I had been trying to conduct an interview with Christian Tissier Shihan (7th dan Aikikai, head of the French Aikido Federation FFAAA) for quite some time now. Eventually, thanks to his good will and his kindness, things became possible. There are very few interviews of him published in English so I thought that this would be a great way to introduce Sensei to the English-speaking Aikido practicioners.

„On oparł to wszystko na czymś bardzo prostym. Wiedziałem o tym już od pierwszego dnia ..."

Te słowa należą do wyjątkowego człowieka, Henry Kono Sensei, który właśnie obchodzi 80 urodziny oraz świętuje 43 rocznicę trenowania Aikido. Pan Kono jest obywatelem kanadyjskim pochodzenia japońskiego, który w czasach swojej młodości postanowił odwiedzić kraj przodków. Nie było by w tym nic nadzwyczajnego, gdyby nie fakt, że te odwiedziny doprowadziły go do trenowania przez cztery lata Aikido z jego twórca O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba.

Cyril Lagrasta, 4th dan Aikikai, is the head instructor of the Dublin Aikikai Aikido, a group that he started over 10 years ago. It is important because it gives the opportunity to a real pioneer to express himself about all the work he has done to spread a certain conception of Aikido outside of France. Too few of these people make it to the pages of the French magazines so I guess that was my way to express all my gratitude to him for what he has done for me and my Aikido these last few years.

Joe Curran is the current president of the British Aikikai (BA), the only remaining organization under the technical supervision of Kazuo Chiba Shihan after his departure from England. Joe Curran spent more than 30 years practicing Aikido and he is one of the most dedicated students of Chiba Sensei in Britain for putting us into contact during a seminar Curran Sensei gave in Tunisia. Sensei. He accepted to talk to us about his organization and his personal views on Aikido in and abroad.  Many thanks to Mrad Medsouheil from the Association Sahelienne d'Aikido.