Steven Seagal's Martial Arts Background and Belts

By Ali Hammad January 13, 2024 12:11

Actor and Martial Artist Steven Seagal hold Back Belts in multiple martial arts disciplines, making him an iconic figure in the fighting world and adding increased mystique to his celebrity worldwide.

Multiple Martial Arts Black Belts

Learning Aikido from a Master: Steven Seagal not only knows how to act but is also an extraordinary martial artist holding seventh-degree black belt in Aikido. On top of that, he is the first American to teach aikido in Japan, speaking volumes about his roots with this art.

Not only in Aikido, Seagal holds black belts in other martial arts like Karate, Kendo and Judo. Though his black belt in different styles obviously shows how accomplished Silva is, their variety also serves as a reminder just what an extensive history he has when it comes martial arts.

Doubts as to Seagal's aikido prowess have occasionally been cast, but his standing as an expert in that art is rarely disputed. As evidence of his aikido skills, Seagal has attracted respect from many fans and peers in the martial arts community — including Kenji Tomiki, and even Mike O'Mera's 'guy', Haruo Matsuoka; Matsuoka Sensei personally told me how impressed he is at Steven's aikido.

Seagal's aikido demonstration style is considered "rough, tough," and suitable for use on the street; some masters have characterized his particular brand as "street lethal" based in part on Seagal's penchant to apply pressure against uke very quickly while demonstrating any technique. This portrayal only cements his claim to be a bona fide practitioner of Aikido.

Controversies and Criticisms

Aikido actually works: While Seagal has been praised for his aikido, there are some martial arts analysts who have criticized the effectiveness of aikido as self-defense. Critics of aikido assert that its reliance on joint locks and, to an extent, momentum redirection is inherently flawed in real-world combat.

Seagal made controversial statements, saying: Seagal's bold claims regarding his fighting abilities and making disparaging remarks about other martial arts figures like Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris led to oppositional backlash within the world of Martial Arts.

Views on Other Martial Arts

Some articles reported that Steven has a gripe with ground fighting and that the stand-up combat is where matters in an actual fight. His perspective shows his strong belief in the ability of old school martial arts to apply itself.

Impact on Fight Choreography

In addition to his martial arts prowess, Seagal's involvement in the film industry has done a great deal for fight choreography with his real-world experience and skills taking center stage.

Steven Seagal is a blackbelt in Aikido, Judo, Karate and Kendo which shows how diverse his martial arts skill is. Though his martial arts skills have been criticized and debated upon, he is considered one of the most influential figures in popularizing martial artists through entertainment.