New DOJO Construction Project in Chicago!!
Fund Raising for the US-Japan Cultural Exchange Pavilion through Martial Arts

 

1. 5409 West Devon Ave, Chicago IL., USA (15 minute drive from O’hare Airport)

2. Floorspace: 8,000 sqft (including basement)

3. Schedule to be in Operation： April 2024  (Construction has started)

4. Fund Raising Target: $50,000

5. Fund Raising Period: Nov 1 ~ Dec 15

 

Conceptual Drawing

3 JUDO Rings to be placed

 

Finally, the new Dojo Construction Project in Chicago will commence.  Tohkon Judo Academy – partner of GKJN and I also participate as a Board Member – has decided to leave the Dojo in Downtown Chicago after 27 years and move to a new permanent facility.

The total cost including the acquisition of the real estate is $926,000 – most of them covered by funds on hand and a 30 year bank loan, but we still need financial support for the construction of the new dojo where we have decided to start a fund raising program.

The new DOJO has a space for 3 Judo Rings (360 Tatami mats) which is a size large enough to host a JUDO Tournament.  The basement will include a training gym, lockers with showers.  A fully equipped facility suitable for a US Japan cultural exchange pavilion through Martial Arts.  I have made my decision to devote the remainder of my career to this DOJO which will be my second home.  I welcome any and all persons that can support this project.

1．Usage of the Funds

1. The donated funds will be used via Tohkon Judo Academy for the acquisition of the property, construction, tatami mats, and/or required peripheral equipment.
2. Depending on the amount of collected funds, portions may be used for GKJN which all of them will be used for youth education.
3. The progress of the construction will be updated on our website as well as our Instagram account.

2．Construction Schedules and Events

With everyone’s support, the events below become possible.

2023

Nov	Fund Raising Starts.  Basement piping work commences.
Dec	Bank Loan Approval (Scheduled)  Closing of the acquisition.

2024

Jan	Basement construction completion.  Ground floor construction starts
Feb	Ground Floor foundation work completion, starting of electrical wiring and interior work
Mar	Tatami and Equipment Delivery (Targeting moveout from current facility by end of March)
Apr	New Dojo Operation Starts!!
May	Opening Ceremony and Memorial Judo Camp (Inviting Medalists – 200 participants)
Jun	2nd GKJN Cup & 26th Tohkon Cup (800 participants) Wintrust Sports Complex (Bedford Park, IL) *Inviting top athletes from Japan
Jul	Midwest Tournament (Chicagoland – 200 participants)
Aug	2nd US Judo Kids to Japan Program (Kodokan, Kyoto, Kumamoto)
Oct	Karate & Jujitsu Class
Dec	Midwest Joint Judo Camp (100 participants – 3x per year starting 2025 – inviting top athletes from Japan, Europe and US)

2025

Apr	Floor Mats Installation Wrestling, Yoga and Self Defense Class Starts
Jun	3rd GKJN Cup, 27th Tohkon Cup (1,000 participants) Inviting Team Japan – US vs Japan Kids & Cultural Exchange Event
Oct	3rd US Judo Kids to Japan Program (Participation in a Tournament in Japan)

3.How to Contribute

I: To GKJN Bank Account

1. Checks
   Payable to: Megumi Ishikawa d/b/a Global Kids Judo Network
2. For Zelle or bank transfer, please contact directly. (info@gkjn.org)

II: Via our Website

https://gkjn.org/en/donate

Accepting VISA, Master Card, JCB, AMEX, Diners as well as PayPal

III: Special Menu (My TATAMI)

Would you like to have your own TATAMI in the new DOJO?  With a donation of $150 we will print your name on the side of the Tatami.  Please mention “My Tatami” in the comments when donating.  We are expecting roughly $60,000 just for the TATAMI mats – your contribution will help a great deal for the US Japan Cultural Exchange Pavilion through Martial Arts.  My TATAMI, isn’t that cool?

IV: Corporate Support

We also welcome any and all contributions from corporations as well as organizations.  This will include Naming Rights, Logo’s, etc.  Please feel free to reach out.

info@gkjn.org

224-578-5530 (Megumi Ishikawa Cell Phone)

4．Current Status (As of October 29, 2023)

Building Exterior

Basement
(Locker Room and Offices will be here)

Ground Floor Dojo Area

We’ve cleaned it up!!

5.Lastly ~ Megumi’s Thoughts~

Lastly, I’d like to mention my thoughts.  When the decision was made for this New Dojo, I finally found a true home for GKJN and myself and strongly felt that “This” is going to be the center of the bonding between the two countries.

I did learn a lot through Judo.  Using this experience, I wish to create a place where everyone becomes happy (positive) and I want to help them do that.  Even for people who do not do Judo, by visiting our facility, watching US Kids putting their efforts in Judo, a martial art born in Japan, you may feel confidence or some sort of “power” that you can feel positive.  I wish that in the future, this facility becomes one of the locations for international exchange for our next generation, and someday this place becomes of the “must visit” place when you’re in Chicago.  I’d like to fill this place with a lot of Dreams.  Right now it may sound like an unrealistic dream, but any dream will not come true unless you continue to try.

This is GKJN as well as Megumi Ishikawa’s challenge.  And, it’s not going to be my Dojo, but “Everyone’s DOJO”

I look forward to your support and contribution.

Megumi Ishikawa