Our History

The history of the Aikido-Atelier, or rather, many of the defining events in our club’s history, is closely linked to the aikido history of Jakob Spälti, the founder of the Aikido-Atelier Zurich.

2026
At the general meeting on May 6, Jakob Spälti officially brings his more than 50-year aikido career to a close and retires from active aikido training and club life. At the meeting, Jakob Spälti is honored for all his contributions to the club and its community and is named an honorary member. Igor Drieghe succeeds Jakob Spälti as the club’s ‘senior teacher’.

2025
During the spring seminar (February 22–23) with Gérard Blaize Sensei, celebrations are held in honor of Sensei’s promotion (8th Dan Aikikai, Tokyo by Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba during the Kagami Biraki ceremony in mid-January in Tokyo, Japan), as well as the 25th anniversary of the Aikido-Atelier and the seminars organized by the Aikido Atelier with Gérard Blaize Sensei.
At the general meeting on May 14, the entire board was to be re-elected. The new board consists of Simon Mall (President), Andreas Iff (Secretary), Anita Dobler Iff (Treasurer), and Jakob Spälti (Technical Committee Representative).

2024
In April, a small group (Anita Dobler Iff, Andreas Iff, Igor Drieghe) from the Aikido-Atelier accompanied Gérard Blaize Sensei to Japan, where they attended a training session at the Hombu Dojo and participated in the annual Aikido demonstration (Hono-Embu) at Kumano Hongu Taisha. Gérard Blaize Sensei recognizes Igor Drieghe (as the second person from the Aikido-Atelier, after Jakob Spälti) as a direct student.

2023
At the Zurich spring seminar, Jakob Spälti is presented with his 6th Dan Aikikai, Tokyo certificate by Gérard Blaize Sensei.
On October 6, a training session and memorial event are held to commemorate the passing of Karl Bühler, who died a year earlier.

2022
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jakob Spälti’s 50th anniversary in Aikido was not celebrated until 2022, as part of a Saturday training session followed by festivities.
At the general meeting on May 11, some members of the board were replaced. The board now consists of Sabine Weber (President), Elisabeth Hösli (Secretary), Sandro Balliana (Treasurer), and Igor Drieghe (Technical Committee Representative).
Jakob Spälti, for the last time, led a training weekend (from September 30 to October 2) at the Schönengrund Dojo (since 1982, Jakob Spälti had led one, and for many years two, training weekends annually at the dojo of Willi Frischknecht (a Swiss Aikido pioneer) in Schönengrund, AR).
On October 6, Karl Bühler passed away after a serious illness. Karl Bühler was a longtime and close Aikido companion of Jakob Spälti and an active supporter of the Aikido-Atelier, both as a training participant and, for several years, as a training instructor.

2020/2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to cancellations and restrictions on training sessions at the dojo. The seminars led by Daniel Champeimont and Jean-Marc Martin in the fall of 2020 have been canceled. The seminar with Gérard Blaize Sensei in February 2021 has been canceled.
At the summer seminar in Fiesch (2021), Igor Drieghe was presented with his 5th Dan Aikikai, Tokyo certificate by Gérard Blaize Sensei.

2019
Karl Bühler, a longtime and close Aikido companion of Jakob Spältis and an active supporter of the Aikido-Atelier, both as a trainee and for several years as a training instructor, is named an honorary member of the club following his retirement from active Aikido training.

2018
The Aikido-Atelier participates in the Kokoro Project (a joint Saturday training session involving various Aikido dojos from Zurich and the surrounding area). Representing the Aikido-Atelier, Igor Drieghe leads a training session.

2017
At the general meeting on April 5, the members approve the transfer of responsibility for rent and subleases (from Jakob Spälti to the club).
The new contracts (between the property management and the club on the one hand, and between the club and the subtenants on the other) take effect on November 1.

2016
For the first time in many years, the Aikido-Atelier is once again offering a beginner’s course, led by Igor Drieghe (with Martin Bachmann as his assistant). The beginner’s course takes place every Wednesday in place of the Bo training that was previously offered.
The promotional group, established specifically for this purpose, presents the board with the comprehensive “2016 Promotional Concept.” This provides the board with a practical tool containing measures to recruit new members.
At the general meeting on April 6, Jakob Spälti announces his intention to transfer responsibility for the lease and subleases from himself to the association. The board and Jakob Spälti then work together to prepare for this transition.

2013
At the general meeting on June 5, the founding of the Aikido-Atelier Zürich association is approved with the adoption of the presented bylaws. The transition from Jakob Spälti’s school (dojo, sole proprietorship) to an association is thus complete. The board of the newly founded association consists of Bruno Wyss (President), Elisabeth Hösli (Secretary), and Mark Stucki (Treasurer).

2006–2012
Regular training sessions with no special events.

2005
Jean-Marc Martin (a senior student of Gérard Blaize Sensei) is invited to lead an annual seminar at the Aikido-Atelier.

2003
Daniel Champeimont (principal student of Gérard Blaize Sensei) is invited to lead an annual seminar at the Aikido-Atelier.

2001
At the end of March, the first Zurich spring seminar with Gérard Blaize Sensei takes place. The seminar has been held every year since then (except in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
In the summer, renovation work begins on the newly acquired premises at Binzstrasse 12, 8045 Zurich. Thanks to great dedication, including from members of the training group, the renovation progresses well, and training resumes on October 12. To ensure greater financial stability and better utilization of the dojo, contracts with subtenants are signed going forward.
Training sessions at the Aikido-Atelier are concentrated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Mondays and Wednesdays, training sessions (over the years) are led by rotating instructors (Karl Bühler, Peter Nussbaumer, Igor Drieghe). Friday training remains true to its tradition of being led by Jakob Spälti. Several times a year, Saturday training sessions (with rotating instructors) are held, followed by a barbecue and picnic. Sometimes these are followed by a movie night featuring aikido videos or Japanese films.

2000
Jakob Spälti decides to open his own dojo, named “Aikido-Atelier,” in Zurich and (together with his training group) leaves Aiki-Kai Zurich midway through the year. For about a year, the group trains in Zurich-Wipkingen (at Gion Honegger’s karate dojo).
On December 1, the first seminar organized by the Aikido-Atelier with Gérard Blaize Sensei takes place in Bülach (the event was organized in collaboration with the Aikido section of the Bülach Judo Club, where Jakob Spälti also leads an Aikido training group).

1992
Jakob Spälti and Karl Bühler attend a seminar led by Gérard Blaize Sensei (a student of Hikitsuchi Michio Sensei) for the first time and decide to follow the principles of Gérard Blaize Sensei’s Aikido more closely from then on (do not wait, do not look your partner in the eyes, leave no openings). The members of Jakob Spälti’s training group now increasingly attend Gérard Blaize Sensei’s seminars (in Geneva, Prémanon, Vichy, and Lannion) and also regularly participate in the annual Ascension Day seminars with Michio Hikitsuchi Sensei in Paris.

1990
The history of the Aikido-Atelier Zürich begins at the Aiki-Kai Zürich, where Jakob Spälti leads a training group every Friday.