Christian Tissier was born in the 7th of February 1951 in Paris. He started practicing Aikido in 1962 with Jean-Claude Tavernier and, quite soon, he continued with sensei Nakazono. From the very beginning he was considered to be a remarkably talented student, which is evident from the fact that he was given his 2nd Dan from his teacher in 1968, at the age of 17. It was June, 1969 that he fulfilled his dream; he traveled to Japan, the world center of the art he had chosen, in order to meet and train with the greatest teachers of Aikido. He had in mind a residence of 6 months, to finally stay in the country of the Rising Sun for 7 years. He trained with all the teachers of the Aikikai and mainly with the Doshu, Seigo Yamaguchi (who was his favorite instructor), Mitsugi Saotome and the venerable teacher Osawa, technical advisor of the Aikikai. In the mean time, he will practice Kenjutsu and kick-boxing as an amusement. Apart from his practice in martial arts, Christian Tissier will study Japanese at the “Tokyo School of the Japanese Language” and at the “Sophia University”. In the mean time, in order to earn his livings, he teaches French at lyceum and at the French-Japanese Institute of Tokyo.

He is at the level of 4th Dan when he decides to return to Paris in July, 1976. He founds at Vincennes, at the suburbs of Paris, Circle Christian Tissier (Cercle Christian Tissier), from which numerous instructors will be issued and the majority of the members of the technical council of the F.F.A.A.A. as well. Always in close relation with Japan, he was given the 5th Dan in 1981 and the 6th in 1986. The French commission awarded him the 7th Dan in 1997 and he received the same degree from Aikikai, from Doshou Kisshomaru Ueshiba himself, in presence of his successor, his son Moriterou Ueshiba, in January, 1998. January of 2016, awarded the 8th Dan, from the Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, today, is the only one in the Western world who has this grade until now. His long course, his teaching method, the accuracy at his technique and the generosity of his training now rewarded. He is a pattern for thousands of Aikido students. Now, he is considered as one of the greatest contemporary teachers of the art of Aikido, having awarded more than one thousand black belts and giving seminars with large attendance around the world.