Not long ago, I got the opportunity to have a chat with one of the most notorious female Aikido experts, Micheline Tissier, who holds the rank of 6th dan Aikikai. She was the first European woman to get awarded such a high grade by Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba and one of the too rare women to occupy a technical function within her federation. I was absolutely delighted when she accepted to answer my questions and discovered that she was of a very direct and honest character, never dodging a question and she often surprised me with the sharpness of the views she expressed on many subjects.

Guillaume Erard: You started practicing Aikido at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. What brought you to Tokyo and why did you switch to Aikido after years practicing dance?

Micheline Tissier: Some family problems led my parents to send me off to Tokyo where my brother was living. I was 15 and although dance was not my main activity, my teacher was however suggesting me to pursue this career. I was actually mainly into athletics and my speciality was the 1200m. I kept on jogging everyday until I was 40.

G. E.: We know quite well how classes are run in Tokyo but we know less how beginners are taught in the Aikido headquarters. How is the instruction compared to France where the pedagogic system is very elaborate?

M.T.: The practice of Aikido was in fact a requirement for my obtaining of a student visa. I spent two months of compulsory beginner's classes that are run on the first floor. I can't really say that it was a very enjoyable experience since during these classes; we used to learn mainly steps, ukemi and shiko (walk on the knees). It did not seem to bother the Sensei at all to have us walk around the dojo in suwari waza for an hour until they found it satisfying. Obviously, at this rate, my knees and the top of my feet were very badly damaged and because I was practicing every day, healing was impossible.

Please click here to read the full Interview with Micheline Tissier