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.[1][2] 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.[3][4]
Qissi is trained in Shotokan, Muay Thai, and kickboxing, and competed as an amateur boxer. 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.[5] 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.[6][7]
He starred in his directorial debut film Terminator Woman (1993), opposite Karen Sheperd and Jerry Trimble.[8] He directed, co-wrote, and starred in Extreme Force (2001), which became a vehicle for Argentinian martial arts star Héctor Echavarría.[9] Aside from his American films, he has also worked in Moroccan films and television series.[10] In 2014, he directed and starred in the well-received action adventure film Bara, which was shot in Morocco.[11][12]