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Michel Qissi (Arabic: ميشيل قيسي; born Mohammed Qissi on 12 September 1962) is a Moroccan Belgian actor, filmmaker, and martial artist best known for his action films. Qissi is the co-founder of The World Cinema Combat Federation (WCCF), an organization he formed with Grand Master Beom Jhoo Lee which teaches fight choreography in filmmaking.

As a teenager, Qissi competed as an amateur boxer. He went on to study Shotokan, Muay Thai, and kickboxing. In 1982, he emigrated to Hollywood together with childhood friend Jean-Claude Van Damme in search of becoming an action star. Bloodsport (1988) was their first major film. The two previously collaborated on Breakin' (1984), and went on to appear in Kickboxer (1989), in which Qissi portrayed the Thai villain Tong Po, Lionheart (1990), and Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016). Qissi also had the role of a fight trainer for Van Damme in the film Cyborg (1989) and served as choreographer on Kickboxer.

He starred in his directorial debut film Terminator Woman (1993), opposite Karen Sheperd and Jerry Trimble. He directed, co-wrote, and starred in Extreme Force (2001), which became a vehicle for Argentinian martial arts star Héctor Echavarría. Aside from his American films, he has also worked in Moroccan films and television series. In 2014, he directed and starred in the well-received action adventure film Bara, which was shot in Morocco.

Early life

Qissi was born in Oujda, Morocco, and moved to Brussels, Belgium, at the age of 2. He commenced training in boxing at seven years old, and became an amateur champion in his weight class at 17. He also went on to study Shotokan Karate, Muay Thai and Kickboxing. He befriended Jean-Claude Van Damme at an early age and they grew up together with the same love for action films and training in martial arts. Growing up, he was inspired by Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali.

Film career

In 1982, Qissi and Van Damme moved to the United States in the hope of becoming action stars. In 1984 they both were cast as extras in the film Breakin', before landing their big break in 1986. After obtaining an interview with Menahem Golan of Cannon Films, they secured a three-picture deal, the first of which was the highly successful Bloodsport, in which Van Damme starred and Qissi had a small role as a tournament fighter named Suan Paredes. In 1989, Qissi and Van Damme teamed up again for the film Kickboxer, in which Van Damme was the protagonist once more and Qissi the film's main villain, Tong Po. Qissi was also a choreographer on the film. His role as Tong Po provided visual inspiration for the Mortal Kombat character Goro.

Qissi had the role of a fight trainer for Van Damme in the sci-fi film Cyborg (1989).

1990 saw Qissi and Van Damme make the film Lionheart, in which Qissi's brother, Abdel, played the villain. This was to be the last film Van Damme and Qissi made together for 26 years. They briefly appeared together in Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016).

In 1991, Qissi reprised his role as Tong Po in Kickboxer 2 (1991). He also appeared in Bloodmatch, alongside Thom Mathews, Hope Marie Carlton, Marianne Taylor, Vincent Klyn, and Benny Urquidez. In 1993, he starred in his directorial debut film Terminator Woman, opposite Karen Sheperd and Jerry Trimble. He directed, co-wrote, and starred in Extreme Force (2001), which became a vehicle for Argentinian martial arts star Héctor Echavarría.

Aside from his American films, Qissi has also worked in Moroccan films and television series. He has said regarding Moroccan cinema, "Moroccan cinema remains a school where management is done with very modest and simple resources." He has praised Moroccan filmmakers such as Ibrahim Shukri, Yassin Fannan, Mohamed Nasrat, and Said Naciri.

In 2014, Qissi directed and starred in the action adventure movie Bara with Salar Zarza. The film, which was shot in the Sahara, in Tata, Morocco, was shown in theaters in major Moroccan cities and was extremely well received by audiences.

Influence

Qissi's role as Tong Po in Kickboxer (1989) provided visual inspiration for the Mortal Kombat character Goro.

Personal life

His brother Abdel Qissi is also an actor.

After a long career in Hollywood, Qissi returned to Belgium, where he participated in social projects for disadvantaged youths. In 2002, he returned to Morocco, where he works in Moroccan cinema.

Filmography

References

1. "حوار مع السينمائي المغربي و النجم الهوليوودي "محمد قيسي"". 6 April 2017.
2. https://www.martialartsentertainment.com/michel-qissi/
3. "Jean-Claude van Damme | No retreat, no surrender,Black eagle,Blood sport,Kickboxer,Cyborg,Lion Heart (A.W.O.L),Death warrant,Double impact,Universal soldier,Nowhere to run,Hard target, Timecop,Street fighter,Sudden death,The quest,Maximum risk,Double team,Knock off,Legionnaire,Universal soldier: The return,Inferno (Coyote moon),Replicant,The order,Derailed,In hell,Wake of death,Cover play,Monk,Kumite,jeanclaudevandamme,vandamme,van damme,jean claude van damme".
4. "Mohammed Qissi em Chaves para o "VI Estágio Samurai Inter-Estilos"". 17 May 2022.
5. "Jean-Claude van Damme | No retreat, no surrender,Black eagle,Blood sport,Kickboxer,Cyborg,Lion Heart (A.W.O.L),Death warrant,Double impact,Universal soldier,Nowhere to run,Hard target, Timecop,Street fighter,Sudden death,The quest,Maximum risk,Double team,Knock off,Legionnaire,Universal soldier: The return,Inferno (Coyote moon),Replicant,The order,Derailed,In hell,Wake of death,Cover play,Monk,Kumite,jeanclaudevandamme,vandamme,van damme,jean claude van damme".
6. https://www.bulletproofaction.com/2014/09/12/happy-birthday-tong-po-the-qissi-brothers-experience/
7. "Passion, Patience, Perseverance: A Conservation with Michel Qissi". October 2021.
8. "حوار مع السينمائي المغربي و النجم الهوليوودي "محمد قيسي"". 6 April 2017.
9. "Black Belt". August 2002.
10. "حوار مع السينمائي المغربي و النجم الهوليوودي "محمد قيسي"". 6 April 2017.
11. "True Spirit Entertainment shot epic film "BARA"". 12 January 2016.
12. "Salar Zarza".
13. "Jean-Claude van Damme | No retreat, no surrender,Black eagle,Blood sport,Kickboxer,Cyborg,Lion Heart (A.W.O.L),Death warrant,Double impact,Universal soldier,Nowhere to run,Hard target, Timecop,Street fighter,Sudden death,The quest,Maximum risk,Double team,Knock off,Legionnaire,Universal soldier: The return,Inferno (Coyote moon),Replicant,The order,Derailed,In hell,Wake of death,Cover play,Monk,Kumite,jeanclaudevandamme,vandamme,van damme,jean claude van damme".
14. "حوار مع السينمائي المغربي و النجم الهوليوودي "محمد قيسي"". 6 April 2017.
15. "Passion, Patience, Perseverance: A Conservation with Michel Qissi". October 2021.
16. Church, David (17 February 2022). Mortal Kombat: Games of Death. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-472-90262-0.
17. https://www.bulletproofaction.com/2014/09/12/happy-birthday-tong-po-the-qissi-brothers-experience/
18. "حوار مع السينمائي المغربي و النجم الهوليوودي "محمد قيسي"". 6 April 2017.
19. "Black Belt". August 2002.
20. "حوار مع السينمائي المغربي و النجم الهوليوودي "محمد قيسي"". 6 April 2017.
21. "True Spirit Entertainment shot epic film "BARA"". 12 January 2016.
22. "Salar Zarza".
23. Church, David (17 February 2022). Mortal Kombat: Games of Death. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-472-90262-0.
24. "Muscles from Brussels". People. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
25. Chad Cruise (12 September 2014). "Happy Birthday Tong Po! The Qissi Brothers Experience". BPA Bulletproof Action. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
26. https://www.laverite.ma/festival-marrakech-pour-lechange-des-cultures-vibrant-hommage-a-la-star-marocaine-de-hollywood-mohamed-qissi/

External links

• Michel Qissi at IMDb

• 1962 births
• Living people
• Belgian male film actors
• Moroccan male film actors
• Moroccan emigrants to Belgium
• Belgian male karateka
• Belgian Muay Thai practitioners
• Shotokan practitioners
• Sportspeople from Brussels
• People from Oujda
• 20th-century Moroccan male actors
• 21st-century Moroccan male actors
• 20th-century Belgian male actors
• 21st-century Belgian male actors
• Male actors from Brussels
• 20th-century Belgian sportsmen