Andreas Baumann

I was born on November 28, 1959, and grew up in the canton of Bern. At the age of 17, I began practicing Shotokan Karate at Salvatore Sigillo’s dojo. This only lasted about two years, after which I turned to other activities (Savate, diving, traveling, etc.). At 30, I looked for an Aikido school in Biel, where I lived, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find one. Therefore, I started Shotokan Karate again at the same school as before, which was now run by Dominique Sigillo. I stayed there for about eight years, and in 2000, I began Aikido at the Aikido school in Neuchâtel. This school was run by Miquele Quaranta, but shortly after I started, his student and my current friend and teacher, Eric Graf, took over. I soon realized that I not only loved Aikido, but that it would also be my path. I began training very intensively, and after about three years, I started teaching children. Later, of course, I also began teaching adults.

After achieving my 2nd Dan in 2012, I started considering whether I wanted to follow Eric Graf’s example and open my own Aikido school. With his help, I found a place in Val-de-Ruz in 2012 where I could begin this challenging project. Initially, I was located in the fitness center in Cernier, and then in 2016, I found a suitable location in the same building, where my school is still located today. Today, I hold the 4th Dan and the title of Shidoin. We teach children from the age of five four times a week and adults three times a week.

In 2023, I appointed my student Carine Schenk (2nd Dan) as co-director of my school. She has held this position with great dedication and responsibility ever since, which is a great asset to my school.

In early 2024, I began my training as a teacher of Japanese yoga, which I successfully completed in September 2025. Since one of my students, Mauranne Schenk, had already completed her yoga teacher training before me, we now also teach Japanese yoga three times a week.