Tissier is the highest rank European Aikido guy(8 degree). Why should he lie?
There´s no reason for that.
I presume that Steven Seagal is somehow treated like Elvis. Elvis was also a high degree black belt but his real prowess was not that good. Probobly the same with Seagal.
Seagal is not near Tissier´s Aikido level.
Maybe, maybe not. I've also heard and read stories about Tissier that when you analyse his aikido especially in slow motion that many a times it is obvious he 'misses' a technique and it all looks rehearsed.
Yes Seagal was promoted too fast when he had his own dojo in Japan, but since then, just like Tissier, he has had to stand up to the Hombo Dojo's (aikido's headquarter) scrutiny. And if I'm not mistaken he reached his degree before he became famous. He even was the first (and if not the only one up till now) foreigner to have his own dojo in Japan. So why would the japanes, a very disciplined people, treat him like Elvis? And why would they invite a 'bad' sensei to aikido expo back in 1993 in Japan.
So again, let's not dwell on this and worry too much about what Tissier is saying. It's an opinion, shared by some but there are many that have a different opinion.
Like so with the opinions of Seagal about martial artists like Van Damme, Norris, Michael Jai White, Jet Li and sorts. He talks negatively about them, even though all of them have proven themselves and hold one or several titles in their martial art.
Peace