Lakeshore Aikido Club, operating out of the Heartwood Center at 1818 Dempster Street, is a recently established sanctuary for those seeking to blend physical discipline with spiritual growth. Deeply influenced by his travels and studies in Asia, as well as his training with renowned Aikido masters from around the world, Antonio Terrone, a native of Verona, Italy, brings a unique perspective on martial arts to the club at the end of 2023. was established.
Mr. Terrone, 57, is an associate professor in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at Northwestern University. He explained that Aikido is a martial art based on harmony and cooperation, and is more dedicated to inner growth than combat preparation. “Aikido has this kind of appeal to spiritual seekers, just like Tai Chi or yoga,” he said. “There is no competition, no battle, no tournament, no victory or defeat. Aikido is self-cultivation.”
Terrone's journey
Terrone's fascination with Asian culture and martial arts has guided his life's work.
“I'm from the late '70s and '80s, so Bruce Lee was a big star in the movie world at that time,” he said. “When he was a kid, he was bullied a bit, so his parents pressured him to study kung fu.”
Terrone said he had no interest in kung fu, but agreed to let him join the judo club. That club was Terrone's gateway to the journey of a lifetime. He continued to study Taekwondo and then began reading about “Shaolin, Taoist monks, Buddhism, Taoism” and eventually decided to make this his profession. When he attended university in Italy, he majored in Chinese Studies and Tibetan Studies and minored in Japanese Studies, and then earned a PhD in the Netherlands. I also studied at a graduate school in East Asian Studies. ”
Terrone said he studied in Europe with two of the world's top aikido instructors, Christian Tissier and Wilko Freesman. “I have also traveled to Japan several times and studied with some of Japan’s top instructors at Hombu Dojo, the headquarters of the Aikido Federation. When it comes to Japanese Aikido masters, I especially like Doshu Moriki Ueshiba and Makoto Endo. I follow the teachings of Shiro and Yoko Okamoto.'' Mr. Terrone immigrated to the United States in 2006 after marrying his wife, an American national, whom he met at a Tibetan research conference held in Oxford, England. They lived in New York City for several years before relocating to Evanston, where they work at Northwestern.
Establishment of a dojo
“I've always been interested in opening a dojo.” [training center]. I started martial arts when I was 8 years old and always knew I would be involved in martial arts for the rest of my life. After COVID-19, many dojos were closed, so I told myself that now might be the perfect time to give it a try. ”
His vision was made possible with the help of Heartwood Center friends Nancy Froy and Larry Akey. Froy and Akey, themselves experts in integrative medicine, provided a space for Terrone's Aikido Club to grow alongside yoga, tai chi, and a variety of other meditation and healing techniques. The city was equally supportive, offering a Young Entrepreneurs Grant to cover startup costs. It took about six months in total to establish the club.
Training at Lakeside Aikido Club reflects the cooperative and harmonious spirit of Aikido, which Terrone feels is closely related to the path of Zen Buddhism. “In both Zen and Aikido, there is an understanding that there is only a path and no actual goal. There is no end. It is part of your faith, your practice, and your daily life.
“Aikido is more than martial arts training. It is a way to develop character, nourish the spirit, and harmonize body and spirit.”
As a service to the local community
Jeff Johnson, a seasoned Aikido practitioner with over 20 years of experience, offers a personal reflection on the influence of Terrone's teachings.”I think Antonio is someone who embodies the harmonious spirit of Aikido. He walks it like he talks it,” said Johnson, who has known Terrone for 10 years. My training has reached an even higher level by calling him my teacher. [teacher]”
Terrone envisions the club as a hub for Evanston's community, providing a space for interested people to pursue physical and mental growth. He also sees this club as an opportunity to develop the valuable wisdom held within the Aikido lineage and passed down from his own teachers.
“Aikido is a community. A personal goal for me is to create a community of Aikido practitioners that continues in my lineage. It takes time to grow, but that is my hope.”
The Lakeshore Aikido Club currently meets on Monday and Wednesday nights. This spring, Terrone will begin offering his five-week, 10-lesson introductory course to interested beginners. Terrone also hopes to start aikido classes for children in the fall.
Further information available here.
