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Steven Seagal (born April 10, 1951) is a popular action movie actor and an 7th dan black belt in aikido.
He was born in Lansing, Michigan. His official film Bio claims that he went to Japan at the age of 17. However, this is inconsistent with an interview he gave in Aikido Magazine, in which he claimed to have given demonstrations in Japanese Deer Park (a former small amusement park in Southern California) in "the early 70s". Ray Van De Walker claims to have met Steven Segal at the Orange County Aikikai, a prominent aikido dojo, around 1974, where he was known as "Steve, who gives demos at Japanese Deer Park." It seems unlikely that a 17-year old, a minor in the U.S., would be allowed to emigrate to Asia.
Ray's memory of him may be worth nothing, "He would come to Wednesday night practice. He tended to wear some weird striped robe thing that Japanese Deer Park asked him to wear. In practice, when he threw me, I couldn't feel his hands, which means that he was very skillful at blending ki." In Japan, Seagal taught English, and studied zen, aikido, kendo, judo and karate. He is said to have become adept at all of them. At some time later, he opened a martial arts school in Japan, the first westerner to do so. At this time, he married Miyako Fujitani but eventually left for America without her, pretending that he was not married at all. In 1984, he wed former Days of Our Lives actress Adrienne La Russa, but annulled the marriage when news of his marriage to Miyako (and, by extension, his bigamy) came to light.
In an interview in November 1997 for the Shambala Sun, he claimed to have developed his life-long interest in zen originally through a study of acupuncture. He also claimed that several Tibetan lamas suffering from malnutrition and abuse were sent to him, and he helped establish a safe house for them.
At various points, Seagal has hinted that he has worked as a bounty hunter and a CIA operative, although he has later denied it.
His film bio says he was in Asia for about 15 years. He was definitely in the U.S. one or two years before 1988 when he was associated with his first movie, the police drama Above the Law. If he was in Southern California in 1973, then he may have spent as long as fourteen years in Asia. At some point he returned to the San Fernando Valley (the northern suburb of Los Angeles, California) and opened a dojo. His film bio says that at this time he was a fight coordinator to the movies, for Sean Connery, and Toshiro Mifune.
In the Aikido Magazine interview, he said he developed his film contacts through students at his dojo. He claims that the moment of truth in his career was when they attempted to relegate him to a lower-paid, minor role, and he insisted on being paid the same as Chuck Norris, because he had at least the same level of skill.
He worked as a bodyguard and martial-arts instructor for Kelly LeBrock, whom he later costarred with, and married, and then divorced. At some point, he became associated with agent Michael Ovitz. He also appears to have a professional relationship with producer Jules R. Nasso.
Seagal is a practicing Buddhist. In 1997, one of his teachers, Penor Rinpoche proclaimed him a tulku, a reincarnation of a Tibetan lama.
Seagal maintains a ranch in Colorado.
Filmography
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Steven Seagal re-revolutionzed and re-popularized Martial Art action movies at a time when Bruce Lee was dead, and Chuck Norris was slipping away from the box office in the late 80's. While Jackie Chan and Jet Li were all huge Asian super-stars, they were still unkown to the average American audiences. Steven Seagal is a martial arts master, legend, Hollywood superstar, reincarnated Tibeton Buddhist, a musician who has performed with Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Eric Clapton, and a teacher as well as healer. At the young age of 7 Seagal started Shito-Ryu Karate under legendary Karate Master, Fumio Demura who has trained with Bruce Lee, Seagal quickly earned a black belt in Karate, in addition to earning black belt ranking's in Judo, Kendo, and currently holds a 7th Dan black belt in Aiki-Kai Aikido. Seagal has also studied Kali/Escrima with Bruce Lee's "#1 Student", Dan Inosanto, and has also studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with the legendary Machado Brothers. At the age of 17 Seagal moved to Japan and spent his life devoted to mastering the gentle yet deadly art of Aikido. Seagal mastered the art of caligraphy, in addition being able to speak Japanese fluitnly. As a young white boy in Japan Seagal was challenged many times by other Japanese martial art fighters who did not like the idea of a young white boy mastering a tradition and ancient Japanese Martial Art. Seagal has also been rumored during his stay in Japan training the CIA, later becoming an expert in fire arms, and an expert in weapons and tacticks. Seagal was the first non Japanese ever to open up an Aikido dojo in Japan at the mere age of 21. Seagal later moved to Hollywood opening his Tenshin Aikido Dojo teaching many star studded celebrities such as, Sean Connery, James Coburn, and many more. His flawless Aikido skills got the attention of a producer who later casted Seagal in his first starring film, Above The Law. Since then Seagal has popularized the Martial Art movies around the world with his movies grossing over hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide. Seagal had made classic movies which re-revolutionzed action movies in the 90's with such clasics such as, Hard To Kill, Marked For Death, Out For Justice, his most sucesfull commercial film, Under Siege, in addition with more recent blockbuster hits such as Exit Wounds. Seagal is still very busy and working on movies releasing many Direct To Video releases with his latest movie, Into The Sun which will be released direct to video Febuary 13th. In addition to being a master martial artist and one of Hollywood's top action stars, Seagal is a highly skilled musician and guitar player which has caught the ears of Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, BB King, Eric Clapton, etc... As his mother's dying wish she wanted Seagal to release an album letting the world hear his talent and music that would touch people's hearts throughout the world. He released his album in 2003 in France titled, Songs From The Crystal Cave. Steven Seagal is a martial art and action legend who's legacy will always live on.
(Written By Tarek Hussein)
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