructor Koichi Tohei Sensei (1920-2011). These include three privately made reels while he was visiting dojo in the US, and a professionally made visual textbook produced in Japan.

We have one more reel to go. However, it is in Japanese and we will be working to provide original subtitles. Stay tuned and check back for updates.