Christian Tissier Shihan is widely regarded as the most senior and most prominent non-Japanese aikidoka active today. Since returning from his formative years of training in Japan, he has published numerous technical works that have shaped generations of practitioners.
His very first book was released in 1981 — coincidentally, the year I was born. When I began practicing Aikido, I eagerly collected all of his publications. I read them countless times, not only to study their technical explanations, but also to absorb the cultural and historical insights about Japan that Tissier Sensei wove into his writing. I have often said that his books were one of the decisive factors that inspired me to move to Japan and train at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, in many ways trying to follow the path he had forged before me. At that time, I could never have imagined that one day I would be invited to contribute to one of his works.
Several years ago, Tissier Shihan contacted me about his plan to publish a new book — his first in more than a decade. To my astonishment, he asked if I would be willing to write the sections dealing with the history of Aikido. I did my best to sound calm on the phone, but inside I was overwhelmed with both excitement and apprehension. I accepted immediately, of course, but as soon as I hung up, the weight of the task truly sank in. Nevertheless, I threw myself into the work, drafting, revising, and shaping the material with his guidance. Over the following months and years, we had countless discussions — on the phone, in person when either of us was in France or Japan — refining the tone and perspective of the historical sections, and ensuring that they complemented the technical and biographical parts of the book.
This new volume is intended to stand as the culmination of Tissier Shihan’s decades of work. It looks back on his journey, highlights his current practice, and shines a light on the people who have been most important along the way. It also features portraits of many of the world’s most influential Aikido teachers. To my great honor, I find myself included in that circle, alongside friends such as Fabrice Croizé and Hélène Doué, with whom I was promoted to 6th dan at this year’s Kagamibiraki.
The project was not without its challenges, especially as much of the work had to be completed in the midst of the global pandemic. Yet the final result is something very special: a richly illustrated bilingual edition (French and English), presented in an elegant hardback with a protective sleeve. The book can be ordered directly from the publisher at this link.
For those who wish to learn more about Tissier Shihan’s extraordinary journey, I also recommend reading the detailed biography I wrote here, as well as the interview I conducted with him at his dojo in Paris. Both offer further insight into the remarkable career of a man who has done so much to shape the landscape of Aikido worldwide.
