Christian Tissier was born on February 7, 1951, in Paris, France. He began aikido at the age of 11 under the Jean-Claude Tavernier in his native city and soon on moved to train under the Mutsuro Nakazono, 7 Dan Aikido Aikikai. In 1968 Christian received a 2nd Dan from Nakazono Sensei and made a plan to go to Japan after.
Tissier Sensei joined the Hombu Dojo when he was only 18 years old. To be able to stay in Tokyo he had to find a job there. And soon after arrival, he made his living as a model and a French language teacher but his main goal was Aikido of course and he joined as many classes as he could. He made a strong relationship with the Moriteru Ueshiba, Morito Suganuma, Seishiro Endo, Tsuruzo Miyamoto, Yoshiaki Yokota and many others from the time. His favorite teachers were Seigo Yamaguchi, Kisaburo Osawa and Kisshomaru Ueshiba. He served them as uke during the demonstrations and classes.
In Japan, Christian Tissier also did Kenjutsu under Inaba Minoru Sensei, Kickboxing, Karate, Judo, Kendo and studied the Japanese language. Sensei spent 7 years in Japan instead of a half-year that he planned and got promoted to a 4th Dan. Then, Seigo Yamaguchi told him to go back to France and teach there. This is how Cercle Tissier school was created. Cercle Tissier is one of the biggest martial arts schools in Europe. The school does have Aikido, Judo, Karate, Jiu-jitsu, Boxing, Hapkido, Haidong Gumbo, Kajukenbo, Ko-budo, Krav Maga, Kung Fu Dahara, MMA, Ninjutsu, Tai-Chi, Fitness, Yoga and dance classes with the very best professionals as teachers.
Tissier Sensei is a founding member of the FFAAA which was created in 1983 and has over 25000 practitioners in 800 clubs. He received 5th Dan Aikikai in 1981, 6th Dan in 1986, 7th Dan in 1998 and was the first one ever non-japanese instructor to receive a status of Shihan.
What’s more important about the Christian Tissier is the exceptional Aikido style he developed. Tissier Sensei gave an uncountable number of seminars anywhere you can imagine. He serves the International Aikido Federation as an instructor during congresses and as a technical coordinator and demonstrator during major events such as the World Combat Games.
Christian Tissier Shihan is the main teacher of the high ranked aikidokas like Bruno Gonzalez, Pascal Guillemin, Vasillis Nykteris, etc.
H is an author of the multiple books about the Aikido. There’s even an app named Christian Tissier Aikido on the PlayMarket and AppStore.
In 2016 Christian Tissier, Miyamoto Tsuruzo and Jiro Kimura were awarded the 8th Dan Aikido Aikikai by the current Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba. He is the only European with this rank and now has even more influence on the world of Aikido.
To follow Tissier Shihan please use the next pages: Christian Tissier Shihan facebook page, Le Cercle Tissier facebook page and a Youtube channel.
Related articles: Christian Tissier interview on Kombat Sports TV Channel with a translation and Christian Tissier: On Revitalizing Aikido.
Check out Christian’s upcoming seminars registered on AikidoTravel.com:
