The Swiss Aikido Association UAS / SAV

Our past

Aikido first officially appeared in Switzerland in 1956 as a section of the Swiss Judo and Budo Association (SJBV), possibly also as a grouping of the Swiss Physical Education Association SLL, later Swiss Olympic.

Another milestone was Master Mutsuro Nakazono’s national course in 1967 at the Judo Club in Herisau, which came about thanks to the efforts of aikido pioneer Willi Frischknecht. Master Nakazono complained that Aikido in Switzerland was too dependent on Judo associations (even though he himself held the 5th Dan in Judo), a reproach that the then president of the Aikido section, Jean-Pierre Paillard, was unable to heed due to his absence.

These beginnings are closely linked to the person of Freddy Jacot, a worldly aeronautical engineer who had embarked on his aikido studies in the 1960s. On 4 January 1964, he then founded the Aikido section of the Swissair Judo Club. Together with Agge (Micky) Schaaning, he travelled to Japan, where the aikido fever gripped him so strongly that from 1965 onwards he regularly organised courses with master Nobuyoshi Tamura.

In Berne, Aikido, at that time still strongly influenced by Judo, appeared for the first time in 1964 at the Sport-Center Nippon. It was only when Yves Cauhépé, who came from Lausanne, took over the training that the techniques became more rounded and larger, and the falling techniques more elegant. Yves Cauhépé was also active in the Dojo in Fribourg, where Bernard Gremaud was his pupil at the beginning, now honorary president of the UAS/SAV. It was thanks to him that annual courses were held with Master Hirokazu Kobayashi, who had a fundamental influence on aikido techniques in Fribourg and Berne.
In 1967, the desire arose to intensify cooperation with the Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, for which a meeting was held in Zurich on 24 August. Jakob Bötschi, who studied aikido in Osaka and was one of the first aikido instructors at that time, was chosen as the authorised representative. During his visits to his homeland, he always taught at the Nippon Club in Zurich.

In 1969, during another visit to Switzerland, Jakob Bötschi proposed to Jean-Pierre Paillard to bring the young and dynamic Kobayashi pupil Kenji Kumagai (then 5th Dan) to Vaud as an aikido instructor. This plan failed because the latter, as a Japanese, did not obtain a work permit in Switzerland.

In a letter dated 28 September 1969, Freddy Jacot informed the Association of the foundation of the Swiss Cultural Association for Aikido (ACSA). This led to the resignation of the Aikido section of the Swissair Club and the Herisau section. On 19 April 1971, the SJBV fulfilled the Aikido Section’s wish for complete autonomy and from then on the SJBV was only responsible as an umbrella organisation, so that the Aikido Section could now become an independent Aikido association.

An integration of the Swiss Aikikai into the SLL was aborted in 1977. Despite the mediation of F. Wollner, the then president of the Swiss Ice Hockey Association, talks resumed in 1978. Ice Hockey Association, did not lead to success.
The UAS found representation through Jean-Pierre Paillard and Yves Cauhépé in the European Aikido Union, which was founded by André Nocquet on 6/7 November 1971. The federation has 20,000 members from five European countries. The statutes were adopted on 1-2 April 1972 in Fribourg, Switzerland. André Nocquet was a highly qualified man to head the federation, as he had studied in the Hombu Dojo from 1955 to 1957 as an Uchi-Deshi (home pupil of O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba) and was awarded the 5th Dan Aikido by O-Sensei.

At the 8th Annual UEA Congress in Coventry/England, delegates awarded Master André Nocquet with the 8th Dan Aikido. He proclaimed the message of O-Sensei in an unforgettable way at many international courses until his death in 1999.

In Switzerland, Master Masamichi Noro, Master Hirokazu Kobayashi and later Master Hiroshi Tada were active in many courses and passed on their knowledge to aikidoka. The courses in Thonon, Annecy and Cannes also attracted many Swiss participants.

Our present

The Swiss Aikido Association UAS/SAV is a national association and as an autonomous section affiliated to the Swiss Judo and Ju-Jitsu Association (SJV).

The UAS maintains a diversity of styles and interests. Thus, at the association’s annual course in Magglingen, the different directions of Aikido are taken into account. The direction of the course can be entrusted to internal and external senseis.

In 2007, the statutes, which date back to 1972, are revised. The philosophy and purpose of the association, as laid down by Yves Cauhépé, who sadly passed away too early in 1980, were adopted. New guidelines and a code of honour became binding for the degrees.

In 2011, the SAU celebrates its 40th anniversary. For this reason, a jubilee meeting with a training course and jubilee celebrations will take place in June of the same year in the Tenero TI sports centre. For the course in Magglingen in August, Sensei Jiro Kimura, 7th Dan Aikikai Aikido Osaka Buiku Kai, comes to Switzerland especially from Japan. Together with Sensei Kazuyasu Kamimura, 6th Dan, Takeshi Yamada, Tomomi Ishiyama and Uematsu Futoshi he will be our guest for 1 week.

In April 2013, Sensei Kimura again conducted the course in Magglingen, this time accompanied by Takeshi Yamada, Uematsu Futoshi and a Japanese student from Graz.

In April 2014, the course in Magglingen was conducted by Sensei Christian Tissier, 8th Dan Aikikai.

In April 2015, the course was held in Magglingen under the direction of Sensei Cyndy Hayashi, 7th Dan Aikikai.

In August 2016, the course was held in Magglingen under the direction of Sensei Kazuyasu Kamimura, 6th Dan Aikikai.

Our projects for the future

The next course with an international teacher in Magglingen will be held in June 2017 by Sensei Kazuyasu Kamimura, 6th Dan Aikikai.