Breaking Down Steven Seagal's ”Aikido”

[@MartialArtsJourney]

For the full, original video with Steven Seagal and Jesse Enkamp click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXjXXmqLZsinl9E Or check out www.martialartsjourney.com for latest merch showing the evolution from traditional martial arts to a combat sports fighter!

[@user-bu2ls9lp1l]

At 1:40 you say "if they're really trying to hit you... and you're really trying to do the move" ... Musashi says in his book of 5 rings that this is the wrong mentality. You cannot approach a fight with a technique in mind. So while you are correct in saying there may be better options, just because a tool is not suited for 1 job does not mean it is a bad tool, if it is in fact designed for another job. Musashi basically is saying, one must respond to what they're attacked with, or attack. Stevens outside chasing parry is a biproduct of his height ... in that he is more likely to be outside a punch thats coming from a shorter person, so he does an outside parry.

[@bricktea3645]

Can u go to Tokyo and interview former MMA kikuno katsunori,he seems to know a lot of info derived for ancient Kata kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5nHgnmBor-Yesk Plz analyse this vid

[@cyborgchicken3502]

That "hidden kick" he does I think also exists in some Kung Fu styles especially in Hung Gar Kuen, apparently it was practiced by the famous Chinese master Wong Fei Hung, I'm not sure what it's actually called but I've seen it being referred to as the " Shadowless kick" since it's not really a telegraphed move

[@jasonrogers1576]

I'm sure you know what you're talking about. But Steven Seagal has been a practitioner at least twice as long as you've been alive. You're not even close to that level.

[@nerd_universe]

@@cyborgchicken3502 That´s correct, it is called Wuyingjiao. I started with Hung Kuen 15 years ago and this kick is part of the curriculum in our style.

[@genin69]

Stepping on someone's foot is the most underrated but also one of the most effective "simple" techniques out there to disrupt balance or do serious damage. We had a guy in class who tore all his ligaments from a trapped foot after falling when he was punched.

[@sapristi75]

My aikido teacher who was trained in other japanese martial arts (judo, karate and a few more I forgot the name of) used to do this a lot. It makes a big step from "I don't have control but I am feeling ok" to "I feel totally trapped and I panic". It's also something interesting because you don't realize immediatly that your feet is trapped. You only feel it when trying to regain your balance or escape the close range and suddenly realizing that your trapped, out of balance, with an opponent very close to you. Panic is the natural human reaction then.

[@genin69]

@@sapristi75 its a typical school playground bully tactic that works brilliantly well in a fight. Wait for opponent to step first then trap his foot and go all in with a strike. Instant knock down. I (used to) literally teach this as a technique in my school

[@mauricematla8379]

I broke 2 toes in Judo practice a guy threw me while accidently planted his heel on them....

[@magyarbondi]

@@sapristi75 You would *instantly* realise if somebody stepped on your foot with Seagal's bodysize.

[@donelmore2540]

I remember that long ago a guy did that to Mohammed Ali and, I think, knocked him down. When interviewed about it Ali said that it was an old boxing club trick. I would do it occasionally to my Karate students. As mentioned above, it works really well. LOL

[@marcushillerstrom25]

The Enkamp brothers are so cool, I've never seen a better interview with Seagal. To me, the fact that he seemed relaxed and was willing to show his moves was what made the video great, and Jesse's approach that he can learn something from anyone also makes it a great video. Personally I buy more into Thai boxing, wrestling and BJJ than aikido, but it's still very interesting to watch.

[@bookofdaveandsteve]

That's a good point, well made. Yes, they seem like they are able to talk to a wide range of people and put them at ease. That is a real skill.

[@Erime]

Thai boxing, wrestling, and BJJ are all sports - they don't integrate weapons. It's a completely different mentality because it is not considering lethality so much when training. The deeper martial mindset comes from MA that revolve around swords, spears, and knives. And knives are still a serious reality on the streets of London, for example. A competitive sports mindset is probably not the best tool to bring to a knife fight. It depends on why you are studying MA, though doesn't it - to be able to fight like in UFC as a career athlete (generally against a respectful and thus cooperative opponent), or to be able to fight for your life on the streets - which includes de-escalating wherever possible so that you avoid risking your life unnecessarily.

[@Muzzleflare1]

agreed bro, Jesse is a humble fighter not just a youtuber.

[@hope4ourfallen]

@@Muzzleflare1 💯 Jesse seems like a genuinely good guy🙂 He has some amazing skill yet Never comes across as arrogant..He just seems like a truly kind hearted and humble guy. Definitely wouldn't want to be on the receiving end if he did snap though😄

[@marcushillerstrom25]

@@Erime Well, if I ever find myself defending against a sword I guess I will regret not training aikido, but in all other situations I think I prefer boxing, wrestling and BJJ. I've seen hundreds of security camera videos of people defending themselves with these three MA, I've never even seen one using aikido.

[@robertmudrow8034]

It's most important to understand that Seagal in the vid is not demonstrating modern Aikido like you see in clubs across the Western world. He was teaching much older Samurai moves refracted, as it were, through soft style Aikido. He was teaching how to swiftly break, disable and kill. And he's good at it.

[@Average1212]

People love to say "this wouldn't work" and project it through the context of fighting mma. It was never designed for mma, or TV.

[@UnexpectedWonder]

You understand completely. 👊👊✊✊👏👏👏👌👌

[@lukematthew613]

Just don't forget that if you challenge him that no camera's are allowed. Because when he gets flopped in three seconds proof won't exist.

[@MrCmon113]

​@@Average1212Well keep repeating your excuses and deluding yourself. Seagal would be embarrassed by the worst person in any combat sports gym.

[@albertoborjas1283]

Some martial arts “experts” tend to ignore that martial arts weren’t designed for sports competition or face another train opponent in a ring. Don’t confuse martial arts with combat exports or professional fighting .

[@stayhungry1503]

@Aryan Toon but a battle field with samurai armour on is completely different from a fight on the street. i think seagal is a joke on the whole, but i do think he actually has some points in this video. i think these old martial arts were to be used as a last resort in situations where you lost your sword and even your dagger and you needed a few extra seconds to survive. but as time went by, and especially probably after ww2 they cut out all the ugly elements like hitting eyes and the throat and stuff like that. to your point about mma fighters beating the heck out of people in the street, ok sure but is that really a big deal? some drunken guy who probably never trained any martial arts in his life? fact of the matter is that all mma fighters pretty much train for a drawn out fight with rules. have you seen vale tudo fights where head butts were allowed? did you see what happened when a bjj guy got a guy in his closed guard? i wouldnt want his dental bill thats for sure. he was headbutted into oblivion until he was knocked out and all his front teeth were gone. ill tell you what an ex-soldier told me when it comes to 1 on 1 fights without rules (this can be found in pretty much every military training manual btw and doesnt need a lot of training) wear heavy boots and just push kicks at the knees of your enemy and it works pretty much every time. im not talking low kicks to the thighs here with a lot of wind up i am talking short fast knee cap busting, tendon shredding push kicks with a heavy rubber sole.

[@tomtam8789]

That old saw. Yet these traditional "deadly" martial arts get their asses kicked whenever you test them.

[@momoko6481]

Martial arts is created to defend urself. The spiritual aspect is just a bonus. So if u cant defend urself using said martial arts then its useless

[@kermit1211]

So Kicboxing, Karate, Muay Thai, Boxing, Taekwondo are not considered as martial arts because they have competitions?

[@victornury536]

@@kermit1211 they are, just not when they are practiced on a ring with gloves and a referees

[@MikeWiest]

Segal’s “pure offense” and attack first approach are actually consistent with traditional Aikido as taught by O’Sensei. The “no attacks in aikido” meme is a (pervasive) misconception. The original way of practicing the most fundamental technique, shomenuchi ikkyo, is to strike the face-and if they block, you do ikkyo on the blocking arm. This is how OSensei could say “aikido is 90% atemi” even though no one thinks there is atemi practice in aikido-even lots of aikidoka!

[@fabricio4794]

Some Brazilian Aikido Schools,got Blindfolded by Ki Aikido Masters,and became a big Tai Chi stuff,not Self Defense,i see people get owned practicing this Chi Aikido,because they were on Ki Mindset with slow moves and relaxation,and they got paralized and lost the fights,just like that american ponytailed fatboy on mma vs video.We Need Dai To Ryu in Brazil or Built Aikijujustu Federation.

[@andrewm4911]

Same experience with aikido- it’s not about being a passive defender. Atemi etc allow the person applying the technique to take the initiative.

[@Simon-lj8bb]

There's a lot of confusion here. First of all you need to distinguish between _do_ and _jutsu_ , one is the way (theory), the other is the art (practice). Second, *Aikijutsu* is just a _part_ of *Bujutsu* the same as *BJJ* is a _part_ of a *MMA* system, so you're comparing apple to oranges if you compare Aikijutsu to MMA. Third, Bujutsu is the art of _war_ so, unlike MMA, it's thought to be used with and against _weapons_ . Immagine if in a BJJ sparring you could pop out a knife or use your fingers to hit your opponent eyes. That's why the _philosophy_ changes. That's why there's not _that much_ focus on ground work. Because on a battlefield, if you were on the ground, 99% of the time you were also _dead_ because someone was gonna take advantage of that and kill you, it was not just the opponent that brought you to the ground in the first place. On a battlefield you want to fight your opponent and end it quickly because then there's another opponent behind him. If you can't kill him fast, just _bypass_ him, the guy _behind you_ is gonna handle him. MMA is specialised to fight a _single_ opponent in a _cage_ . No one is gonna help, no adversaries behind the one you have in front of you. _No weapons_ . When you say "I want to see that in the cage in a real fight" then someone could say "I would like to see that on a battlefield with real weapons". And gain, when you say "I don't think that would work in a real fight" someone could say "I don't think it would work on the battlefield". And stop with all this "self defense" non-sense. That's not what these techniques where meant for. Can you be more proficient in defending yourself if you know Bujutsu? Yes! Can you be more proficient in defending yourself if you know MMA? Yes!. You are mixing styles to be more proficient. In fact, both MMA and Bujutsu are the same thing at the logical level! The difference is the context. They are meant for different contexts, adapted to different needs. So here is my advice: if you are in MMA, go and learn Aikijutsu and take what you may need from it, adapt it to your needs. If you are from the other side, go learn MMA and take form it and adapt it to your needs. Peace

[@magyarbondi]

True. But that is why we love Rokas, he walks the talk. PS. I agree with the observations of a "real fight". In a real fight, when somebody is on the floor, you step in their faces. You still can't do that in MMA.

[@kalijasin]

Obviously you don’t understand what mma is.

[@Jazzman-bj9fq]

@Simon, exactly!

[@realtalk6195]

Great post but you need to use line breaks. Most people don't understand these martial arts' histories at all. The Meiji Reformation was Japan's version of Mao's Cultural Revolution which resulted in most traditional Japanese culture and crafts being banned and lost. The 20th century is when a lot of Japanese culture was revived and promoted, including the martial arts but now in an incomplete and watered-down form. The -jutsu are martial arts. The -do are exercises that further evolved into competition and cosplaying. Ju-jutsu became Ju-do. Ken-jutsu became ken-do. Aiki-do is a watered-down form of Aiki-jutsu, itself a style of Ju-jutsu. Karate is to Okinawa what Jujutsu is to mainland Japan. Both originally encompassed stand-up, takedowns, ground fighting, and weapons. Jujutsu was stripped of its weapons and stand-up to become Judo. Karate kept its stand-up but was stripped of its weapons, takedowns and ground fighting in the 20th century because the Japanese government wanted Judo to cover grappling. When Judo became a university, high school and eventually Olympic sport, it became increasingly watered-down. Kendo in its current form is some nonsense and is not realistic to sword-fighting because of how its point system works. Kenjutsu is where you actually learn Japanese sword techniques. Aikido in its current form is extremely watered-down, but Steven Seagal seems to be educated and experienced in the actual martial art form of it. Karate when it travelled overseas from mainland Japan became extremely watered-down. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is just Judo Ne-Waza, which refers to the ground fighting aspect of Judo. In the 20th century, the terms "Judo" and "Jujutsu" were at times used synonymously. That's how the latter name stuck in Brazil which has a large Japanese diaspora. Brazil and South American in general have the largest ethnic Japanese populations outside of Japan. The Gracie family went on to market it as a style that they developed but it wasn't true. It was just another devolved Judo variant but with emphasis on ground fighting rather than takedowns.

[@UnexpectedWonder]

You're not wrong. MMA is designed by Rules in Cage Fighting.

[@donelmore2540]

A friend of mine (a highly ranked very talented Shotokan Black Belt) trained with Mr. Seagal many years ago. He was impressed with Mr. Seagal and I remember him saying that Mr. Seagal was very explosive for such a big guy.

[@77wolf89]

I find it comical that many people say "he's fat" so they assume he's a joke. Segal may have put on some weight with the years, but that underestimation is very dangerous. Segal is still a very competent martial artist and in his style, he will FUBAR a joker up so fast they will not know what happened even after it is way too late.

[@raumshen9298]

Thank you for sharing

[@77wolf89]

@Peperoncini1601 I guess you know that since you were there and know he carried a firearm, shit himself AND know he cant fight. You either know him or follow him around.

[@LoneWolf-cv6pl]

@Peperoncini1601 You're the joke because you're just repeating something you heard but can't prove because you weren't there.

[@joeridestrijcker445]

@Peperoncini1601 I can understand why you don't like him, but that story about 'shit his pants' was clearly and vehemently debunked by someone who was actually present during that altercation between Seagal and LeBell. Of course it's a very colourful story and great to serve the purpose (discrediting Seagal) many have in mind.

[@eastafrika728]

Having fought many times in and out of the ring, I can say at least 3 of the things Seagal taught are very real, the street punch is true, the push kick is true we use it in Muay Thai the same way he taught it as a hidden teep to the face, his philosophy of the battlefield is true, you must not end up on the floor on a fluid battlefield with multiple attackers, BJJ is useless against multiple attackers. The meditation he taught is also true for power and confidence. This man is legit.

[@statesrights01]

I agree

[@s23900]

Mixing in true statements does not make all the bullshit he spews also true. Aikido is garbage and will get people seriously hurt if they view it as good for anything aside from LARPing as a superhuman movie character in a dress. Also, saying that BJJ "doesn't work" against multiple attackers is incorrect. BJJ, especially combined with wrestling, is perfect for preventing takedowns, escaping pins, and getting back to the feet. You should NEVER choose to end up on the ground in a self defense situation and so pulling guard in a street fight is idiotic - if that was your point, then we agree. Seagull is NOT legit, he's the farthest thing from it. He's peddling nonsense. In the decades since MMA really became main stream, we have seen what works and what doesn't. NOBODY is doing anything that even somewhat resembles aikido.

[@eastafrika728]

@@s23900 I've used aikido in the street, worked well. I've never lost a Muay Thai fight, I would not judge anyone before fighting them. If you believe Aikido is garbage, prove it.

[@alexandrealves2877]

@@s23900 MMA is an illusion that doesn't work in real life. Aikido is far superior to BJJ, I train both and I know what I'm talking about.

[@s23900]

@@alexandrealves2877 Hahaha normally I would just assume anyone saying something so asinine was an obvious troll, but I know how aikido attracts all of these mentally insane cult follower types.. There's really nothing to say in response to something so stupid.

[@johnnyteawanto3815]

Steven Seagal may not be liked as a person, but his knowledge and skills in Aikido and Martial Arts are beyond question. He is nothing less than a 7th Dan Shihan in Aikido , recognized by the current Doshu M. Ueshiba who is the head of the largest Aikido organization based in Tokyo which is the Aikikai. Seagal has also been trained by some of the best Aikido Masters such as Koichi Tohei (10 Dan), Iroshi Isoyama (8 Dan), Seiseki Abe (8 Dan), Doshu Kissomaru Ueshiba (son of the Founder of Aikido); among others. Prominent Aikido experts agree that the Aikido that Seagal developed was really fast, direct and effective. Hence his Aikido schools under his tutelage (Tenshin Aikido and derivatives), all characterized by a truly practical and poweful Aikido. Seagal also put his skills into practice outside the tatami. At the Tenshin Dojo in Osaka, which was in a problematic neighborhood controlled by the yakuza, he resolved his differences with more than one delinquent by getting on the tatami and beating him up. He was also involved in altercations in bars in Japan, which he used to frequent with one of his Aikido mentors who was also a 'go-getter'. Seagal introduced his Aikido to the United States by, among other things, giving a real beating to a Karate black belt who challenged him, to the astonishment of those who saw it and who would later become his students.

[@HumanoidKoala]

The art of sitting, eating, and telling people "hey do this".

[@JoMamasHouse]

Taking the center line opens up to many hip throws. When I trained in Aikido, specifically Segal’s style, that’s what we worked on when we had our judo friends with us. We’d ping ideas back and forth on ideas and pressure testing some of our techniques. Steven is many things, and many terrible things to add, but he’s got some valid points. Any art can be beneficial on what you take from it.

[@dlebron007]

Yes, sir what us practical matures with age too. Like Irimi is key. I like Steven Seagal pre emptive attitude.

[@varanid9]

@@dlebron007 Yes, an action is always faster than a reaction.

[@wehrewulf]

Seagal, not Segal.

[@alexscott730]

What dojo did you train Tenshin aikido?

[@kotla671]

After all the responses are learned then years later we were taught what they called “arrest techniques” … these were traditional Aikido holds but initiated as if we were making an arrest requiring we strike first. Segal uses these moves as much as he does the defensive moves. Advanced Aikido did not have to wait for an attacker to initiate or to use a certain strike. Tohei Sensei has a video from the 60’s that covers how to initiate Aikido holds before an attacker moves.

[@bryantharris5914]

That quote about 90% of fights going to the ground was popularized by the Gracies but it came from a police statistics in arrest situations where it turned into an altercation. So it wasn't arbitrary fights, it was struggles occurring during an arrest, in which case most police would try to immobilize the suspect. Police would typically prefer to engage in this after backup has arrived, so their back up could join in while one officer is trying to immobilize the suspect. My point is not that I'm some sort of police tactics expert (I'm most definitely not) but that the 90% number has been shown to be a bit dubious the way its commonly communicated.

[@varanid9]

If I recall, the police statistic was that 68 percent went to the ground. Of course, the vast majority of these weren't "trained" fighters.

[@varanid9]

When I was on the Sheriff's dept (back in the 80s) we would try to take a perp to the ground so we could control him. Wasn't easy, usually. Back when I did TKD, I fought Judo guys who usually couldn't take me down. The important difference I found out the hard way with BJJ, however, is that when your opponent WANTS to go to ground with you, that creates a whole new dynamic that's difficult to counter.

[@bryantharris5914]

@Moray Soueid I've studied BJJ for over 20 years. What do you want to know about it?

[@TheJasoncash83]

@Moray Soueid sure in certain situations. Thats why cops are taught it and dont do anything until the have HELP. Thats the key word. HELP. You have people running around thinking that they can take out multiple attackers using BJJ which is completely false. Unless you have HELP, you do not want to be on the ground. YOu do NOT want that to ever happen. You want to be on your feet. It's good to have an idea of some things you could do if you DO get taken to the ground, but thats not where you want to be at all.

[@williamsmith8790]

I was a bouncer for many years, at the height of my martial arts training, and witnessed and participated in dozens and dozens of fights. I didn’t witness the “90% of all fights end on the ground” as a rule. Most fights were sucker punches and multiple opponent swarms. Most of the fights ended through blunt force trauma. Not great fighters many times, but hyper aggressive guys on alcohol or coke that went wild on each other. Sometimes they fell or got tackled, but very little that looked like a takedown.

[@alexandermarszaek832]

The concept of some of those "smooth" take-downs are cool but it's hard to tell if it would work in a fast paced fight. Thanks for the analysis man :D

[@user-bu2ls9lp1l]

Gotta wonder how much is size to. I mean segal aint a small dude. Between the height and the inertial he's gonna have an easier time making stuff look good on smaller (especially compliant) ukes.

[@nunyabidness3429]

@@user-bu2ls9lp1l Size is a HUGE factor for any defense situation. If you are larger than your opponent, chances are, your opponent will have more caution when dealing with you. Segal would mess up 99% of the comment section truth be told. I think he started getting memed in the 2010 era and people just threw him in with Bullshido experts. Steven Segal has trained many bar security guards and bouncers in the past because his techniques work well from the drop. As in you got some drunk being mouthy/pervy and needing immediate removal. Now idk if you know this or not, but bar bouncers specifically value things like hand-parry, grabbling, arm trapping, and joint manipulation. They even have these neat Pankration based front face locks that forces your nose bone into their pectorals. Size definitely helps with the moving of a person rather quickly, especially a drunk person. But these moves do have real world application. Now whether it can apply against a sober and very SKILLED fighter really depends on the person. I believe Segal could mess up 99% of the comments section. And probably a good 75% of the people who shit talk him. He's a large and powerful guy that's been perfecting his craft. Large guys do well in grappling scenarios because they will always outpower their opponent. Aikido works in bar bouncing techniques, along with, Pankration holds, wrestling locks, judo flips, and finally a little close up dirty boxing. Why not BJJ? Because in that setting, the stupidest thing you can do, is tangle up with someone on the ground. (friends usually go to bars together) What Steven Segal is teaching is very valuable to specific situations and I have had seen these techniques applied in bouncing before. Do you gotta be "big" to learn these? Nah. Do you gotta be big to USE these in applicable situations? YES. When it coms to physical encounters, size MATTERS. More so if that size is skilled.

[@js2211-j3h]

he has developed a unique style for his unique bodyweight, in aikido there are many styles that you can develop once u reach higher dans

[@Le_Petomane]

They simply wouldn't work.

[@Katzenhase]

@@js2211-j3h He was the slimmest action star ever in his prime. Look how slim he was in "Above the Law".

[@almightygin]

I wanted to say thank you for the way you did this video. I love that you didn't just trash on Seagal like so many do and that you didn't just straight up defend him like others. You approached it logically and I appreciate that!

[@donaldmackerer9032]

Same here

[@pixelblaze8284]

Honestly I have to say I'm really glad to see how you have changed over time. I've been here since you stopped aikido and I was sad to see you go the bjj bro, all other stuff doesn't work if it's not bjj, boxing, or kick boxing because it's very harmful to the overall community. But I'm happy to see you stepping back from that a bit and considering all the older stuff with some good pressure testing. Like I do have to say it's so sad to see how much we lost in the commercialization of martial arts in the past but it's also fun to try and discover how old stuff may have actually been used and how it could be used again alongside more modern stuff.

[@guyscounter]

I wish Rokas and Steven Seagal collaborate in one video someday. Rokas as former Aikidoka, current MMA practitioner, and a constant martial arts critic I think Seagal will be glad appearing on this channel.

[@Kurufinwe_Fayanaro]

When the Karate Nerd posted his video, I could not believe you were not a part of it.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Haha, I appreciate the thought 😊 But I am known as a critic of Aikido and few Aikido people like me. As a result I doubt if Steven would be interested in meeting me 😊

[@nks432]

@@MartialArtsJourney that's not really true though... I've followed you somewhat from your early days - and while that may have been true more so earlier - you've actually given the art its due in plenty of instances and tried to break down the movements - see if they can be functionalized. etc - And you've been "critical" if you could call it that of other arts too. Its moistly been a quest for knowledge from your end - sometimes I may not agree with a particular point or issue but that's a legit approach imo.

[@Marveryn]

@@MartialArtsJourney i still wouldn't had mind seeing you and him just comparing notes. the only issue is he may be stuck on his way but i think he had done some real fight test at least enough to know not to wait to counter but to pressure and break the other guys rhymn.

[@peterandersson4243]

​@@MartialArtsJourney It would have made for a better video though. Having someone who's more critical to what he's teaching/saying, someone who's willing to question the effectiveness of the techniques. Having him have to make the case for why something actually would work.

[@camiloiribarren1450]

I’m always learning so much whenever you explain the principles of Aikido and how it can be applied in a realistic manner. Never was the biggest Segal fan but him explaining his methods and you breaking them down, helps a lot

[@wildwildwest1286]

I do not study or practice Aikido,but I see where it could be extremely useful.Not every single conflict,encounter etc has to be a put up your dukes,let's square off fight.Many times people will intend to bother ,molest,joke around or just be a jerk and may have no intention of even fighting,particularly with bullies.I'm an older guy and I worked as a bellman with lots of younger guys .Some of these guys just wanted to try me,joke around or whatever.This even led up to sort of a push battle and thankfully we didn't get caught by the cameras.Then I started watching videos of different arm locks and finger locks.Once those guys saw that they might get caught up in an embarrassing moment in front of other people,the clowning pretty much stopped.And no,you don't want to go into a street fight looking at a guys hands ,trying to figure out which lock to apply.You wouldn't fight a boxer with your right fist cocked up because he knows what's coming.Locks have to be set up just like a boxing combo.My personal opinion is that Aikido can be blended or adapted and for a pretty good self defense ssytem or rather having a back up system such as boxing,mai tai or some other art would be a good idea.

[@ctjdo]

Seagal in the early 2000s was in Toronto and wanted to train privately with Kimeda sensei and brush up on his skills. Kimeda refused and told him he needs to join the regular class with everybody else if he wishes to train. True story. Watching the episode with Seagal and finding out he "likes" to dine in his private room away from the regulars reminded me of this story I have now shared with you.

[@kommisar.]

I just want to know how he makes so much to be able to afford doing that. He hasn't made a hit movie in decades, and even the ones he did make that did well were not exactly blockbusters. Does this guy run a ponzi scheme or something?

[@gnashings]

@@kommisar. he does have a ponzi-tail (don't shoot!!! I am a dad... it can't be helped)

[@kommisar.]

@@gnashings That took me a minute to get....

[@gnashings]

@@kommisar. dad jokes are a very real condition, many of us struggle with it. But your small donation can make a difference in some dads life, and by extension, in the life of their hapless child😊😂😂😂

[@kommisar.]

@@gnashings That was as bad as the last one.

[@vitoravila9908]

4:10 - Yes, this kind of takedowns works under pressure… Petr Yan and, before him, Yoshihiro Akiyama used to do a similar foot sweep… foot sweeps of these kind are done all the time in Muay Thai, Sanda, Judo and wrestling

[@weatherman9212]

Yeah I feel like Rokas must of only trained Aikikai style Aikido, Seagals is more old school

[@TheJasoncash83]

@@weatherman9212 Rokas style is all about not hurting the opponent. He did a video with Jesse Encamp and his brother. Jesse's brother was the attacker and Rokas and jesse used their style to defense himself. Jesse was brutal. Rokas was sweeping, beautiful and not at all about actually hurting anyone

[@damiengates7581]

@@TheJasoncash83 that's not real Aikido, case solved

[@SometimesTurtle]

@@TheJasoncash83 Cool, but how is not hurting anyone useful for a warrior? I don't get your logic...this is why what he speaks of doesn't work for MMA, because some people train to kill, not train to fight fair...this is what seagal is getting at...

[@TheJasoncash83]

@SometimesTurtle yes actually being able to redirect attacks is useful in any attack situation. Parsons, mma isn't everything. Mma shouldn't really even ever be brought up. It's a sport.

[@ramonvelasquez8431]

I think much of what Steven Seagal does is legit, it's just the whole hype and the "most dangerous man on earth" thing that just really went out of control. That said, he does have a lot of knowledge and I can tell he is not just some silly fake martial arts guru, we just need to separate useful reality tips from fantasy and things that are just unpractical or situational.

[@ironmikehallowween]

I think some of those moves could have merit. Joint locks work. Aikido people understand joint locks, most just don’t know how to apply them in real life. But, there is no doubt that they work.

[@jmc2830]

there are quite a few very lengthy expose's on Seagal and his career.. the guy is an egotist, a liar and a creep. notice how everything he's doing is done with a compliant opponent? well, that's aikido in a nutshell..

[@ramonvelasquez8431]

@@jmc2830 As I said, there is a lot of BS around Seagal, but that doesn't mean that he is null in knowledge. I have tested Aikido and I can safely tell you it does work and it is a good addition to anyone's repertoire if done well. The problem is that most people misinterpret what Aikido is for.

[@joemommatoonz]

@@jmc2830 Yeah... if they wouldn't be compliant and resist their bones would break. Smart guy lol.

[@jmc2830]

@@joemommatoonz my point is that in a situation against an opponent that isn't compliant(like the people used in demonstrations by Siegal, etc).. it doesn't work, or at most is no where near as effective as people seem to believe. there are a few concepts in aikido that can be used in actual combat but the vast majority of the actual techniques only work when the target is surprised or is completely untrained. in a normal combat scenario against even a novice fighter.. it's useless. blackbelts and instructors of aikido have tested this against novice mma fighters and have found it to be completely ineffective against someone who knows what they are doing.. even a little bit.

[@AlexanderGent]

It's not just Seagals Aikido approach that takes the initiative. Iwama style also has this too. Ikkyo is a good example which illustrates this, compared to Aikikai where they wait for the attack. You can also find it in the weapons eg third kumitachi. We also have the direct iriminage, that's just a variation.

[@revariox189]

Hve you heard of Kishinkai Aikido?

[@AlexanderGent]

@@revariox189 nope.

[@sailordoug5690]

In Yoshinkan Aikido as well. There are many techniques that begin with sh'te (nage/tori) attacking uke with atemi. Shioda Sensei quoted O-Sensei as having said that atemi accounts for 70% of Aikido (Aikido Shugyo, 2002) and Saito Sensei quoted O-Sensei as having said that atemi accounts for 99% of Aikido (Traditional Aikido, 1974). Whether they are both right or only one is right, I think it can be agreed that at least 70% is atemi. Setting up a technique becomes a lot easier to do if your opponent is simultaneously dealing with a punch to the face. You can also illicit a specific response from uke by initializing an appropriate attack.

[@reggiegunn8934]

His style could probably be leaning more to the old school of Aikijiujitsu or early Aikido style, not the modern style.

[@frankright4454]

@@sailordoug5690 LOL!! We were taught 90% Atemi. So yeah, atemi and budo waza. (Iwama Ryu/Takemusu).

[@timkramar9729]

Several of the moves I've used in fights, came without conscious thought. For example, I've used a hip toss without knowing what it was. Another thing was described to me as a suplex. I'm small, I'm not training in any system. I just do what seems natural.

[@latigorapper]

Love this video. I like Seagal's answer to the Law question when he said "I DON'T CARE". Being a former Law student, I know we should all be mindful of the Law BUT there times we should put that aside especially when ones life is on the line. Thus, I think what Seagal really meant is that when you're in a real life and death fight, the only thing you should care about is to defeat your opponent. Don't get distracted by anything else or you might lose.

[@donelmore2540]

A Karate buddy of min in the early ‘70s had an elderly female neighbor whose house had been burglarized repeatedly. One day he saw a guy in her backyard (I don’t remember all the details, but he was sure it was a “bad actor”.). My buddy jumped the fence and clocked the guy and my buddy ended up being the guy hauled off by the police.

[@donelmore2540]

Should have read “mine” not “min”. Sorry.

[@kommisar.]

That kind of rhetoric is said mainly by people who don't actually have any good techniques or in general know how to fight, so they try to cover that up with shitty "lethal" moves that don't actually kill anybody or work at all, and a bunch of "tough talk" about not caring whether or not they have to kill their opponent. It's complete bullshit and a huge red flag. If that's how they talk then it's almost definite they are full of shit. Seagal is a perfect case in point. None of that garbage works in a real fight, and he has never once bothered to prove it does.

[@mydogjesus]

The honest definition of a law is that it is an opinion with a gun. (think about it a while and you will see the truth.) However... The fact that our very LIFE (in many cases) would need to be in jeopardy at that very moment for us to personally realize our own freedom and self worth in what I said above, is pretty sad when you think about it.

[@gnashings]

Yup, there is a point where you have to decide, is this that time where I have to pick weather to be judged by 12 or carried by 6? At that point you shouldn't care. If it's not at that point, you shouldn't fight. At least that's how I see it.

[@SwordFighterPKN]

Stepping on the foot is awesome! My karate teacher always did that and it will cause you to panic a bit since you can't just move away.

[@madmandan1982]

I think so, too. A foot stomp is quite disruptive - that puts you in enough of an advantage that could make the difference.

[@johnduke4120]

If you both are barefoot sure. And weighing 290 helps as well.

[@shitstainknobknocker]

I agree....I think it's primarily used to disorientate your opponent (allowing you valuable seconds, to do your worst)

[@liecrusher3506]

A Primo Carnera specialty.

[@BigBadJerryRogers]

@@shitstainknobknocker I'm definitely going to start stomping on feet when I get into more fights, we'll see what happens

[@ives3572]

"As a lifelong practitioner of martial arts, I'm trained to remain calm in the face of adversity and danger." - Steven Seagal

[@kermit1211]

Can you even do that if you never sparred?

[@Diggy22]

He said that in Lawman, didn't he? 😂

[@ShadowParalyzer]

I recall reading that the "90% of fights going to the ground" is from Los Angeles Police Department's study of officers who got into an altercation making an arrest in the year 1988. So that just seems like a huge bias to me because if your objective is trying to arrest somebody via handcuffs, getting to them on the ground would be useful because you're likely trying to restrain them.

[@biggumstevens1784]

Literally watch MMA, its on daily on several channels, and you will see fights going to the ground non-stop. The moment someone is rocked, they go for a take down.

[@ShadowParalyzer]

@@biggumstevens1784 Yeah, but those guys actually know what they're doing, it's in a context of trained individuals. They actively train for takedowns and groundfighting. The statistics, however, is framed for violent conflicts in life, yet its source is based on police officers - presumably with the goal to arrest people. I'm not claiming that the majority of fights doesn't end up with groundfighting, I'm just saying that the source and percentage is suspect.

[@miesvaillanykyisyytta3252]

I agree. Now with that said it does not make aikido any more effective. A lanky guy who has no understanding of wrestling and ground fighting would love to think that he can just do a one-punch kill move to stop any grappler who understands the ground. Pretty sure the early UFC proved that to be wishful thinking. You can try to "sever" the brainstem and you'll end up submitted just the same most of the time.

[@TheJasoncash83]

@@biggumstevens1784 lmao thats MMA which is a sport. Try not to confuse real world concepts to sports

[@ShadowParalyzer]

@@miesvaillanykyisyytta3252 Yeah, I wasn't trying to defend Aikido (nor am I trying to defend Steven Seagal); I don't practice Aikido either. So whatever people say about Aikido, I will feel indifferent. Nothing is at stake for me. I will first admit that I know very little about UFC, but I have watched this video of Bill Wallace talking about early UFC: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5DXfp6NpLqBZ5o And, Bill admits that UFC was a marketing stunt for BJJ. The BJJ folks get to pick the fighters, probably those that will make BJJ look good, according to Bill. Choking people out using your own belt was allowed. One guy apparently had asthma, told them not to use the smoke, but they used the smoke anyways. Wrapping the hands and knees weren't allowed, so people couldn't punch super hard, but Royce could wear all that stuff, etc... Bill asks: "Why don't you have a wrestler in there?" So, just like the statistics I pointed out being biased, Bill, a commentator of the first UFC, makes it seem like early-UFC was designed to promote BJJ right from the start, using any means necessary. I'm not saying BJJ isn't amazing and fantastic; it just sounds heavily biased.

[@lynardskynard8443]

Steven Seagal, the master of slow motion and choreographed martial arts!

[@abrahamchisomonamasasu]

I love how open-minded you are, I particularly agree with what you say about ground work. Having said that, be reminded that Seagal like you pointed out yourself was trained differently from you, has a different psyche in his approach to aikido from you and has definitely trained in that style much longer than you have been practicing your style of aikido. All in all, great analysis man.

[@jonathanjimmyshearman2500]

Akidos good its matched with Brazilian Ju Jutsu he understands the martial physics qualities very well hes on point stimulated and well instructive and conversive the only thing i do not like is that invisible kick shit, the invisible punch is a little better for pure violence boxing, no rules boxing, or pugilistica, in my martial arts tradition, your supposed to telegraph a kick, without emphasizing the correct motion steps to any kick in every stage of movement, you cannot apply the correct power, speed, and force, with a front kick, you dont thrust your leg out like a missille and just pull it back, you step up into the air, cutting through the tao of the wind, and you snap the rest of your leg in a horizontal output of power and strength, and retract back, and step down, of course how you telegraph a kick matters, do you do it with speed? Strength? Good kinisthetics? Or great skill? Thats the way we do it, thats the way weve been doing it for centuries and ages.

[@ChrisPyle]

I went from being a juiced up meat head in my 20s (thought I was tough) to getting my *ss kicked 5 days a week for the past 6 years in my 30s learning BJJ, Muay Thai and wrestling and now I know what a p*ssy I still am lol I know how hard it is to step in that cage and I love this channel for that exact reason. Very few people have the stones to actually show what it’s like to not only “learn” how to fight, but to DO IT. Much respect 👊👊👊 Anyway, I watched this when Karate nerd posted it. Anytime I hear someone say “when you shoot on me, I’ll sever your brain stem, you’re dead, I don’t care who you are” or “ill rip your throat out” and “most of the fights I see end on the feet” Red flags start going off like crazy. I know Jesse and his brother were being extremely gracious and respectful so I’m looking forward to hearing your take on this. Cheers from the east coast 🍻🍻🍻

[@MultiAwesomered]

Couldn't have said it better. respect

[@Sir_Pants_Alot]

That segment is probably the part that sticks out to me the most. It really reminds me of the false confidence people have that maybe go to a 2 hour self defense seminar at a local community center and think they can end any encounter by kicking an attacker in the groin and running away. It absolutely reeks of someone that has never been in a fight. A determined grappler will be able to take you down. You won't kill them for trying. I'm not saying a grappler will always win. But even exceptional strikers need to train to stand back up. It doesn't even take training for someone to just ape out and bear hug you or tackle you.

[@humann5682]

I mean, Seagal also has trained BJJ with the Machado Brothers. It's not like he has not done so called "legit" styles. I think my main take away from this should be to keep an open mind, which is exactly what Jesse and Oliver did here and they may tell you the actually picking up something. I think if present day you told 20s jacked up you they were not tough, and could not fight, 20s you would probably be just as dismissive about your current systems. I started out boxing, and by happy accident did Judo for 8 years and have been doing BJJ 7 years. All "legit" styles according to the Internet. But I've also seen some interesting ideas from other martial arts, and moves or ways of using my body my previous training had not shown me. All I will say is I'd encourage anyone to keep any open mind, especially if you haven't actually tried something yourself. I'm not advocating anyone drop MT for Aikido lol. I'm just saying keep and open mind, think for yourself and most importantly try things yourself rather than repeat "Internet wisdom" ad nauseam.

[@ChrisPyle]

@@humann5682 100% right. My dumb *ss was a bouncer for years in my 20s and had been in countless bar fights. I actually thought I could fight lol I’ll never forget my first morning going to a BJJ class. 5::30am in January, dark, freezing outside and not much warmer in the gym…I looked around the room and saw no one that looked physically intimidating at all. At the time I was still about 230 ish (6 ft) and still weight trained 3-4 days a week. I was excited to show the person that invited me what I could do to his little pajama wearing buddies. It was an open mat, so I bumped hands with someone that looked like a total nerd, 150-160 pounds (if that) and 90 seconds later I was totally gassed out and getting subbed at will by a guy I was mentally laughing at 2 minutes prior. That continued for 90 minutes with every single person I rolled with. I just remember thinking “what is this super power, I must learn it!!!” And was hooked instantly. Without that feeling of being totally dominated and physically helpless, nothing would have ever prepared me for that experience so I totally get why so many people just brush it off as useless “ground humping” lol I soon learned I couldn’t punch for sh*t either, or kick, or use my knees and elbows or do anything to anyone that actually trains lol Very humbling! When I hear anyone today talking about “secret techniques” or “too deadly to practice” Or my personal favorite “I see red and just freak out man” I’m very skeptical, but you’re right. Should always keep an open mind.

[@TheJasoncash83]

@@Sir_Pants_Alot You have to understand that the style Segal does isnt the passive shit that you see today. He outright said it was used for war. It's whole point is to inflict harm and end things. With that said, in a REAL fight, if it goes to the ground, you're likely dead. So he was 100% correct on that. He also pointed out that much of this was done with swords and on the battlefield

[@kenc9236]

My dad's friend back in the 80's used to drop angry men in the bar all the time as he was Aikido trained. He was always calm and used the fighter back with his own energy.

[@peterhonigmann7264]

As a lawyer I am never happy with people who throw out the justification "better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6", it is a lazy way of looking at the self-defense techniques you are using, or whether you are striking first in a situation. While I can agree that striking first may be a good strategy to win, if you cannot justify why you struck first, as well as the amount of force you used, then you may end up in jail and/or bankrupt after spending a small fortune on your civil and legal defense costs. If you can articulate to the cops and a jury why you struck first (the guy had a weapon, made it clear through threats and body language that he was going to kill me, or I was surrounded by multiple attackers) then you have a good chance of being able to win a legal argument as to why you did what you did. If not, then you can be considered the aggressor, and may have no legal right to even argue self-defense.

Not only that, but most people are just not like that. I mean if you'd only ever fight for self-defense (other than training/competition) then how would you know when to attack first? You don't. Most tense situations end without a fight so this quip basically either doesn't work or transforms you into an idiot who starts a lot of fights. (And thus end up in jail pretty quickly.)

[@liecrusher3506]

More of the reality in snowflake states? In the meantime, when the cretin hurts or kills YOU, "society" will do backflips to justify his actions.

[@marcelozerbini5411]

Fellow criminal lawyer from Brazil! I couldn't agree more, when someone tells me he prefers to be judge by 12 than carried by 6 I hand them my card and say they get the 5% family discount!

[@josephrigley8974]

People mostly say that judged by 12 shit in relation to shootings, if you get into a fist fight odds are no lawyers or cops are going to get involved unless someone dies.

[@marcelozerbini5411]

@@josephrigley8974 look, that's a cliche intended for people to not think about the issue. Self defense is not a clear letter to do anything. If you overshot it you may have to deal with it in court. If it was just a tiny bit more, you'll probably get a pass

[@mossu1997]

Something that I feel I’ve noticed about Seagal’s personal variations to Aikido, is that they’re more designed to give an appearance of confidence and minimal effort. This creates a bit of mental warfare with attackers; Similar to how Drunken Fist causes opponents to misjudge openings and make mistakes, Seagal’s relaxed form and lack of movement in Aikido can sometimes throw opponents off and lead them toward making more openings for an Aikido fighter to work with. Mind games in a fight can be surprisingly effective when used in the right moments 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@XHALE303]

Legend has it, to this very day Segal is still trying to catch his breathe from this performance.

[@ironmikehallowween]

Most fights do not end on the ground. I have worked in bars for 30 years. I have seen zero end by submission on the ground. Of course you should spend some time on grappling because it may happen, but I personally seldom see that. If you are on the ground, you are losing. Plus, we will break it up in a few seconds, and it will look like you lost if you are on the bottom. And, the other guy on top will say he kicked your ass. Punching/Boxing is the best for ending fights quickly. That’s my experience. I have seen hundreds of people knocked out cold or on their knees before I get to them. I have seen a total of two fights ended with kicks, and they were mine. A few months ago at the bar, we had a guy in his late 30s talking shit to an older gentleman. He said he was 47-0 in wrestling. The older gentleman said, “that’s cool, I was a boxer in my youth. The younger guy said boxing sucked and he would just dump him on his head. The older gentleman, said, “ well, you talk a good fight”. The younger guy started talking even more shit. The older gentleman said, “ I call your bluff”. I said, you all can fight all you want, but it’s not gonna be in here.” They went outside, and the older gentleman left him laying in the parking lot. That’s how it normally goes. Real fights are vastly different. That’s just the way it is.

[@brianl7449]

I agree. I wrestled and I would never shoot a double leg in a real fight. You could end up with a 250 pound lunatic on top of you. What does work, even against good boxers, is to clinch up. You probably won't get hit or kicked hard and you can control and tire out the other guy without much danger to him or yourself. Greco wrestling is effective for this.

[@ironmikehallowween]

@@brianl7449 I think wrestling could be very effective, but I never see anyone actually use it, except for us bartenders and bouncers. We use it to get them out of the bar without hitting or hurting them. But, when a real life fight starts, it seems that most people just start swinging, regardless of their training. Even this guy, who was a very good wrestler. I know he could have done much better against him, if he would have wrestled him. But he didn’t. I found out later that this boxer was 63 years old. He knocked him out cold in a few seconds. Swinging does not work against boxers, and for some inexplicable reason, that’s how almost everyone seems to fight. It’s just the way it is. It blows my mind, but after all these years, that’s still what happens.

[@brianl7449]

@@ironmikehallowween I believe you! My friend, and fellow wrestler, is a corrections officer. He sent me a vid of him fighting with a bigger inmate. My friend threw punches until he was able to shoot a double leg takedown and took the inmate to the ground. He broke his hand on the guy's head! He couldn't stay disciplined and just wrestle. Must be our dinosaur brain that takes over.

[@JSmithski]

Those techniques would not work on you because: 1. You’re a non-believer 2. You nullify the effect by placing your tongue in the right spot 3. Move your toes up and down

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Good one 😄

[@johndough8115]

They wont work, because he spend more time spouting useless speculation... instead of hitting an Iron Palm bag packed with coarse grain beach sand. If you think you can use an Ultra cheap Chinese tool to get a professional job done... think again... as the cheap tool breaks / fails. No... those Chops are not going to work with your thin, weak, non-conditioned limbs. Put in 3 months of 1hr sessions on the Iron Palm bag... and then try again.

[@thunderousooner527]

Rokas is 0-2 in MMA

[@johnwilkinson5811]

Can't help but notice that Rokas still has not properly separated out in his head combatives/warfare from sport/duelling. The former is not about 'fair' in any shape or form. It is about doing unto others without them getting a chance to do anything at all unto you. You don't want to 'pressure test' against a resisting opponent you want the opponent to have zero chance and preferably not even know what was coming. Think Hiroshima and Nagasaki not The Rumble in The Jungle. In sports combat and duelling you have the opposite. Everyone knows what is happening. Everyone who goes in for that ought to prepare accordingly for what they are facing and pressure test for the situation they are going into. Just like Ali and Foreman. As for Seagal's specific techniques, you ought to think about how you with your body size and weight might use those. He's a tall and heavy man. If you are a small and light woman then you might want to add the sword and not try doing them empty handed against someone his size. It's not rocket science. And yes, blade movements do translate to hand, forearm, and elbow strikes directly. That's not specific to Seagal or Japan, but also well known in Kali/Escrima/Arnis and through most every culture that has used blades. Finally, to really make it clear, what you do 'in the street' has to be calibrated to where you are and what legal system you are under. Having a ghetto brawl or two drunks arguing and then fighting outside a bar? Someone sizing you up to strongarm you or mug you? How you deal with those is going to look very different in the back of beyond in the Phillipines to Detroit, to England, to Lithuania. It's not one size fits all.

[@kotla671]

I was a student of Aikido from about 1970…. Koichi Tohei Sensei was likely best practitioner of that generation. I personally tried to take him down with all I had and he was the real deal. 90% of the demonstrations I see today miss the speed and finesse and real life applications all happening back then. I watched my Sensei jumped by 3 military guys who crashed our dojo and it ended quickly with the 3 military guys taking off holding their writs and arms lol. Sensei Tohei promoted me last. Believe me the Aikido we learned and practiced over 50 years ago is different from 90% of what I see today anywhere. Hombu Dojo still teaches much of the traditional techniques and with the same speed and force. I was able to visit Hombu Dojo about 10 years or more ago - so I hope the real Aikido lives on. Overall, Steven Segal and his mastery of Randori are likewise 90% the way I remember being taught. Including the strikes to the face, etc. Teach Ali or Frazer how to box and most will think boxing is the best defense. In the hands of Tohei Sensei or even Steven Segal - very hard to beat Aikido. Like the Gracie’s performing BJJ. Teach a non fighter how to fight and you still have the same non fighter. When you fight against a sword there can be no mistakes. 90% doesn’t work. So of course Aikido is going to appear different and many not practicing the Aikido of the 1960’s are missing out.

[@asphaltmilkshake4596]

"I watched my Sensei jumped by 3 military guys who crashed our dojo and it ended quickly with the 3 military guys taking off holding their writs and arms lol" And this really happened? In real life?

[@lashtal]

@@asphaltmilkshake4596 I've never seen it happen, other than youtube lol. But yes, weirdos come in all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds of life. I heard a story about a black belt in Tae Kwon Do who came to the school my friend was going to. He literally "challenged the Dojo". The Teacher had his student put on a blindfold to fight the black belt, and the blind-folded student literally side-kicked the man INTO a wall. This was A Student. The Teacher was Far More Lethal. At least in the old Kung Fu days, this was very common. A student, or potential student, would go on to challenge a master of a system; and that challenger would either end up getting rocked, or killed. Doesn't happen so much anymore, but when it does happen on youtube, it's usually not a very competent practitioner, usually a person with something wrong with them mentally, who gets embarrassed for disrespecting or wasting time.

[@knky98bouba82]

This one time in band camp type of shit has got to stop , grow up.

[@shauncoghlan20]

I love Aikido! Although I also train in Shotokhan Karate and Japanese Ju-jitsu! I feel pretty well rounded! But the best defense is to be wise and not put your self in bad situations! Situational awareness has saved me many times! Great video! And stay safe my friends! 🙇‍♂️

[@EducationalPerspectives]

Really like your non-offensive and humble yet straight as well as authentic approach in these videos. Communicating ones opinion and taking a clear stance on something (#speaking your own truth) without pretending to know all the answers yourself is rare these days I fell. Thanks for the good content!

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thanks!

[@samowens3]

Just cause your great martial artist doesn’t mean your not asshole just go read about Samurai of the past a lot of them where mean , vindicated and asshole but we’re some of the greatest warriors ever. Look martial arts is like the military which I retired from Army a lot guys were dickhead but stone cold killer or you can take yoga and be at one with your inner self

[@doclee8755]

Speaking your own truth is code for B.S. Truth never has been and never will be personal. This is the dumbest saying born out of this ridiculous woke culture of foolishness.

[@Scornfull]

the phrase "your own truth" is incredibly dubious of a phrase and is a deceptive way to say "my opinion"

[@PengyDraws]

@@Scornfull And yet very true at the same time. To imply that there's only one truth is also deceptive.

[@michaelhalasy9225]

Also, I train USAF-Aikikai Aikido along with BJJ (Drysdale lineage) and we train that direct iriminage. It's been a while, but I believe it is on the 4th kyu test for us. Actually, practicing with another advanced student, we have split each others lips open with that technique.

[@baldieman64]

Back in 89-92, I trained with Isaac Coll in the UK and that version of Iriminage was "normal", for us, along with the ballistic application of locks and throws. I'd come from a Yoshinkan and JJJ background, but Isaac’s applications were still a bit of a surprise. As part of that period, I also got to personally train with Andre Nocquet and some of his senior students, and they were equally practical. Aikido is far from a complete system (it's an exploration of a set of martial principles) but it has been watered down over the last 40 years to the point where it is worthless, and the Aikikai is largely to blame.

[@michidwyer4845]

You described the aikido problem perfectly Rokas,the techniques are effective but it’s getting into the right place to execute the technique,especially against striking arts,i.e. karate,wing chun,taekwondo,I know I’ve tried!

[@johnmcque6205]

Yeh I thought that was interesting too and a good way to describe it. Most traditional martial arts have “effective” techniques but the question is simply would they work in real life on a resisting opponent

[@robcubed9557]

I train BJJ and one of the guys at my school had trained aikido. He mentioned that aikido can be used if you already know how to wrestle since you can use an arm-drag to get control of the persons arm.

[@johnmcque6205]

@@robcubed9557 one of the problems with traditional martial arts such as aikido seem to be the more you adapt them to be functional the more they just resemble wrestling, BJJ and MMA . Arm drag is apart of wrestling and BJJ for example

[@alexandrealves2877]

t is necessary to look at the hands as if they were a hammer or a knife. That's the way to think about whether it's more efficient to use them open or closed to hit the throat. That's physics.

[@tonyrodney9610]

It's the same principle in Aikido as it is in BJJ. How do you execute a joint lock? Positioning and leveraging so as to break your opponent's strength first. I'd like to see a BJJ guy pull off a kimura on a boxer without taking them to the ground first. Joint locks aren't inherently Aikido, all jujitsu do the same joint locks so all the principles in pulling them off will be the same as well.

[@ravendon]

Seagal studied Aiki-jujitsu, not aikido. Also, Seagal is a Chief of Sheriffs Deputies in Louisiana and had a tv show. It’s hilarious, you should check it out.

[@statesrights01]

I trained for about 2 years striking with my finger tip, on my belt test I had to break a one inch board. Did it first time.. My point is this.. 1) "Boards don't hit back.." 2) Yes, it can be effective Only if one has strong hands and wrist to handle the strike. 3) Unless one is willing to practice everyday, it won't be worth it. 4) Talk to your Sensei Before you start training!! And if needs be, your doctor. The finger tip is such a small place and one needs to be SO careful. In short, yeah I got some bragging rights at the dojo, but at the end of the day.. will it really matter?? Great vid! 😁

[@Diego-hm1wd]

Telling that Steven Seagal's Irimi Nage is different from what is taught in clubs proves that you don't really understand Aikido... Kata is a way to learn and understand a principle and a technique in Aikido, but you would never use a full form Kata in a real encounter. Kata is just a tool to learn. Also, about attacking first, there are styles of Aikido (Iwama Ryu and Yoshinkan Aikido) where Tori attacks first. Attacking first may not be a priority in most Aikido styles, but there is a concept called sen sen no sen, wich means attacking as soon as the opponent has the intention to attack you, so, attacking before him (but this is very high level Aikido). To conclude, Steven Seagal's Aikido isn't that different from other styles. It just looks like the pre-war Aikido, wich was more brutal.

[@Diego-hm1wd]

Apart of that, great video and thanks for your interpretations!

[@mdug7224]

I agree about the attack side of it. My teachers didn't wait for the attack. They always initiated either directly or in cool, sneaky ways. Either offering and opening or sticking their fist in the face in a feint. I think it is more a misinterpretation to wait for the attack.

[@Diego-hm1wd]

@@mdug7224 same thing in my case, we never passively wait for uke to attack unless it is a very basic work

[@bossdawg3540]

In Tomiki Aikido we attack the attacker first also.

[@Diego-hm1wd]

@@bossdawg3540 I didn't know it, thanks!

[@stayhappylittlemermaid]

You deserve someone who never lets you forget how amazing you are.

[@MarcosAG90]

Dude you got to try training with him!! What he was saying made so much sense

[@CHUCKSCHUMACHER]

You mean it made sensei😎

[@tomtam8789]

He doesn't really offer anything other martial artists don't teach. And much of it is unrealistic

[@MarcosAG90]

@@tomtam8789 well I'm sure he is not the ultimate martial artist, but some of the things he said sounded to me to address what I consider to be a weakness in Aikido. I think Rokas could enjoy it.

[@allhailtheCODgod]

it's not that aikido doesn't work necessarily, it's just not as effective as other arts

[@realtalk6195]

@@tomtam8789 His martial arts are very realistic when he divulges its "secrets"... Steven Seagal mentioned that most of those hand strikes are meant to be with a blade or sword in your hand. That's how the original martial arts were developed.

[@judosailor610]

Old video, and nobody's probably even going to see this comment of mine. But I'm still going to make it! Ha ha. First my experience with aikido consists of training Hapkido (which is Korean aikido) and training control tactics in law-enforcement which consists of a lot of standing wrist and arm locks similar to what you find in aikido. What I found is that those type of techniques work well in three types of situation's. First is if you completely surprise your opponent. In other words, the fight hasn't really started yet, they're just attempting to push or grab or touch you and suddenly you bust out an aikido move. Second is if your opponent is only passively resisting. So one example would be that you were trying to move someone or place someone under your control, and they're not letting you do it, but they're also not actively fighting back. They're just standing there or stiffening up or something. And third is if you have a significant size and strength advantage over your opponent. Now let's be honest, the third applies to Seagal in a lot of situations. Not all, obviously. But if he's facing a smaller person (and even Jesse was smaller) you can wrap those giant hands around someone's wrist and hold tight and wrench it around and pull off these aikido techniques. Although, even in those cases, it really only applies to people that have no Grappling training.

[@Shmicah1235]

Every time I hear him say "sever the brain stem" I lose more and more confidence in Seagal's techniques. A bladed hand strike to the base of the skull could maybe do that, but I'm very doubtful that it would do all that he promises it would do.

[@nutscheese4510]

I remember Joe Rogan talking about how aikido works on Steven Seagal, he said it's cuz he's a big dude. And that lined up to your tier list video, saying the first practioners were martial art beasts.

[@bar8665]

I did Aikido for a couple years. It's 100% better if you're a big guy.

[@SurmaSampo]

@@bar8665 All martial arts are better if you are larger and stronger. There are no advantages to being short and weak which sucks for me.

[@bar8665]

@@SurmaSampo I agree, but not to be discouraged, look at someone like Rocky Marciano. Not tall with short arms. He knew his strengths and made it an art to fight inside and the man was brutal to opponents.

[@SurmaSampo]

@@bar8665 Ok, I don't see how pointing to a best in the world professional is supposed to apply to a normal person. It is like saying to someone who is bad at math that they should be like Steven Hawking.

[@bar8665]

@@SurmaSampo if a "normal" person is training in anything, they should take into account their attributes. If you're short and train in boxing, you should train more like a Marciano style than a Klitschko for example.

[@Toxiccrusaders]

I saw Seagal in action in Mexico approximately 20 years ago, I am 38 now, where a guard literally came to attack or challenge him, Seagal knocked him down and hit him in a way that I will never forget. This was at the hyat hotel in Acapulco, I saw it, nobody told me and from there I respected this man, the other guy who came to hit him was super muscular and still lost, sorry for my bad English, I was a bit shabby. I worked there

Preach!

[@rifki_kus7991]

Ohh, is that true? Could you explain his moves at the time?

[@chrisv.3933]

Nice try, Steven Segal

[@mcjon77]

One styles secret moves is usually another styles basic moves. I remember studying shotokan and the instructor was showing us the "secret" moves from the kata. All of his supposedly secret moves were essentially basic joint locks that anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of aikido or Japanese Jiu-Jitsu with line within the first couple of years.

[@BallstinkBaron]

That's really funny actually

[@Che.Sem1]

After watching the video, you don't need to find out whether it works with a competent fighter, the answer is that what Steven Seagal is doing won't work for the most part. You have analysed this very well with great expertise. Steven Seagal is, sorry, more of a busybody who learnt the martial arts of aikido but was only allowed to draw his special film character at the time, which is self-explanatory and all too often completely far removed from reality. Period. Seriously. There's really not a syllable more to say about this ever.

[@lewisb85]

Regarding the front kick he allegedly taught Anderson Silva/Lyoto Machida like Bas Rutten said "if you didn't learn that within the first few weeks of training you have a very bad kickboxing instructor".

[@vandammethebest2714]

🙊🙊

[@youfafao]

I train with Steven a long time ago,he is wonderful and powerful like a bear ! Much more impressive than in a movie...

[@seanmolloy9422]

i am a combat veteran that went into traditional martial arts. kinda backwards. i had to hold my tongue and be respectful. when i went back to combat , i saw great improvement in my technique under pressure. traditional martial arts also improved my mountain biking technique

[@joepawlowski4928]

Holding the tongue is very respectful, but can be a challenge. I find myself in the same position with the instructor of my new art trying to teach me things I learned in my other style's school years ago. I find that curling my toes helps somewhat. Hopefully less obvious than forcefully gritting my teeth to keep my mouth shut.

[@spectruum]

mountain biking? that's not something i'd expect

[@seanmolloy9422]

@@spectruum core strength and balance

[@mokyan7]

The 2 videos from Jesse are great. Steven blends soft flowing with brute force and speed. He also is fine with blending a variety of actions and thoughts, creativity too. His normal stance is just chillin’, if you didn’t know him you’d have no idea the potential for destruction

[@aphidbowler7027]

yes, aikido is a sword philosophy, and martial arts in japan started with weapons. There were martial arts for spear, sword, bow, and other that i can't remember immediately. Swords were eventually outlawed and thus the practice of training weapons became less while practice training without weapons became more predominent. there were likely open handed techniques during the age of swords as well, in dealing with someone a weapon when you didn't, or if you dropped your weapon you wouldn't be defenseless. the idea isn't that you can defeat a skilled swordsman open handed, or that you should try, but in the occasion you find yourself weaponless with no choice but to fight for your life (feudal warfare, for example), then you can at least use some techniques on the off-chance your opponent falters and you can survive and possibly kill him with your bare hands. Afterwards you can take his weapon and continue fighting. martial arts is literally the art of war. all martial arts have their origin in large scale battles. dueling was practiced in times of peace, but it was for entertainment and honor, or to gain esteem as a warrior.

[@chuckw7274]

Steven said he used the old style Akido.

[@sebastiangarcia3982]

Rokas, apart from selling T-shirts and going around in circles without getting anywhere about Aikido, why don't you go once and for all to some famous Aikido sensei under a big organization and ask him all your questions? We know that you have gone to some other instructor but from independent organizations, with few students and with a particular vision of Aikido. No. Why don't you definitely go to some internationally renowned Sensei, with a large number of students, to clarify your questions? What are you waiting for? What are you afraid of? Here is a list of suggestions, so you don't have to look far (some of them are in Europe): - Christian Tissier - Yoshimitsu Yamada - Mitsugi Saotome - Philippe Goutard - Claude Pellerin - Yasuno Masatoshi - Marc Bachraty - Bruno Gonzalez - Stephane Goffin - Bruce Bookman - ... Surely some of them will assist you without any problem. You could also test your doubts with their students. With your channel and your videos you only feed a distorted and misunderstood idea of Aikido, fed by many of your followers who have never practiced or even understood this Budo. If you really want clarity regarding Aikido, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???

[@sergiobatista2272]

😂 Rokas is afraid that he will come (again) to the conclusion : "I was wrong about aikido" or... "I was wrong about Seagal". This guy doesn't have inteligence for fight, because if he had, he would never need to invite people to his channel asking for fighting advice.

[@Quach7]

4:48 hitting the eyes works, that's why its illegal in MMA. Chopping back of the neck is illegal, because it is deadly. This is deadly stuff.

[@AdamTuxTengler]

It has to be practiced though. That's why you sometimes see karate practitioners showcasing breaking stuff with open hand, because that's how you would attack the neck and it's supposed to prove they have the technique and body conditioning down to actually do it, because they can't practice on actual person. The problem with aikido is ... they don't do it :D. If you are just taught the move, but you don't do this kind of practice, you most likely won't do anything in real fight with the move. On the other hand, Steven Seagal probably does practice it, so maybe HE can.

[@davehasenford3985]

Gotta agree with Segal here. No need to go to the ground. In MMA they go to the ground because you're not allowed to kick or stomp people who are down.

[@someboi4903]

They’re allowed to do that in Rizin FF and Pride FC and they still went to the ground.

[@PeaceDweller]

"No need to go to the ground" if an elite Wrestler or Judoka wanted to put you on the ground they will no matter how many times you try and "chop" the back of their neck, you'll be on your back before you even knew it.

[@bar8665]

@@PeaceDweller I agree with the philosophy of avoiding the ground at all costs, but have some training if it does.

[@TheJasoncash83]

@@PeaceDweller yes..in sport. In an actual fight where you're defending yourself, no one wants to go to the ground.

[@raumshen9298]

@Real Aiglon please don't insult him here, finally we are at least discussing his art and not him

[@cherrybomb3713]

My dad's friend was a black belt in akido. I, being in ju jitsu and Muay Thai, "tested" him. He had nothing but excuses. It was laughable and I was being humble and non aggressive, I was being very fair and respectful. Akido just doesn't work that good. Not at all.

[@davidjewell]

Why do combat spores practitioners always talk about pressure testing when making comparisons with self defence teachers. Combat sports are designed to be entertaining and as such we want the 'fight' to continue for some time where as self defence techniques are designed to end a confrontation as quickly as possible. So what would happen if a self defence person entered a ring with a combat sports person? The self defence person would be beaten up - unless she kicked the combat person in the groin, gouged out their eyes and struck them on the back of the neck, all whilst the referee was making an introduction. This is why sports have rules that favour some warped sense of entertainment.

[@Chris-Short5]

I enjoyed your breakdown, very balanced opinions and observations. Well done!

[@richardtseng9535]

Great video. I appreciate your honest assessment and how you give credit where it's due. People like to act like Seagal is a no-touch/death touch kind of fake martial artist, but I don't think so. I think what he teaches likely has some basis in historical reality. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of fighting schools in the late Edo-to-WWII period, so you can understand why his art doesn't look exactly like the standard ones. However, even if these are actual Samurai killing techniques, you have to ask yourself how much they would have been pressure-tested during a time with limited access to doctors and resources. Few samurai were rich enough to just wail on their serfs/peasants to see if this stuff worked or risk maiming/killing their retainers in sparring. Sure, that probably happened more back often then than it did now, but even then it was mostly done with weapons. Plus, a lot of what is passed down to us comes after hundreds of years of peace. The Sengoku period ended in 1615, after which the techniques began getting pressure-tested less and less. Many of the arts you see today, MMA included, are actually dueling systems, aka methods of resolving disputes requiring mutual combat. Musashi is likely the most famous swordsman because he bridged that gap, using techniques that are still practiced in Kendo today, but also a variety of tactics that were probably more effective during wartime, i.e. insulting, surprising, demoralizing, or enraging your opponent and then using whatever other advantage you could to overwhelm him. Today, Self Defense just isn't about killing anymore. If it was, your first "technique" would be to grab a heavy weapon or hit him with your car when he isn't looking!

[@cyborgchicken3502]

I totally agree with this, even one of the Gracie's said in an interview that they know for a fact Steven Seagal is a legit martial artist, a lot of people like to compare him to the likes of Frank Dux or George Dillman but he's not at all, for me it's like....if you're going to criticize him, criticize him for his personality rather than his technique, his technique is legit, it's personality that's crap....and he's been known to have a bit of a shitty personality and he lies about a lot of things too....but I think his knowledge of Aikido is legit

[@richardtseng9535]

@@cyborgchicken3502 Yes, exactly. I don't know who his teachers were, but I don't see his lying as much more egregious than other mystics and martial artists. Consulting for the CIA... honorary Russian special forces... teaching Machida and Silva their finishing kicks... Not so far from Mas Oyama claiming to have killed a charging bull with his bare hands or sparring 100 men in one bout. The ninja could supposedly meditate themselves invisible. And the sage Lieh Tzu could ride the wind and float on clouds. As was said in another of MAJ's videos, the farther back you go, the better people get. Seagal may just be trying to help move his own legend along.

[@varanid9]

@@cyborgchicken3502 I don't think Seagal gives a rat's ass what people think of him. That's why he seems to be arrogant. He's immersed himself in Samurai culture so deeply all his life that he takes on that sort of class mindset where he looks with too much contempt upon mere peasants to bother enlightening them about his true motives. Honestly, I believe that this is partially justified when you look at the fanboys and other internet jackals that are constantly running their mouths about him with zero knowledge.

[@ScottGarrettDrums]

They would have been real-world pressure tested just as much as any sword fighting technique we know today. We can open any number of sword fighting manuals from centuries past to see was learned in combat and trained in non-lethal fashion. People who have no weapons training often talk about it like we're all running around using live blades and live rounds against living partners. No, that stuff is still simulated and based off of real-world combat experience.

[@hhmking6852]

Samurai were lower lords to their lords. they tested many things on prisoners they captured with doctors and scholars available for their academic services. the only limitations were imagination and technologies. what we see in imaging equipment, they saw with their eyes through the use of sharp pointy things cutting animals or people apart. as the blood flowed from capillaries, squirted from veins, and shot out from arteries they'd see it first hand. deep bruising along nerve clusters using blunt trauma or cutting off oxygen to the brain, soft and hard tissue injuries were all learned and later knowledge lost through different eras. you can see some of these things where many rules keep people alive during martial sports entertainment shows, if you're into that kind of thing. take care of yourselves.

[@eylon1967]

I watched the original video and thought all along "when are they going to spar?"

[@SuperGuitarman69]

I am udansha under Seagal Sensei. My training did not include day to day interaction with Sensei Seagal, but my dojo and training regiment was under Tenshin Aikido under his direction, and spent plenty of time under him throughout the years from 1992 to present. I appreciate this honest look at Tenshin style, the analysis and integrity. If I may, I’d like to offer some sort of “insider” info. During testing, Tenshin testing looks far different than traditional Aikido testing. During dan testing it’s full speed and I assure you, no one is “giving” you anything. Your Aikido had to work, even during the waza part of the test. He requires legitimate attacking to test the veracity of waza. The attacker takes ukemi but doesn’t give an inch to nage. The same goes in Randori. When the attackers come, 99% of the time you’re going to end up on the ground as they are falling and rolling and getting right back up, something that doesn’t happen in a real situation. So there is punching, kicking, and such that occurs by all. The randori goes to the ground which he allows to happen and it doesn’t stop. At that point, we are to get to our feet. This is where it gets really dangerous and hairy. It doesn’t matter how ground trained in some ground fighting Art one of our students are, there’s biting and gouging on the ground and people get up quickly and he stops the randori (this is testing). The “secret” stuff Seagal is refering to are Aikido techniques that are from the supposed original usage on the battlefield. This is how at least I to this day understand it. This is when you do not being uke to a nice pin or throw. This is where you drop a knee and manipulate their body into a head first neck to floor separating the spinal column as in Shihonage. We don’t even speak of these variations until we are at high level, and we aren’t around any other students. In my experience this is what I believe Sensei Seagal may be refering to, but not sure. One of my long time Aikido training brothers was a Army Ranger in Afghanistan. He had to use the move in a night mission sadly. It worked, sadly being needed. The finger stuff (ubiundo) is surprisingly easy to get after you’ve drilled it into your head over the years. You’d be surprised at how handy that comes in. And it’s not threatening to the attacker and you can usually calm them down in a “cry uncle” type scenario. I’ve actually used that as a bar owner in yeh past quite effectively. The criticism about whether it works because we don’t really go at each other is a legitimate argument. One for years while I was training I questioned myself. But when I eventually did have to use Aikido it was pleasantly revealed that the techniques, once burned into my psychological make up, did in fact work and ended the fight quickly. I’ve used Aikido (not just the day uncle stuff) effectively a hand full of times. So I can vouch that once trained fully, Seagal Sensei’s philosophy of fighting and Aikido does work. Even those who didn’t have it mastered noticed the same result although a bit more sloppy than the udansha. Having said all of that, I would say that each individual is different. People respond to teaching differently due to their perception of what will work for them in a real altercation. Seagal Aikido might not be right for one and perfect for another. This is the same in all styles. The most important thing is to understand how fights actually work first and foremost. Understand the mechanics and logistics of fighting. If you have a teacher that teaches that, that’s 3/4 of the battle right there. Excellent video!

[@2E4N]

From a legal stand point if you attack first you are assaultive....UNLESS you articulate in court that through your training you and through the opponents /body posture/actions/words you felt the need to attack to defend.

[@abelee9324]

I was watching and was just curious. What if the solution to make aikido more effective is to just speed it up. Steven Seagal seems to be doing a lot of fast and impactful aikido (i don't do aikido so please correct me if im wrong). Therefore instead of the slow flowy aikido if you sped it up would it be more effective?

[@aarr8936]

The solution is: speed it up, practice with live sparring (with someone actually trying to hit you, or trying to win the match); also, do more intense warmups and conditioning during practice because being in better shape will often decide the fight, and while you're at it throw in some striking training on occasion (you can't just never punch, and strikes can create openings for throws or takedowns), then also you might as well work on grappling on the ground to control an opponent, and voilà! Now we have effective aikido. Oops, it's just mma with more of an emphasis on grappling!

[@josephrigley8974]

Instead of grabbing the wrist its often probably easier to use underhooks or overhooks, grabbing the wrist isn't very practical most of the time but it shows the movement clearly in classes though it's def not the easiest way to start the technique in practice. I think Seagal has the right idea when it comes to speed and aggression the slow flow looks great in demos but in the real world you need to move as quickly as possible to overwhelm someone before they can adjust to what your doing.

[@davida.rosales6025]

@@josephrigley8974 it's actually quite practical id you're not wearing gloves. The mma situation with gloves creates an unrealistic situation. Ask any judoka.

[@josephrigley8974]

@@davida.rosales6025 yeah gloves do create less realistic experiences but it's still more practical to go for something like an underhook/overhook or grab onto clothing than a hand or wrist, hand and wrist manipulation is a much easier end point if you start closer and move out. Not saying its impossible cause I have done it before but I wouldn't advise grabbing the wrist as a starting point cause it's pretty risky given how easy it can be to escape if you don't transition to a better position quickly.

[@ronan4681]

I have never trained in aikido, mainly traditional karate based styles shotokan, kyokushin, and Goju. I worked as a bouncer for over 45 years. In the early 90’s laws changed and police looked down on bouncers using any kind of strike, even traditional fighting stance where deemed an act of aggression….so I had to change. Over the years I developed my own techniques for use in nightclub situations and what I ended up with … well pretty much what Seagal shows Jesse. These techniques work and are highly effective in street situations. Even the fight stance with my hands down is as Seagal showed in this video, with cameras watching everything you do bouncers where no allowed to show any sign of aggression. From my perspective what Seagal shows here is legitimate, but I know many will disagree. What would I know…modern martial artists deemed that us old school guys knew nothing.😂

[@philipquaglino]

there are old videos of him at his school and his students even said his stuff is tied to real word scenarios and that he is much faster than what he demos. He has students rush and grapple his students in tests including picking them up to "take them" in effect and has them get out and away. Its legit, its just the situation and of course the amount of training and to be effective you need LOTS of training to I think get it right. I think you can make very effective progress sooner in other styles but I wont take anything away from Seagal. Japan doesn't hand out non-japanese owned dojos in Japan like candy.

[@dmfaccount1272]

They probably would to movie stars...

[@nocomment1212]

My problem with BJJ is the purists, who think that's all they need. I started in Judo, and I'm a good grappler, but I could be better, & BJJ is a good way to become a better grappler, but if you instinctively go to the ground, in a self defense situation, you could end up getting stomped out by one of the other 3-5 guys likely to be joining the attack against you. In that case, you might wish you had some space management skills, some hostage negotiation skills, a knock out punch, & track shoes.

[@arautus]

What is Seagal's fight record? I never heard of it or even saw him in sparring one time.

[@nunyabidness3429]

First off I LOVE the break down. I enjoy that you treated Steven Segal with the seriousness and respect he deserves. I think our generation memed the guy into a state of non-seriousness. We did the same with Nickelback and Guy Fieri. I think that comes from our generation's obsession with Family Guy and that sort of attempt at self-aware humor. I know you've been training MMA and are focused on the applications of these techniques against skilled opponents but that scope is unfortunately hiding other things just outside of your peripheral. Steven Segal has been training bar security for decades now. Most of the time for a bouncer, you are dealing with a guy who is beyond reason and already initializing intent to hurt others with violence. He has to be dealt with quickly and STANDING. You don't know how many guys are with him, and in the case of a social area like a BAR, you would almost be guaranteed that he will have friends waiting to stomp out those BJJ skills you learned from the Eddie Bravo tapes you bought. Even he and Gracies will tell you what to do if you get slammed on your head. "Don't get slammed on your head". In other words, their Martial Art, is only useful for certain situations, like any Martial Art. And they aren't conditioned for that because their sport, as well as MMA, dictate against slamming your opponent a la Rampage Jackson in Pride. Plus getting soccer kicked and curb stomped while you're trying to guillotine some guy is rightfully horrifying. Basically you should look more into techniques Bouncers use. You'll see a lot of Pankration holds and locks. You'll see lots of wrestling in there. Some boxing. But you will ALWAYS see joint manipulation. And these techniques have merit in this situation because of the external factors to consider when performing security in a bar full of patrons. You don't wanna "feel out your opponent" you want to stop the threat for the safety of everyone around you. Holds and face locks bouncers use are some of the most painful things you can experience. "But I wouldn't be in that situation"... You don't usually have much choice when Security grabs you unexpectedly while you're trying to fight some random guy for stepping on your girl's shoes or whatever. These holds and manipulations have merit if the person utilizing them has both practiced it and has experience with it. Such as people who do it every day for a living. This is not comparable to combat sports. In combat sports you're not trying to disable each other. There's no fear for life vs death. It's a sanctioned event with rules in place to hopefully keep you from permanent injury. Not so sure these rules fly too well in a scenario where you could be potentially ambushed by multiple people for just doing your job. Food for thought... Bouncers are legit Martial Artists in their own right. I think you'd be seriously impressed with their use of old Pankration holds and locks. And why they're not great for MMA.

[@prointernetuser]

Guy Fieri is still a decent person behind the meme. segal is still an egomaniacal piece of shit of a person even if his martial arts were legit.

[@Joukai1]

I’ve been studying Aikido for many different instructors many different ways. And what I found is aikido change from over the years become softer. After WWII. A more brutal version of aikido is referred to as pre-war aikido. And there is menu scripts showing strikes forms and techniques.

[@mrjohn.whereyoufrom]

Have you read the book, Angry White Pyjamas? It’s about 3 westerners who go to live in Japan to study Aikido full time. They ended up at a tough dojo teaching a real rough and tumble Aikido style.

[@d20Fitness]

Something I got the impression of when I watched the video on Jesse's page was that Seagal wasn't teaching aikido but some form of japanese jiu jitsu that he considered (claimed was) secret. Maybe I misunderstood him though

[@d20Fitness]

Something that's always stood out to me with aikido and Seagal and these types of training is that they dont' seem to consider someone throwing a fake to make you react. He talks about broken rhythm but actually seeing one of these moves work against it? Seems sus

[@d20Fitness]

Sorry one more, lol. The front kicks machida and silva throw both have a chamber and are emphatically not what he was teaching them. They both cut upwards into the jaw and didn't "spear" into them. And machida used the concept of a telegraphed movement to fake Randy and shoot the kick up the center. It's just not what he taught them at all

[@weatherman9212]

Seagal's Aikido is more Aikijujitsu

[@something7609]

@@weatherman9212 more like pre war aikido.

[@TheJasoncash83]

@@d20Fitness thats because you use what you want, but the idea is still there. Machida still didnt telegraph the kick like it normally would be done

[@pachicore]

This is the most I've seen Steven Seagal move

[@owenli7180]

Have pulled off that "haymaker defense" at 1:13, though I was taught it as a Wing Chun technique. It's not one to use every time someone throws a haymaker, but it does allow you to move in and control the arm while taking the blind side, or if you get the timing right, throw the person off balance and swing them away from you (little bit of a stance shift/turn required for this last one to work). Yes, most of the time, you could just duck/move out of the way etc., but when you don't have the option to move (e.g. cornered, something obstructing your feet, protecting someone etc.), or you want to turn a striking match into a grappling one, that counter does come in handy.

[@kagenoshinobimono]

In Japan, this Rizin MMA fighter yachi Yusuke has been inviting different experts from various martial arts lately on his youtube channel. In this video, an ex professional mma fighter Katsunori Kikuno demonstrates the dangers of training just MMA. in a sparring fight with eye attacks groin attacks allowed (no actual contact), Yachi attempts a double leg, but double leg makes eye gouging easy as the head is stationary, no arms to defend. Kikuno talks about when you train towards a certain rule set, your reflexes train to the rule set and you no longer are flexible to respond to things out side of the rule set. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6DQlXiamK-Gapo

[@CashewNuts0]

That's why I personally like the idea of cross training different martial arts, you can get good at combat sports AND self defense.

[@blacklion2432]

@@CashewNuts0 well said. myself I personally prefer training in specific martial arts and put them all together. MMA these days is becoming it's own martial arts so people are surprised when an elite mma fighter steps in the boxing ring and gets knocked out by an amateur.

[@guyscounter]

Thanks for the link, mate!

[@doctuls]

Gouging and eye is not that easy and requires a decent amount of pressure to actually get the finger deep in the eye socket. you won't probably get that opportunity from that position, don't get me wrong it will hurt like hell and probably do some damage to the eye, but won't stop the tackle and you will end on the ground and be controlled. The other thing is you usually shouldn't go straight for a take down in a non grappling situation, because you could get a knee, elbow, etc. To the face and get knocked out, you should set it up with something else

[@bryantharris5914]

This reminds me of a story Bas Rutten told when a 'ninja' came to watch in his gym and kept critiquing from the sides of how ineffective Bas' techniques would be when matched against this guys Ninjitsu. Bas let it go but while demonstrating how to finish a fight with a rear naked choke he finally had-had enough when the 'ninja' scoffed that he would just eye poke his way out of the rear naked choke. So Bas invited him to demonstrate. So Bas assumes back mount and laces his arms around the guys neck. Just before they start Bas says 'Btw, if you seriously jab my eyes I will pop your fucking head off with this choke'. The guy is like 'wha...' just as Bas sinks in the choke and the guy is desperately tapping. I'm not saying an eye poke can't happen. I remember when Randy Couture had to stop because he eye was grazed by Vitor Belfort. It's just that the skill of hitting someone in a precise spot is a hard fought skill involving timing, disguising, angles developed through countless hours of training. It isn't as easy as 'I'd just poke the eyes'. It's no different than saying 'I'd just knock him out.'

[@goncaloalmeida7029]

When you talk about some of the techniques not working when a guy is in combat stance or a ring, for example, I totally agree. But I think Steven Seagal isn't worried about the techniques working against a trained fighter, as most attacks on the street are not made by a pro fighter. His techniques are for the street only, not the ring and definitely not against a pro.

[@biggumstevens1784]

his shit wouldn't even work against an untrained fighter. it all relies on a compliant standing still opponent.

[@screamityeah]

That's an excuse, or it works in a human or it doesn't work, a boxer can box against other boxers and non boxers

[@wynsonrao5177]

But then why come up with different techniques anyway? Wouldn't the already established techniques that are proven to be effective and safe against trained fighters only be even more effective against a noob? That's an underlying issue that a lot of the discussion around these controversial arts kind of gloss over

[@TGPDrunknHick]

@@wynsonrao5177 mostly yes but, funnily enough it can be a problem to. if you expect people to throw hands with intelligence you might actually have issues when they don't.

[@lionsden4563]

His techniques only works in Under Siege or On Deadly Ground.

[@christiancurcio2576]

After watching karate nerds original video with Steven Seagal I am under the impression that Seagal might be one of the very few people who can actually pull off aikido in a real fight. And if someone will respond and say that he would not be able to do it against a trained fighter my response to that person would be neither would you even if you train in mma. But against the average person on the streets and the average person who trains in BJJ I think Steven Seagal would do just fine in a fight.

[@bar8665]

Aikido works better when you are a big guy.

[@DennisTheDane]

@@bar8665 not at all. Maybe the more athletic you are, but deffinetly not the bigger you are.

[@biggumstevens1784]

LOL

[@bar8665]

@@DennisTheDane I did Aikido for about 2 years.

[@DennisTheDane]

@@bar8665 and did you find that the best aikidokas you met was the biggest? Because that's not my experience at all...

[@totenfarmer6645]

One of the most important things Seagal said, which you didn't comment on, was "I train it every day". You can know hundreds of techniques, but in a real situation where your life is at stake you will remember maybe 20 of them, those are the easy to apply techniques and that you train very often.

[@bufo333]

As someone who studied Aikido for a while, my two cents is that Aikido is great for when someone is the aggressor in a nonfight situation and puts their hands on you. An example of this is someone coming up to you in bar grabbing your shoulder or just generally putting their hands on you for instance and telling you that you are sitting in their seat. These situations where you are not perceived as a threat and someone maybe a security guard... those type of situations where its not a fight but someone is trying to control you or throw you around, its easy to apply an Aikido technique that they are not prepared for and it just ends the fight, you have them immediately at such a disadvantage you could break joints before they can respond. Great for school yard bullies that want to push you, those type of noncombat situations, or during the intimidation phase of a fight before the violence, it can end a fight before begins. Now if you have to fight from a distance, or they come up to you with a fighting stance, I have found that Aikido is much less effective at speed, and I will go immediately to BJJ or MMA. I took Aikido for years and in my opinion it is not effective at the speeds that competent punchers and kickers move. I also agree with the video, we were taught to lead with elbows and fists and insert aggressive kicks and punches during applying the Aikido moves which does work, but they have to be in a position that lets you apply the technique and I think the first scenario where a security guard, or bully is trying to put hands on you and you don't appear aggressive is the optimal time to apply Aikido. It is really great for static situations. Or when someone is swinging a bat or beer bottle, its really good at sword defense or baton defense, anything shaped like a sword.

[@coreyvandyke7216]

When Steven Seagal says 90 percent of the fights he knows end standing up , he's referring to you being the one still standing and your opponent is the one on the ground , he is correct , I personally been in lots of fights when I used to be a bouncer and my opponent always end up on the ground and that's was due to my boxing and martial arts training , Steven Seagal is 100 percent correct and who gonna be a fool to allow yourself too fight on the ground when several other people standing there could attack you .

[@MikeRepluk]

Exactly the streets are very different than an mma environment

[@vault334]

In my personal opinion, we can't really judge his prowess by his demonstration. We just need to see his sparring practice. Sometimes we just need to be the one feeling it. Tools, to add to fighting. Not tools to add to tools. You hit a rock with a hammer, not a hammer to hammer. I would say, to interview Oliver and Jesse too, or did I miss that video?

[@elindioedwards7041]

I hear what you are saying about sparring and I agree to a point. However isn't there a difference between a duel type sparring event vs. a self defense situation ? Certainly the joint techniques are the most difficult to pull off against a struggling opponent and are more impressive when demonstrated in that manner. But that clothesline technique as per his movies would end most fights. Also Seagal is a big man with lots of reach and girth. I have little doubt that much of this would work if he applied it against typical folks.

[@weatherman9212]

look at footage of how his students sparred for promotion, actually pretty cool

[@vault334]

@@elindioedwards7041 yes sir, there's definitely a difference in TYPES of sparring. For my practice we do "situational sparring" so we spar lightly sport style, AND we create scenarios and tell the aggressor " this is your motivation, you smoked your last crack rock and you just want my wallet, try to get it from me at all costs" then go from there. Geoff Thompson and his lot address this at great length. If you've never heard of Geoff, I HIGHLY suggest his content to ALL MARTIAL ARTISTS. As for his weight he definitely has a size advantage but it's not all his fault, karate masters back in the day sported a gut. Sumo wrestlers in Japan refer to the belly as strength. The joint locks have to be broken, meaning when you get the arm, you have to treat it like trying to put a cat in the bath. Joint locks usually in my experience turn into jiujitsu on the floor while you're trying to break the wrist strength in order to get the lock. But once you have it then what? You gonna let this guy tap then get up and shoot? No, you gotta break the fingers or arn or whatever.

[@vault334]

@@elindioedwards7041 I suggest watching some Bass Rutten videos if you havnt checked him out. Incredibly brutal, kyokushin background. Those fore arm and ridge hand strikes are brutal stoppers. Open palm stiles as well. To be honest I don't focus on the locks and stuff as much unless I'm on the ground, and then to get them there I use a couple of judo techniques that I know. But I only know a couple.

[@vault334]

@@elindioedwards7041 Geoff Thompson dojo occasionally consists of rooms decorated as a bar or a hallway or doorways, not always just mats and mirrors, and heavy bags.

[@donl3634]

Rokas, this video evaluating Steven Seagal's fighting was *very* enlightening! I've really enjoyed your videos!

[@jeffwilcox9987]

I appreciate you perspective. I was in Aikido for several years as a later teenager and it gave me something to do, and people to be with. The cost was low and I’m very thankful it was available to me. Steven is controversial and at the time and my Aikido Sensei would say ‘That’s not what Aikido is about.’ I say to people I know who ask about martial arts that Aikido is fun, Karate is cool, Judo has some important aspects of self defense (my Sensei was a blackbelt in both Aikido and Judo) but if you really need to learn strong self defense related skills, BJJ and Kickboxing are the way to go. But, if you’re like me and you haven’t been in a fight for 35 years, learn what you enjoy.

[@keithkruger7270]

Rokas, don't give up on your Aikido. Aikido the way it's traditionally taught at a lot of schools won't lend itself to a competitive situation but some instructors (like Seagal and many of the people he's taught) have continued to hone the art. Although it's meant to be a defensive art, it's in the MOVEMENT that we can learn to be more assertive. I think you've had some contact with Lenny Sly and his Rogue Warrior school and he teaches more aggressive stuff but he also started with more traditional application. That traditional background exposes us to controlling momentum and feeling what an attacker is doing. Seagal, Lenny, Greg Sinclair and a few others use much closer ma ai than most traditional schools and they are more aggressive in controlling that distance. Over time you will apply what you've learned in MMA and BJJ into your aikido AND vice versa. Just my opinion...I've been practicing Aikido since 1977 and have a good idea of what it's limitations are and it strengths.

[@fabricio4794]

Why Aikido USA dont should called Aikijujustu?or American Dai To Ryu....take this Do off,and Lets Defense....

[@VikingSamurai]

Awesome Breakdown Rokas... Steven Seagal is amazing and his Aikido is a whole different level!

[@alfeberlin]

Regarding your question about “optimal” moves: Fighting often is a little like rock-paper-scissors, so there is no “optimal” move by design. Whatever someone gives you determines how you have to answer. Your personal style is just one of the modifying aspects in this game.

[@CasperCoolBreeze]

I agree with you on a great many levels, but I also need to point out something important. He was a student of the first heirs to O'sensei Morihei Ueshiba. The secrets he learned, especially as the first westerner to open a dojo in Japan, are immense and powerful. Modern Aikido is generally taught as a gentle defense but lacks the necessary real-life speed and practice against other disciplines and situations. Before Morihei, aiki-jutsu was violent, deadly, and brutal. With an almost 1000-year history through Feudal Japan, there are hundreds of lost techniques that would be held as tightly guarded secrets of those times. What Seagal is able to do with his influence now is to better reveal what's been lost through the ages and restore Aikido as it was truly meant to be. Just my humble opinion :) Your breakdown was indeed excellent!

[@DustandPiers]

I was looking forward to your analysis of this the second I watched Jesse's video. Awesome!

[@XwildXdogX]

So my martial arts journey started about 2 months ago. I've been training Jeet kune do and I love it. We do train stepping on the opponents foot and jabbing with the open hand/fingers. You can really only hittwo targets with the fingers the eyes and throat. The advantage it gives you is range. Would a fist to the jaw be more effective? Idk but probably. However I'm also an artist and musician. I have tons of guitar effects I use incredibly rarely and plenty of paints I almost never use. Why? Because it never hurts to have more tools in your tool box. The stepping on the foot thing is in JKD we have the concept of hand immobilizing attack. When we train my sifu says it's bonus points if you can step on the foot but it's not a cornerstone of anything. The idea is if youre making it even slightly more more difficult to move you're gaining an advantage.

[@edoardobrocca7985]

Stepping on toes is good, but don't use finger, its too simple to miss and break.

[@XwildXdogX]

@@edoardobrocca7985 that's my thinking.

[@aarr8936]

"It never hurts to have more tools in your toolbox" unless one of those tools literally breaks your fingers because it's a stupid tool

[@XwildXdogX]

@@aarr8936 you're not wrong.

[@aarr8936]

@@XwildXdogX well, I could be wrong, but we'll never know until we see people really testing the throat stab, rigorously. But with something that you can't actually test, who knows and what's the point.. Maybe actually connecting with the throat is really difficult. Maybe it works 20% of the time and ends a fight, but the other 80% of the time your aim is just centimeters off and you break your fingers on their chin (but if you could break your finger on their chin, you would have been fast enough to land a solid punch on it too probably). Sometimes fewer tools is better. After all, Michelangelo didn't use any paints for David or Pietà. And Miles Davis's trumpet can play far fewer notes than I can on a piano 😁

[@danskarate997]

As a karateka i can say that sword line movements are used to great effect in some styles like wado ryu, as for secret techniques well who knows, many karateka are asking questions as to what some of the applications to kata actually are; because many old explanations dont make sense, and the old masters didnt reveal everything in japan. i guess we are constantly researching our craft. as for fights always ending on the ground, it depends where you're from and how people fight, most streetfights are standing until someone is out cold at least where I'm from. overall i think steven has some legit fighting techniques, and his movements certainly didn't seem wasteful. whether he is right about everything who knows, it was great to see him share his insight, and it is encouraging us all to keep training hard and practically.

[@StefanAntonikSeidler]

Regarding his spearlike kick and punch: If I remember correctly that is exactly what we learned in Karate (Shotokan). At least the idea was to conceal your movement (that's why you should keep your shoulders and head at the same level) and to kick or punch in a way that releases the energy not on the surface of your target but when you beyond it. It looks like that's what he was doing.

[@davidoffice9922]

don't get me wrong but you didn't know how to apply your akido. remember aikido is in a sport it's a defensive art the average person that you're going to run into on the street it's not going to have any idea what's going to happen to but if you're trying to compared against a BJJ or that's a completely different set one the BJJ is going to go all out and in general the majority of a keto players don't train or think like that basically because of the way the UK Torre system works too many of the techniques are given to you you don't earn it or as a BJJ guy he does earnest jiu-jitsu but that doesn't mean that it can't be beat using aikido for the most part most of keto players are too soft and their techniques and are waiting for a reaction versus if you attend me someone first and you lock them up they can't move no matter who they are how big they are 99% of your opponents will never have experience that before it's how Akita was taught and applied in the states or in a lot of places but remember aikido comes from ikea-jitsu you can destroy people's bones ligaments take their life with aikido it's just how you apply it and who the practitioner is and unlike BJJ which is what some folks would call niwaza it doesn't require strength it's all leverage and body weight shift so you don't need to be big or strong I know plenty of aikido cats that'll destroy people

[@denisninkovic7049]

I appreciate how respectful your critique was, and perhaps, the most important point you made was; everything is theoretically possible, but do they work during pressure testing