He was World silver medalist in 1992 (WKF), 3 times world team champion from 1994 to 1998 with the Golden French team. Once his high-level career ended, past 30, he has been passionate about Kyokushinkai, that he practices now for more than 10 years.

His club ? The ACBB of Jacques Legree, of Antonio Tusseau also, one of the top 6 favorites of the 12th World Open Tournament (November 22-24). Referee, coach at his hours, a bit mentor of "Tonio", he gives us his feelings about Kyokushinkai and his protégé.

By Ludovic Mauchien / Photo : L. Mauchien

3 days of fighting without protection, 8 fights to go to the end. What makes the difference, the physical or the mental strenght?

The mental strength ! To go to the end, it's in the head. The first day, it’s like a warm up. It's always tough. You take hits. The 2nd day, there are 2 fights to do. The 3rd day, there are 5 fights ! It's monstrous to hold the 3 days! The difference is only mental. In the head, hold on until the final is just extraordinary ! Extraordinary !

To hold on the 3 days means to go back to the war, with the blows that you took the day before, with the body hit, with must-be injuries, because in Kyoku, without protection, you do not go on every day without injury . There is no such thing.

So, you have to start again with injuries while ignoring them to come back fighting with anger and will... The guy who goes to the end is a true warrior ! It is a monumental test because, precisely, there are 3 days of fighting. In addition, without protection, without weight category ! It does not exist anywhere.

The IKO has 6 favorites for the title, including a Frenchman you know very well, Antonio Tusseau. Which one is yours ?

For me, "Tonio", in cardio, in madness, in fighting, he is the most talented. There are one or two Japanese who, technically, are extraordinary. On the other hand, the will of Tonio... It is necessary that he goes to the end because, in the head, he is really, really strong.

But it does not mean anything. Competition is competition... In a competition without protection, with KO and no weight category, anything can happen at any time, an injury, a KO... The draw are very balanced, so they are all difficult. It means that everyone can have a hard blow, or exert himself in overtimes.

In case of a tie, there are 2 overtimes of 1 minute. If you knock out, it can last 30 seconds. If you do two times overtimes in the day and the guy in front of you has made several KOs, it completely changes the game.

« I MOVED WITH TONIO. HE'S ON 20-22 ROUNDS OF 3 MINUTES ! »

You participated in the preparation of Antonio Tusseau. How do you find him ?

He is prepared as ever. He has been preparing every day for 6 months. He fought at least 3 times a week. He left 10 days in Japan and 10 days in Russia this summer to finalize his preparation. The last time I moved with him, on rounds with big shields to do stamina, he's on 20-22 rounds of 3 minutes ! I have never seen him so strong. He made a perfect preparation. Physically, he is monstrous.

You know Antonio Tusseau for 10 years. What makes, that today, he managed to appear in the top 6 ?

A fighter matures at some point. I thought he had already reached his potential. Tonio has this ability to be like a Nadal or a Federer. Since I know him, he's getting stronger every year. I am surprised wirh his steady improvement.

Where he is very strong is that he trains alone. Shihan (Legree) and Julien (Porterie) are obviously behind him but he is the one who manages his sparrings, his schedule... He does not have a dedicated coach.

By the way, in Tokyo, I will be one of his coaches, as Alejandro Navarro (World champion, European champion...) if he lost quickly. In New York, he was the one who coached him (2nd wins at the All American Open last June for Tusseau). There will also be the French staff, Djema Belkhodja and Lucian Gogonel.

To be also read : 

World Open : There can be only one

Antonio Tusseau, the prodigy at his top