Michel Qissi

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. Born in Oujda but raised in Brussels, in 1982 Qissi 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 had 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 action cyberpunk film Cyborg (1989) and served as choreographer on Kickboxer.

In 1991, Qissi reprised his role as Tong Po in Kickboxer 2 and starred in Bloodmatch. In 1993, he starred in his directorial debut film Terminator Woman, opposite Karen Sheperd and Jerry Trimble. In 2001, he directed, co-wrote, and starred in Extreme Force, 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. In 2014, he directed and starred in the well-received action adventure film Bara, which was shot in Morocco.

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. Prior to working in the film industry, Qissi competed as an amateur boxer. He is also trained in the styles of Shotokan, Muay Thai, and kickboxing.