SHIN SHIN TOITSU AIKIDO - Ki Aikido

25 years Aikido Balerna

17.10. - 19.10.2025

Group photo of saturday

Balerna October 2025

For the third weekend in October, the Associazione Ticinese Ki Aikido (ATKA) invited participants to its annual fall seminar with Maurizio Volpe and Bernhard Boll.
The ATKA was founded 25 years ago by Yvette Voumard. To celebrate this occasion, there was no seminar fee. The entire weekend's schedule, including the common meals, was meticulously planned and organized.

By Friday evening, the mat was already well-filled with participants from Switzerland, Ronchamp, Northern Italy, Vienna, Prague, and Nuremberg. A large group from Liège, from Ki Aikido de Sclessin, had arrived early at their accommodation, the Casa Zen in Balerna. But after the long 800 km journey in five cars, they wanted to rest a bit and did not participate in Friday's training.

Friday evening

Pietro Quadri, the president of the association, warmly welcomed the Aikido practitioners gathered on the tatami, and Yvette gave some hints on the procedure and organization.
Maurizio Volpe then began the lesson. After Kenkōtaisō and Aikitaisō, he first taught some Ki exercises, which he explained very precisely, as always. In the technical section, he had the students practice elements from the tsuzukiwaza for the 3rd Dan, such as koteoroshi, tsuki ikkyo, tsuki hantai koteoroshi, yokomenuchi irimi kokyunage, etc. He emphasized several times that practice is the most important thing in Aikido. Philosophy should come second. Although he recommended using words sparingly, he had to use many, as he always gave his explanations first in French, then in Italian, and finally in English.

Pizzata

As always at the fall seminar, after Friday's training, there was a pizza dinner donated by Aikido Balerna on the stage of the sports hall. This time, there were 52 people at five tables, all beautifully set by Geraldina. For environmental reasons, real metal cutlery was used. The pizzas and spring rolls from Mery's Pizza in Balerna were delicious. We also enjoyed farro salad prepared by Yvette, Gorgonzola cheese brought by Maurizio, and a crumble cake with blueberry filling baked by Karel. Mineral water and plenty of Swiss beer were available for drinks.
There were no leftovers from the pizzas, salad, Gorgonzola cheese, or cake. On the other hand, the organizers had kept a very generous supply of mineral water and beer.
Many thanks to the municipality of Balerna, which always provides us with tables and benches, and this time even with a large refrigerator for the beer.

Saturday morning 1

On Saturday morning, more than 70 participants were on the tatami. Bernhard opened the lesson, and Pietro and Yvette welcomed the participants in more detail this time. Yvette mentioned the participants' origins and explained the geographical location of Balerna in the canton of Ticino. She also mentioned the multilingualism of Switzerland, with four national languages, three of which are official administrative languages, first in French and then in Italian.
Bernhard had chosen Tsuzukiwaza 2, ushiro katatedori kubishime from the 1st Dan program, as his main topic. Most of the techniques didn't require much space, so the participants didn't have to be divided into groups.

Promotion

At the beginning of the second part, Maurizio presented Bernhard with the 8th Dan certificate in recognition of his work for Aikido.
Bernhard began karate in 1976 and practiced ki-jutsu for several years starting in 1977. In 1979, he first encountered Aikido at Tohei Sensei's seminar in Empoli (Italy). There, he also met some aikidoka from Belfort/Ronchamp, who then organized annual seminars with Yoshigasaki Sensei, which Bernhard attended starting in 1980. He later founded the dojos in Haigerloch, Balingen, and Hechingen. Since 2007, he teaches regularly in Balerna. He also teaches at seminars in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Croatia, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland.

Saturday morning 2

In the second part of the morning lessons, Maurizio taught numerous Ki exercises. He explained in detail for what the Ki exercises serve and with what inner attitude one should practice them. The presence of mind is important. The Ki tests show whether it is fully present or lacking.
Afterward, he had the students practice a series of techniques from the 3rd Dan program. He also explained his understanding of Aikido. He doesn't see himself as a teacher whom the students must follow. Every Aikido practitioner must develop their own understanding. But this can only be achieved through constant practice. As an Aikido teacher, he naturally wants to help with this.

Chuden exam

At the end of the morning class, Michele Cassina took the Chuden exam. Michele started Aikido in Balerna in 2007 in the children's group. He has been training in the adult group since 2012.
Ryan surprisingly lifted him on his first attempt at the "unraisable body". Apparently, Michele's Ki wasn't 100% present, as Maurizio had explained before in the class. However, Michele completed all other tests and the Kenkotaiso flawlessly on the first attempt.

Lunch break

For lunch, we went to the nearby Ristorante al Popolo, which had opened its kitchen especially for us on Saturday. Yvette had worked out a seating plan, with vegetarians and meat-eaters sitting in groups. This made things easier for the waitresses. The chef, Roberto, had prepared very tasty food in generous portions. One aikido practitioner let his appetite guide him and perhaps ate a little too much.
Some guests with Italian roots from Liège took advantage of the lunch break to briefly cross the border into Italy and do some shopping at a large shopping center in Como, 15 minutes from Balerna.

Shodan Alessandro

In the first lesson of the afternoon, Bernhard explained the first three techniques from Tsuzukiwaza 8 yokomenuchi. Then folowed two Shodan exams.
Alessandro was the first to present his skills. He has been practicing Aikido in Balerna since 2015. His uke were Michele, Olmo, and Dzenan. In both the tsuzukiwaza and the randori, he demonstrated his thorough knowledge of the techniques and his ability to execute them precisely. The audience's applause rewarded his performance.

Shodan Dzenan

Then Dzenan took the exam. He has been practicing Aikido in Balerna since 2016. His uke were Michele, Olmo, and Alessandro. In the tsuzukiwaza and the 3-people-attack, he demonstrated fluid movements, as skillful and precise as his colleague. He, too, received great applause at the end of the exam.
At the end of the lesson, Bernhard had the participants practice and deepen their understanding of the techniques koteoroshi and kokyunage from tsuzukiwaza 21 tantodori 1.

Saturday afternoon

Maurizio continued the training with more Ki exercises. He then covered the katadori attack and its connection to the ryokatadori attack. He also taught some techniques from Tsuzukiwaza 18 yokomenuchi.
At the end of the lesson, Yvette, with the help of Giulia, distributed key ring pendants as a small souvenir of the club's 25th anniversary and the seminar. They were designed exactly like the ones from 2010 for the 10th anniversary and, of course, were again made by Provvida Madre in Balerna.

Saturday's dinner

Dinner was split into two groups. One group at the Ristorante della Stazione, the other at the Ristorante Meridiana. They had a similar menu, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Naturally, some stories from the beginnings of Ki Aikido in Italy and France were shared, especially at the dojo leaders' table.

Sunday morning

On Sunday morning, after Kenkotaiso, etc., Bernhard began with the bokken exercises from the 2nd and 1st kyu program. He then had the group practice the t suzukiwaza 3 ryotemochi for 1st kyu. This included interesting insights into how uke can be guided with the appropriate form of nage, avoiding collisions as much as possible.
At the end of the lesson, two aikidoka from Liège demonstrated the entire Tsuzukiwaza once again.
Before the short break, the group photo of the day was taken.

Group photo of Sunday

End of the seminar

Maurizio then continued the class. He had the participants practice techniques from the 4th Dan program. He explained in detail the individual elements of Futarigake Zenponage and Kokyunage. He then demonstrated how to guide the jo with one hand in Jonage. The Kokyunage irimi technique was practiced intensively. He then officially closed the seminar.
Everyone helped put away the tatami, clear the tables and benches, and remove the decorations. Afterwards, there were numerous warm farewells, and the out-of-town guests began their sometimes very long journey home around 1 p.m. A group of eight then traditionally went to the Grotto del Mulino in the Breggia Gorge for lunch.
With the many participants, the intensive organizational preparation by Yvette and the help of Geraldina, the exceptionally cheerful atmosphere on the mat, the teachings of Maurizio and Bernhard, and also the very sunny weather, it was a truly wonderful seminar. We hope to see our many friends again soon at other seminars, for example, on the second weekend in Prague or at the seminar in Vercelli. From November 29th to 30th, Maurizio and Bernhard will be back in Liège for a seminar.

The report of Jean-Paul from Dojo Ronchamp: Webpage in French.
English:

Some more photos

Photos: Geraldina, Bernhard