Steven Seagal's Impact on MMA?

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[Michael Varin]

"And this is the kick that makes you wonder if Steven Seagal really is teaching these guys something." -- Joe Rogan

After some reflection, this was Joe Rogan's response to Lyoto Machida's crane kick-esque knockout of Randy Couture.

[sakumeikan]

"And this is the kick that makes you wonder if Steven Seagal really is teaching these guys something." -- Joe Rogan

After some reflection, this was Joe Rogan's response to Lyoto Machida's crane kick-esque knockout of Randy Couture.

Dear michael,
One thing is certain Mr Seagal is not acting ?as a weight loss consultant. Cheers, Joe.

[David Humm]

Lmao

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Dear michael,
One thing is certain Mr Seagal is not acting ?as a weight loss consultant. Cheers, Joe.

Maybe I can give him some advice Joe? Seems he likes the big macs a trifle too much?
I could do with seeing his hair specialist though.....:D

[sakumeikan]

Maybe I can give him some advice Joe? Seems he likes the big macs a trifle too much?
I could do with seeing his hair specialist though.....:D
Dear Tony,
Mr Seagal employs good cover up hairdressers , the poor people go to carpet fitters/rug doctors.Wouldnt mind a William Shatner make over toupee -you never see the joints or the nails.It would take years off me.I had hoped Tony Curtis would have left me his old piece[hair that is ] but no----
Cheers, Joe.

[Gorgeous George]

"And this is the kick that makes you wonder if Steven Seagal really is teaching these guys something." -- Joe Rogan

After some reflection, this was Joe Rogan's response to Lyoto Machida's crane kick-esque knockout of Randy Couture.

I was going to post this...he got knockout of the night; an astonishing move. He was doing the 'Seagal Hands' thing right before it, too - just like Anderson Silva did when he knocked out Vitor Belfort witth his Seagal-trained front kick...

Here's the great man himself, discussing his training of Machida:

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/5/1/2147224/steven-seagal-talks-machida-kick-and-addresses-haters

'His [Machida's] waza's a lot like mine...'

'Many people probably think i'm an idiot who doesn't know anything.'

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Dear Tony,
Mr Seagal employs good cover up hairdressers , the poor people go to carpet fitters/rug doctors.Wouldnt mind a William Shatner make over toupee -you never see the joints or the nails.It would take years off me.I had hoped Tony Curtis would have left me his old piece[hair that is ] but no----
Cheers, Joe.

Nice one Joe, I always wondered why it looked like Count Dracula on a good hair day....... I wonder how Gene Labelle is in his pink judogi?:D

[Tony Wagstaffe]

I was going to post this...he got knockout of the night; an astonishing move. He was doing the 'Seagal Hands' thing right before it, too - just like Anderson Silva did when he knocked out Vitor Belfort witth his Seagal-trained front kick...

Here's the great man himself, discussing his training of Machida:

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/5/1/2147224/steven-seagal-talks-machida-kick-and-addresses-haters

'His [Machida's] waza's a lot like mine...'

'Many people probably think i'm an idiot who doesn't know anything.'

I think a lot of his stuff is good, direct and to the point, I'm not so sure about the films though, maybe he should have kept out of that part? Who knows? Seems like things have settled down for him though....:)

[ChrisHein]

Seagal has a very clear understanding of what his Aikido is. He's also a great student of the martial arts. Probably makes him a great coach.

[David Humm]

Seagal has a very clear understanding of what his Aikido is. He's also a great student of the martial arts. Probably makes him a great coach.Gene... Lebell

Need I say any more ?

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Gene... Lebell

Need I say any more ?

Not really.....

[Michael Varin]

Gene... Lebell

Need I say any more ?

I don't get it.

Why does getting choked out by Gene Lebell irreparably damage your credibility?

Is it that easy to escape?

Could you do it?

[Tony Wagstaffe]

I don't get it.

Why does getting choked out by Gene Lebell irreparably damage your credibility?

Is it that easy to escape?

Could you do it?

Merely expressing that no one is unbeatable, including I....
The point being why didn't he just come clean about it, it would have won him more fans in my opinion....

[SteliosPapadakis]

IMHO, letting aside the accomplishments in his cinema/singing/tv career, a lot of people came to know Aikido through this guy...
Which is (probably) a good thing at the end of the day...

[Richard Stevens]

As much as it would be great to see an Aikikai Shihan imparting some wisdom on Team Blackhouse, it seems more like a push for publicity from both parties.

I find it hard to believe that Seagal taught Anderson Silva that front kick, and ridiculous that Machida could keep a straight face while saying that Seagal taught him the front kick he dropped Couture with considering he has been training in a Shotokan offshoot since he was 5 years old.

Could Seagal provide some coaching regarding footwork and entering? Yes. Could he try to adapt some locks/pins to work in the Octagon? Sure. Can he teach a life-long Karate practitioner a kick he had been doing for 20 years before he met Seagal? No.

I would also argue that Machida wasn't doing "Seagal Hands", rather he was doing "Silva Hands" as Anderson has been doing that for a long time.

[chillzATL]

What's old is new again.

I don't find it so odd that Seagal could have things of value to say to these fighters. Both fighters respect martial arts as martial arts and see their value beyond just what works in the ring. So their going to be open to listening to him.

For Seagal's part, he's probably just pointing out things that a lot of long time MA enthusiests see and think "why wouldn't that work there" and he has the luxury of pointing it out to top caliber fighters who have the background and ability to make something of those suggestions.

[Tony Wagstaffe]

What's old is new again.

I don't find it so odd that Seagal could have things of value to say to these fighters. Both fighters respect martial arts as martial arts and see their value beyond just what works in the ring. So their going to be open to listening to him.

For Seagal's part, he's probably just pointing out things that a lot of long time MA enthusiests see and think "why wouldn't that work there" and he has the luxury of pointing it out to top caliber fighters who have the background and ability to make something of those suggestions.

Nothing new under the sun ........:)

[Tony Wagstaffe]

IMHO, letting aside the accomplishments in his cinema/singing/tv career, a lot of people came to know Aikido through this guy...
Which is (probably) a good thing at the end of the day...

Yes, and that is good, no one is perfect, including me....:D

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Seagal has a very clear understanding of what his Aikido is. He's also a great student of the martial arts. Probably makes him a great coach.

I would go with that Chris.... He uses his size to great effect and was quick in his youth, I dare say he has slowed a bit with the pins though,
It looks as though he has trouble with the left leg.... Maybe knee problems?

[Aikibu]

What a week....

Birth Certificates

Aikido receives credit in the Octagon.

OBL Dead.

What are all those poor wingnut websites to do now! :D

William Hazen

PS. There are kicks in Aikido. It's part of our Atemi Waza. Though I would not credit Lyoto Machida's front kick. If you look carefully at the fight almost all his knees kicks and punches were done with Irimi aka "counters" to Randy's Attacks. Machida would "open"... Randy would charge... and provide Machida with an Irimi/Counter opportunity.

[Demetrio Cereijo]

Aikido receives credit in the Octagon

Probably another marketing manoeuver like Seagal teaching Silva for UFC 126.

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Probably another marketing manoeuver like Seagal teaching Silva for UFC 126.

Maybe about time.....? Or mark time...?

[Gorgeous George]

Probably another marketing manoeuver like Seagal teaching Silva for UFC 126.

...is there anything whatsoever to support these claims?

I follow the UFC/MMA, and I never heard of any evidence of this emerging...

[Demetrio Cereijo]

...is there anything whatsoever to support these claims?

Steven Seagal did not, in fact, teach Anderson Silva anything and certainly not the kick which knocked out Vitor Belfort at UFC 126.

This should really have been obvious to everyone but it has taken a reporter from Brazilan outfit Portal De Vale Tudo to definitively debunk it.

"The declaration of the champion Anderson Silva (Seagal helping him with the amazing kick) was contemplated with humor by the fans, who knows that the actor was at most twice with the Brazilian," a report in the online magazine says.

"The approach between the two was actually a marketing maneuver planned by the agent of Anderson, Jorge Joinha, to give more visibility to it's champion in the American media. The plan worked very well in the first stage, the problem was in the wrong dose and reached the absurdity of assigning a brilliant victory by the biggest name in the MMA of all time to a "Master of Hollywood" who never climbed in the ring.

"The worst of all is that Segal, perhaps influenced by some of his films, believed and even stated in several interviews after the fight that "He (Anderson) did everything the way i taught him and made me very proud". For God's sake..."

So, that's cleared that up. Segal didn't teach Anderson his fight-finishing kick (which, incidentally, Anderson used on Dan Henderson and Lee Murray and also featured in an instructional he produced TWO YEARS AGO).

This seems to have escaped the notice of Mr Segal himself who has given numerous interviews detailing his "pride" in Anderson's winning technique. He is either deluded or putting in the performance of his acting career.

Source: http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/news/viewarticle.php?id=6199

Original article:

Diante de uma vitória histórica Anderson surpreendeu a todos ao dividir os louros de sua genialidade com o ator Steven Seagall. "Foi ele que me ensinou aquele golpe", disse o brasileiro para surpresa de todos, que já o haviam visto usar este golpe em diversas outras lutas, inclusive contra Dan Henderson. A declaração do campeão foi encarada com humor pelos fãs, que sabem que o ator esteve no máximo duas vezes com o brasileiro.

A aproximação dos dois foi na realidade uma manobra de marketing engendrada pelo agente de Anderson, Jorge Joinha, para dar maior visibilidade a seu campeão na mídia americana. O plano funcionou muito bem na primeira etapa, o problema foi errar na dose e chegar ao absurdo de atribuir uma vitória genial do maior nome de MMA de todos os tempos a um "Mestre de Hollywood" que nunca subiu num ringue. O pior de tudo isso é que Seagall, talvez influenciado por alguns de seus filmes, acreditou e chegou a declarar em diversas entrevistas após a luta. "Ele fez tudo da maneira que eu ensinei e me deixou muito orgulhoso". Pelo amor de Deus...

Source: Portal do Vale Tudo Magazine #15 (http://www.portaldovt.com.br/pvt_mag_pt_15/), pp 25-26.

Fool me once...

[DonMagee]

I didn't hear machidia say SS taught him that front kick. It is obviously not so as he is a karate student and that is a technique in every form of karate I've ever seen.

What he said was that SS and his father both had been encouraging him to use that technique. So two smart martial artists both encouraging a tactic that fits Machidia's style. Makes sense to me.

I find it interesting however that SS is not in the corner during the fights. If he had that much to add, I would think he's be a corner man. However, I'm not going to argue with what top pro MMA fighters decide is a good way to spend their time. Especially when they are winning.

I'd train with SS given the chance. I think he has an insight I could benefit from.

[chillzATL]

"The approach between the two was actually a marketing maneuver planned by the agent of Anderson, Jorge Joinha, to give more visibility to it's champion in the American media. The plan worked very well in the first stage, the problem was in the wrong dose and reached the absurdity of assigning a brilliant victory by the biggest name in the MMA of all time to a "Master of Hollywood" who never climbed in the ring.

Unless you've got some proof from Silva or Joinha backing that up, then it's just a claim by someone else who has less credibility than the people making the original claim.

[Demetrio Cereijo]

BTW, Joinha is both Anderson and Lyoto agent.

Ed.

Silva denies he learned the front kick he used in UFC 126 from Seagal:

http://artesuavebelem.blogspot.com/2011/02/anderson-eu-quero-lutar-com-os-melhores.html#links

[mathewjgano]

"The approach between the two was actually a marketing maneuver planned by the agent of Anderson, Jorge Joinha, to give more visibility to it's champion in the American media. The plan worked very well in the first stage, the problem was in the wrong dose and reached the absurdity of assigning a brilliant victory by the biggest name in the MMA of all time to a "Master of Hollywood" who never climbed in the ring.
The thing I don't get is how "the biggest name in MMA of all time" would need additional marketing by working with a guy few people in MMA take very seriously. If he's the biggest name of all time, he's about as marketable as it gets isn't he? Of course that doesn't mean he didn't want extra publicity anyway. That said, if he didn't want people to ascribe any credit to Segal, he probably shouldn't have shot a video of them working together...particularly considering Segal's "Hollywood" reputation.

So, that's cleared that up. Segal didn't teach Anderson his fight-finishing kick (which, incidentally, Anderson used on Dan Henderson and Lee Murray and also featured in an instructional he produced TWO YEARS AGO).
This seems to have escaped the notice of Mr Segal himself who has given numerous interviews detailing his "pride" in Anderson's winning technique. He is either deluded or putting in the performance of his acting career.
Per the one interview I saw (in this thread) Segal makes no such claims of teaching him the front kick. He describes working on it with Silva. He may well have done little to nothing to help Silva for all I know, but if he believes he did, expressing pride seems pretty normal. I thought he was very clear that he believes he just helped out with his area of experience (Aikido), but maybe in other interviews he took too much credit.
...Interesting about the agent being for both, though...
Maybe Segal got used a little...turnabout is fair play no?

[Michael Hackett]

In reading this thread, something came to me. If this was a marketing ploy then it worked. Here we are debating the truth of the matter, but talking about them nevertheless. And this is only one site.

[Demetrio Cereijo]

Seagal teaching "the deadly" to Machida:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaDGBFB4ZOA

Machida interview:

Q: E de onde você tirou esse chute? Você tinha treinado?

A: Esse chute existe no Caratê, é o Kanku Dai. Quando iniciei a preparação, logo após a cirurgia da hérnia, a minha preparação estava um pouco limitada, então meu pai (Yoshizo) me passou alguns chutes para treinar, e falou para usar nos sparrings às vezes, mas sempre com muito cuidado porque esse é um chute que machuca, é como uma cotovelada. Quando cheguei ao Canadá me encontrei com o Steven Seagal e ele falou "Lyoto, esse chute vai entrar". Mas eu não estava preocupado em fazer ou não, se pintasse a oportunidade eu ia fazer. Vim mais relaxado para o segundo round, soltei o chute e ele encaixou. Não foi nada "do nada".
http://www.tatame.com.br/2011/05/01/Lyoto-Machida

Silva interview (with video):
http://www.tatame.com.br/2011/02/23/Anderson-Eu-quero-lutar-com-os-melhores

[chillzATL]

BTW, Joinha is both Anderson and Lyoto agent.

Ed.

Silva denies he learned the front kick he used in UFC 126 from Seagal:

http://artesuavebelem.blogspot.com/2011/02/anderson-eu-quero-lutar-com-os-melhores.html#links

That link only confirms what most everyone has been saying, that Seagal encouraged them to use the front kick in a more decisive manner. Why is this so difficult for people to accept?

[Demetrio Cereijo]

That link only confirms what most everyone has been saying, that Seagal encouraged them to use the front kick in a more decisive manner. Why is this so difficult for people to accept?

Encouragement to use a technique and teaching how to do a technique is not the same thing.

Seagal claimed teaching the kick to Silva and Lyoto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcNgrp2Ftew

[mathewjgano]

Encouragement to use a technique and teaching how to do a technique is not the same thing.

Seagal claimed teaching the kick to Silva and Lyoto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcNgrp2Ftew

And the interviewer begins by saying "...Anderson after the fight said that he learned that front kick to the face from you..." Perhaps the interviewer misquoted Silva?
...Though Segal does mention "creating" it. Poor choice in words considering his other statement maybe.

[Aikibu]

Probably another marketing manoeuver like Seagal teaching Silva for UFC 126.

After reading and and watching a few of the vids you posted. I would have to say it's more like spilled milk on your part. The fact is Silva and Michida worked with Seagal Sensei to expand and perhaps improve their technique. To say that this is some "conspiracy of marketing" is specious at best. MMA is a business true but the business is not in the driver's seat. Winning is...and had they lost and stated the reason they lost was because of what they were "taught" by Seagal Sensei Then I am sure we might be having a different (or depending on one's bias... the same old) debate. :D

“As always, victory finds a hundred fathers but defeat is an orphan” -Count Ciano

William Hazen

[Demetrio Cereijo]

After reading and and watching a few of the vids you posted. I would have to say it's more like spilled milk on your part.
Let's say my Portuguese (me being native Galician speaker, living at 35 km from Portugal and dealing with a native brazilian BJJ instructor) is better than yours until otherwise proven.

If you want to say Silva and Machida are lying in the interviews they gave to brazilian press when they say Seagal did not taught them "the kick"(because that is what they are saying) and Marcelo Alonso (editor of Tatame Mag.) is also lying when he says Seagal training Silva and Machida was a marketing ploy organized by Joinha that went out of hand... whatever floats your boat.

[Aikibu]

Let's say my Portuguese (me being native Galician speaker, living at 35 km from Portugal and dealing with a native brazilian BJJ instructor) is better than yours until otherwise proven.

If you want to say Silva and Machida are lying in the interviews they gave to brazilian press when they say Seagal did not taught them "the kick"(because that is what they are saying) and Marcelo Alonso (editor of Tatame Mag.) is also lying when he says Seagal training Silva and Machida was a marketing ploy organized by Joinha that went out of hand... whatever floats your boat.

So how much do you think Michida was paid to thank Seagal during his post fight interview with Joe Roggin? And what about the vids of Seagal training with them both are all of them "fake"? LOL

I suspect the truth lies somewhere in the middle of the "spin" between both Joinha and Alonso.

Lying about success, abilities, and achievements!??!! Unheard of in the Martial Arts "Business"! :D

William Hazen

[Tony Wagstaffe]

So how much do you think Michida was paid to thank Seagal during his post fight interview with Joe Roggin? And what about the vids of Seagal training with them both are all of them "fake"? LOL

I suspect the truth lies somewhere in the middle of the "spin" between both Joinha and Alonso.

Lying about success, abilities, and achievements!??!! Unheard of in the Martial Arts "Business"! :D

William Hazen

Especially in aikido......:rolleyes:

[Demetrio Cereijo]

Lying about success, abilities, and achievements!??!! Unheard of in the Martial Arts "Business"! :D

We all know Seagal is totally uncapable of exaggerating. Damned third world tanned skin speedo wearing brazilians. How dare they to spread doubts about the greatest aikido master ever honesty.:D

[Tony Wagstaffe]

We all know Seagal is totally uncapable of exaggerating. Damned third world tanned skin speedo wearing brazilians. How dare they to spread doubts about the greatest aikido master ever honesty.:D

Didn't he say he was god or was that a misquotation....?:D

[chillzATL]

Let's say my Portuguese (me being native Galician speaker, living at 35 km from Portugal and dealing with a native brazilian BJJ instructor) is better than yours until otherwise proven.

If you want to say Silva and Machida are lying in the interviews they gave to brazilian press when they say Seagal did not taught them "the kick"(because that is what they are saying) and Marcelo Alonso (editor of Tatame Mag.) is also lying when he says Seagal training Silva and Machida was a marketing ploy organized by Joinha that went out of hand... whatever floats your boat.

Demetrio, you seem to be choosing to ignore the subtleties of language to favor your position. Silva, through his translator, used the word taught after his fight, but he obviously didn't mean to say Seagal TAUGHT him the kick. Seagal used the word as well, but in later videos (after machida's fight) clearly said that he didn't "teach" anyone the front kick. Machida and Silva, after the fact, both still gave Seagal credit for encouraging them to use the kick. So I think we've resolved that and can move on.

As for the guy saying it was a marketing ploy, where's the proof? Silva and Machida don't seem to be upset about it and I'm not sure what benefit they perceived there would be in this ploy.

[Demetrio Cereijo]

Demetrio, you seem to be choosing to ignore the subtleties of language to favor your position.

No, what I'm doing is providing the original and untranslated interviews with Silva and Machida andthe brazilian press articles.

Exercising power as translator is not my cup of tea.

My position is: listen to and read the original sources, then draw your own conclusions.

[Aikibu]

No, what I'm doing is providing the original and untranslated interviews with Silva and Machida andthe brazilian press articles.

Exercising power as translator is not my cup of tea.

My position is: listen to and read the original sources, then draw your own conclusions.

Thank You for providing them. I have... and came to the same conclusion as Jason. Hence my opinion. :)

William Hazen

[Dave Forde]

just my two cents but I seem to remember working out how to apply much the same front kick not too long after learning how to balance on one foot I was about 5 years old. I think i worked it out when some one threw a football at me and i kicked it instinctively. throwing a leg straight out in front of you is a totally instinctive thing for most people, generating power may be taught but again most kids work that out too to some extent. the whole discussion seems pretty pointless really. it would be different if Machida had pulled off a specific aikido technique he simply applied (well)a very basic kick imo. no one should be taking any credit for teaching it really.

[Anjisan]

Let's say my Portuguese (me being native Galician speaker, living at 35 km from Portugal and dealing with a native brazilian BJJ instructor) is better than yours until otherwise proven.

If you want to say Silva and Machida are lying in the interviews they gave to brazilian press when they say Seagal did not taught them "the kick"(because that is what they are saying) and Marcelo Alonso (editor of Tatame Mag.) is also lying when he says Seagal training Silva and Machida was a marketing ploy organized by Joinha that went out of hand... whatever floats your boat.

I do remember seeing on MMA Live that Seagal sensei was given credit for teaching them. Now whether that means teaching them the complete technique or simply refining it I do not know. Given Seagal sensei's ability, that he has been practicing martial arts longer than those guys have been upright and breathing so he just may have something to offer, and that MMA Live has always been very reputable I would tend to give Seagal sensei the benefit of the doubt.

I mean really, out in the main stream I would assert that a lot more people know who Seagal sensei is than any MMA competitor by a wide margin should be fairly obvious. In addition, I am sure there would be no competition if bank accounts were compared so I don't belive Seagal sensei would have that much to gain by not being truthful.

[Demetrio Cereijo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=197MTYn4nW4

Machida on "the kick" (starting at 1:15)

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Seagal-Says-Hes-Working-with-Machida-on-More-Unseen-Techniques-32108

Seagal on training Silva, Machida and more to come.

[BJohnston]

The MMA world does not take Aikido seriously for the most part. I, for one, think it's pretty great! The fact that it's Seagal that they're having to give credit to is possibly the most ironic scenario possible:)

[Shany]

So seagal is now teaching unseen techniques from Karate? WTF?!

[Anjisan]

So seagal is now teaching unseen techniques from Karate? WTF?!

I have not heard that the technique/techniques were "unseen" per se. Also, Seagal sensei, I believe, received a shodan in karate from Fumio Demura.

[danj]

Dear Mr. Seagal,
Thankyou for again bringing more students to the dojo. It seems like only yesterday that you were releasing cinema blockbusters that brought a veritable flood of students to our dojos. But the last few years in between have been a bit quiet. The widening of the genre to feature native american values, environmental issues, just guns or perhaps only a single technique was perhaps missed by the mainstream population. So we welcomed Lawman in eager anticipation and held firm in the belief that there would something special coming soon. Domo arigato

[Maarten De Queecker]

Didn't he say he was god or was that a misquotation....?:D

A misinterpretation, rather. A quote taken entirely out of context and used to make fun of Seagal. Go watch that video again, now in its entirerity and while paying attention to everything Seagal said.

I'm not saying this because I'm a Seagal fan, I'm saying this because I can't stand people making fun of others basted on information taken out of context.

[KaliGman]

Steven Seagal's impact on MMA----about the same as his impact on law enforcement---almost none at all.:D

[Anjisan]

Steven Seagal's impact on MMA----about the same as his impact on law enforcement---almost none at all.:D

Probably true. However, his impact on Aikido seems very real (not to mention the fact that we are still talking about him) and that certainly begs the question of at the end of the day what "impact" will you or any of the rest of us have on any of these areas? More often than not I am guessing that it may fall short of what he has accomplished even factoring in any true negative aspects rom his private life.

[matty_mojo911]

God I laughed when I saw these "knockouts" and the words around them.
Segal is clearly a man who thinks a great deal of himself - but why shouldn't he??? Who of any of the writers here have made movies, TV Series and are world famous.
Did he teach these guys the kicks? Maybe or maybe not, but he may well have encouraged them to try something different as he sure as hell would bring a fresh approach to some seasoned MMA fighters. Good fighters seek fresh perspectives.

As an example there are now tons of Rugby League players in NZ and Aussi doing BJJ, not because a BJJ instructor can teach them how to run 50 meters with a ball, but it is a fresh persepctive on the body and how it works.

[matty_mojo911]

Steven Seagal's impact on MMA----about the same as his impact on law enforcement---almost none at all.:D

Stop making me laugh. But so true.

He should come to NZ and tyr and do a "lawman" series the cops here would say "sure, even bring your camera, but shed a few kilos first...no fatties allowed."

[jester]

Why so much hate for the man? I've never trained with him but know some people who did and they were thoroughly impressed.

I also hope non of you get fat when you grow up!! The ridicule you'll have to endure on public forums would be tremendous!! :D

Machida says Seagal helped him perfect that kick so what's not to believe. I've also seen Seagal work with Anderson Silva.

I don't think many people here have had an opportunity to advise any pro MMA fighters.

-

[BJohnston]

Why so much hate for the man? I've never trained with him but know some people who did and they were thoroughly impressed.

I also hope non of you get fat when you grow up!! The ridicule you'll have to endure on public forums would be tremendous!! :D

Machida says Seagal helped him perfect that kick so what's not to believe. I've also seen Seagal work with Anderson Silva.

I don't think many people here have had an opportunity to advise any pro MMA fighters.

-

I agree... From what I've seen in his videos, "Path Beyond Thought"...etc, his Aikido looks very Martial and effective. I've also spoken to a few people that have visited and trained with some of his students. Their thoughts are the same...very effective and martial aikido being practiced.

[Chris Li]

Stop making me laugh. But so true.

He should come to NZ and tyr and do a "lawman" series the cops here would say "sure, even bring your camera, but shed a few kilos first...no fatties allowed."

I don't know about that, I've seen some pretty tubby cops. :)

Anyway, I've never understood why his weight is such a commonly mentioned issue when it's not even mentioned for most of the many portly instructors out there - and there are quite a few!

Best,

Chris

[Aikibu]

I've taken Ukemi from him and he is 6"6' and about 260/270. You can imagine the result. :D

William Hazen

[TheAikidoka]

IMHO, letting aside the accomplishments in his cinema/singing/tv career, a lot of people came to know Aikido through this guy...
Which is (probably) a good thing at the end of the day...

I`m one of those, ive studied traditional aikido for 15 years and had it not been for this gentleman, I may never of known about Aikido, One day I would like to thank him for that. Onegaishimasu

[Gorgeous George]

Check out the facekick at 1:28...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHWfYnlSmZs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[sakumeikan]

I've taken Ukemi from him and he is 6"6' and about 260/270. You can imagine the result. :D

William Hazen

Dear Mr Hazen,
Gentle was it? Cheers, Joe

[Richard Stevens]

I agree... From what I've seen in his videos, "Path Beyond Thought"...etc, his Aikido looks very Martial and effective. I've also spoken to a few people that have visited and trained with some of his students. Their thoughts are the same...very effective and martial aikido being practiced.

As an Aikikai Shihan I would tend to think that anyone that argues that Seagal couldn't benefit an MMA fighter as a coach would simply be ignorant of what Aikido has to offer.

What I'm very interested in seeing is how this all pans out. Are we going to start seeing Machida and Silva utilizing more Aikido-esque footwork/movement?

Silva will be fighting Yushin Okami in Rio and from what I've been reading Machida may be fighting Jon Jones later this year. So we'll have an opportunity to see if Seagal is able to impart any more knowledge.

[jennifer paige smith]

"When we, as first generation American aikidoists, saw Stevan Segal's first movie we were excited beyond belief. For all you can say about him, no one else brought the image of O'Sensei on to the big screen. It was amazing for us to sit in a theater, thousands of miles from Japan, and see the image of our master and aikido on the screen, larger than life. It was incredible! For that, I'll always thank Steven Segal."
-Bob Frager Sensei to me in 1992.
My perspective, too. Hats off, Mr. Segal!
Domo Arigtao Gozaimashita

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi6_H1mj5H4

Dear Mr. Seagal,
Thankyou for again bringing more students to the dojo. It seems like only yesterday that you were releasing cinema blockbusters that brought a veritable flood of students to our dojos. But the last few years in between have been a bit quiet. The widening of the genre to feature native american values, environmental issues, just guns or perhaps only a single technique was perhaps missed by the mainstream population. So we welcomed Lawman in eager anticipation and held firm in the belief that there would something special coming soon. Domo arigato