Hasina A.

UAS

My journey as a Budoka began in September 1985, in Madagascar, when I was only 7 years old.

At the time, I was more interested in karate or Chinese martial arts, no doubt influenced by the Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan generation. But my parents chose to enroll me in aikido. Their reason was simple: it was a non-competitive discipline that would channel my excess energy.

At the time, I didn't choose aikido. But little by little, thanks to my senpai, I learned to appreciate it, to grasp its depth and richness. Very early on, I had the good fortune to be guided by the late Master Charles RAMELOSON (6th Dan), a pioneer of Aikido in Madagascar, who had a profound influence on my training. At his side, I grew not only in technique but also in spirit, eventually becoming one of his assistants.

When I arrived in Europe in the early 2000s, a new horizon opened up. I had the opportunity to meet and practice with many masters, including Christian TISSIER Shihan, Christian BASSE in Poitiers, Mare SEYE Shihan, etc., and to attend seminars with Franck NOËL Shihan, Mitsugi SAOTOME Shihan, Seishiro ENDO Shihan, and many others. Each encounter enriched my practice, opening me up to new approaches, making me more versatile and even more curious.

From 2009 to 2018, I had the pleasure and responsibility of teaching at Stade Poitevin Aikido (Poitiers). Teaching children, teenagers, and adults had a profound impact on me: teaching is also about learning and growing alongside your students.

Since 2018, I have continued to teach in France and Switzerland, to practice and to explore, driven by the same passion I had when I started out. Today, as a 5th Dan, I look back on my journey not as a sum of years, but as a living path, still under construction, where the most important thing remains the encounters with masters, students, and oneself.

Carlos Lopez

AS

Carlos Lopez began his aikido career in 1993 at the Lenzburg Aikido School. Alongside his training in Lenzburg, Carlos also trained with Master Ikeda and other shidoins at the ACSA. He regularly attends national and international seminars at home and abroad, continuously expanding his knowledge and skills by training with various teachers.

In 2006, Carlos decided to go his own way and opened his own Aikido school in the Brugg region. During his Aikido career, Carlos has had the opportunity to practice with and learn from many grandmasters throughout Europe. Carlos continuously passes on this valuable knowledge to children, teenagers, and adults in his training sessions. He is on the mat three to four days a week to teach his vision of aikido.

As a recognized teacher, Carlos is also invited abroad to lead aikido seminars. His extensive budo experience also includes training in Japanese yoga and as a J+S aikido instructor. Since 2021, Carlos has also held the 5th dan in aikido.

Together with fellow aikidokas, he founded the Kokoro Group with seven other aikido schools to promote the exchange of different aikido styles. In addition, as vice president of AS (Aikido Switzerland), Carlos supports the development of Aikido Switzerland and aikido in Switzerland.

Uli Bird

AS

Uli began practicing aikido in 1983. From the beginning until today, Francesco Marrella (7th dan) has been his teacher. Uli's aikido was influenced by Masatomi Ikeda Shihan. Uli has been a dan holder since 1992 and began teaching at the Judo and Aikido Club Wohlen. In 2001, he was elected to the club's board. He is responsible for the club's Aikido Technical Commission. From 2014 to 2019, he was also secretary of the Sankshinkai Group, a group within Aikido Switzerland.

Uli is one of the main teachers at the Judo and Aikido Club Wohlen. For over 40 years, Uli has been present at the dojo several times a week, either as a teacher or as a participant. Every year, he attends several courses in Switzerland and abroad, following the teachings of Francesco Marrella Shihan and Michele Quaranta Shihan. He also leads several stages each year where he passes on his knowledge of aikido.

At the beginning of 2025, Uli was awarded the 6th dan by the Hombu Dojo Tokyo. With his motivation and dedication, he is one of many examples of people who have devoted themselves to aikido.

Renata Jocic

ACSA

Renata Jocic began practicing aikido at the age of 15. She trained with Japanese masters Hiroshi Tada, 9th dan, Yoji Fujimoto, 8th dan, and Masatomi Ikeda, 7th dan, in Italy, Japan, and Switzerland. She is a certified examiner, Shihan, and the first woman to achieve 7th Dan in Switzerland.

She began her professional aikido career with the opening of the Aikido School Bern in 1991. As training manager and Dojo-Cho, she leads training sessions for adults, children, and young people. For many years, her regular commitments have included holiday courses for the city of Bern (fäger), aikido training at the resource-oriented school REOSCH, and currently training for voluntary school sports in the city of Bern. As one of the highest-ranking aikidoka in Switzerland with in-depth knowledge and a professional background, she is a sought-after guest teacher. She regularly leads both national and international aikido seminars, including in Switzerland, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Germany, and Luxembourg.

Through her many years of experience, she has developed a learning method that introduces children and young people to the movements and principles of aikido, deepens their understanding, and enables the greatest possible individual development.

Since 1999, Renata Jocic has been a lecturer at the Bern University of the Arts (HKB) in the Theater Department (specializing in aikido/martial arts). She is responsible for the physical training of acting students. In addition to teaching, her duties also include transdisciplinary project work in bachelor's and master's programs. She has developed numerous fight choreographies for theater projects, both within her work at the HKB and for theater productions at venues such as Bühnen Bern, Theater Weltalm, Schauspielhaus Graz, Theater Basel, etc.

As a board member of the ACSA, she is committed to the association's causes and the promotion of aikido at the national level.

Markus Rytz

UAS

Markus Rytz, 5th dan in aikido and 3rd dan in iaido, has been practicing aikido since 1991. His martial arts training has taken him to distant countries, including the USA and Japan, where he trained at the Hombu Dojo. During this time, he has also enjoyed exploring other martial arts and training with a wide variety of senseis in order to broaden his budo horizons and draw inspiration from other martial arts.

Weapon-based techniques, especially practicing with the bokken, are particularly close to his heart. He attaches great importance to precision and realistic, functional applications. However, harmony within the training group and ensuring that the aikidoka enjoy training are also important to him.