Our chief instructor at Aikido Montreux is Patrick Cassidy, 6th dan Aikikai. Cassidy Sensei has studied art of Aikido for over 20 years. He spent more than six and a half years living and training fulltime in Iwama, Japan with the late Morihiro Saito, 9th dan. Saito Sensei was the longest disciple of Morihei Ueshiba, O’Sensei, the founder of Aikido. Iwama is the home of the Founder’s dojo and the Aiki Shrine, a pilgrimage site for the world community of Aikido. Cassidy Sensei has also continued his study with other wonderful instructors such as Takeda Yoshinobu, 7th dan, Robert Nadeau, 7th dan, Richard Moon, 5th dan, Peter Ralston, (the founder of Cheng Hsin), and Vernon Kitabu Turner Roshi.

Cassidy Sensei also has committed himself to the practice of Yoga. During his stay in Japan he studied with Junko Tomonaga (Founder of the Tomonaga Yoga Institute). He also spent periods at the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh India. His study has taken him throughout Asia spending over three years travelling through India, Nepal and Tibet.

The aspect of self awakening and evolution are important themes of the work done at Aikido Montreux. The teachings of Andrew Cohen, Vimala Thakar, Ajja, Eckhart Tolle and the Dalai Lama have inspired the dojo’s approach to the question of what does it mean to be alive and awake. Along with his own experiences and insight Cassidy Sensei offers a framework that gives students the chance to pursue the path of their own self transformation.

The Japanese Art of Tea offers a path of tranquillity and peace to those that practice. Cassidy Sensei has been a practioner for 20 years and has studied in Japan with Fukuda Satchiko Sensei and in California with Fujimoto Sensei. In the year 2000, Cassidy Sensei received his Chamei, (tea name) through Fukuda Sensei from the Ura Senke Hombu in Kyoto.


Aikido Montreux also has Dominique Cassidy, M.D., 3rd dan Aikikai as an instructor. Dominique has devoted herself to the Arts of Aikido, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Tea Ceremony for the last 11 years. She has spent over 2 years travelling and studying throughout India, Tibet , Nepal and Japan. She is pursuing the practices with the aim of discovering the path of self healing. Being also a medical physician, she has a unique perspective of both the Western approach to Health in contrast to the Eastern approach to Healing.














Durward Burrell is currently a 3rd dan, Aikikai and is also an instructor in Sunyata Yoga. He has been studying Aikido and Yoga since 1995 and has spent two years as a full time uchideshi with Patrick Cassidy in the United States. After his uchideshi program, he spent over two years leading the yoga program and teaching as an assistant Aikido instructor at Aikido of Fresno in California. In 2003, Durward moved to Montreux to assist with the work at Aikido Montreux. During this time, Durward has also cofounded Aikido Vevey, where he is now chief instructor.














Vance Landry holds the rank of third dan in Aikido. He started his martial art career as a very sucessful competive wrestler in 1988, and then moved on to the arts of Muay Thai and Jeet Kune Do. In 1993 he started Aikido being awarded his shodan from Kawahara Sensei in 2003. Vance then moved to Montreux to enter the uchideshi program. In 2005, Vance was awarded the rank of nidan, and in 2008 the rank of sandan, under the supervision of Cassidy Sensei. Vance is not only committed to Aikido but passionate about exploring the spiritual dimensions of the Art.














Julia Geissberger was uchideshi at Aikido Montreux one and a half years long. She has received her nidan (2nd degree black belt). During this time she also co founded the practice of Insight Self Defense with Patrick Cassidy. She also has received a Pallas Expert SD degree for woman and girls and teaches SD in different Insitutions. As a passionate dancer and performer she studied with many inspiring teachers such as Anna Halprin (life art process). She completed her movement studies as a Franklin Method educator (movement and imagery). Julia is pursuing the way of exploring true creativity, freedom in expression and authenticity in the arts. Now she runs a dojo together with her Partner in Uster, close to Zürich. See Aikido Unlimited.








Sura Ruppel has been fulltime uchideshi here at Aikido Montreux for the last 2,5 years. During this time she has received her Shodan (1^st degree black belt). She is committed to the Art of Aikido with the vision of becoming a professional instructor. She is inspired by the looking into the relationship between Life and the practice of Aikido. Sura loves to share the beauty of the Art, and explore the deeper questions that the practice brings up.














Katerina Kestemont holds the rank of shodan (1^st degree black belt) in Aikido. Katerina currently supervises the little Samurai class here at Aikido Montreux.  She has been training at Aikido Montreux for over 5 years and is a certified Thai Body Massage Therapist.