OK, I’ve been having fun with this one. While researching all-things Seagal I happened upon this video:
Man oh man but how much would you pay to have been at that party! Here’s the story:
“At a party in my home in Miami in 1997, Van Damme was tired of Seagal claiming he could kick his ass so he offered Seagal outside into my back yard,” Contactmusic quoted him [Stallone] as saying.
“Van Damme was too strong. Seagal wanted none of it,” Stallone said. (ANI)
Steven Seagal:
- 7th dan in Aikido; also studied Shito-ryu karate
- Never fought professionally
Jean-Claude Van Damme:
- Shotokan karate
- Muay Thai
- Kick boxing
- Taekwondo
- Retired from fighting with an 18 – 1 record
Given that Steven Seagal thinks he’s a clairvoyant god, perhaps he foresaw his own butt getting kicked and decided to back down?
-BCP
7 responses so far ↓
John W. Zimmer // September 3, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Your having too much fun with this Bob!
Jon Law // September 5, 2009 at 2:46 AM
While tongue in cheek and fun oriented this post does raise an interesting point concerning VD’s fight record.
Is this what made the difference and scared Segal away. And if so, doesn’t this mean that some kind of fighting experience is desirable?
Bob Patterson // September 5, 2009 at 6:26 AM
Jon -
Well I was serious about wishing I could have been there! But you’re also right and I almost thought about a blog post on that. I’m pretty certain some of the regulars have already covered it.
I’m sure VD’s fight record played a part. However, Seagal’s personality may be a part of this too. At one point he was a very skilled martial artist. From what I’ve seen and read about him he reminds me an awful lot of the proverbial school yard bully. Pushes people around a shoots his mouth off until a bigger dog comes along.
Also, I wonder if this happened before or after his match with Judo Gene LeBell? It’s alleged that Mr. LeBell choked him out — twice! — after Seagal cocked off. So if it was after maybe Seagal didn’t want to crap his pants at Stallone’s party?
-B
Brett // September 6, 2009 at 8:38 PM
I just wanted to clear up the Gene Lebelle issue, I have heard him talk ( live )regarding this incident ( I am a MM artist). What Seagal was infact claiming was that his Ki was high enough to prevent him from passing out from any choke/guillotine… A very stupid idea on his part, no-one on earth can do this. Lebelle is quick to tell anyone that he would never have been able to actually put Seagal in this hold if he actually defended himself. Seagals arrogant statement was that he would let Lebelle voluntarily choke him to show how impervious he was to the exercise.
From what Ive seen of Seagals early martial arts career, he was a seriously capable and lethal practitioner, he could disarm someone violently swirling a knife ( put them into kote-gashi + a reverse guillotine) frighteningly easily. If he really was that proficient at avoiding strikes/stab attempts, he would be devastingly effective against any standup fighter. Half the issue with BJJ/Aikido/Jui-jitsu is centred around having the speed to anticipate an opponents moves , react to them quickly enough so as to be able to submit/disarm them… once youve masterd that reactive ability, Standup fighting becomes just about redundant against you ( except for when you are in a multiple attacker situation, where grappling one person will lead to others kicking you whilst on the ground)… this type of reactive perfection comes merely from repitition of multiple scenarios both structured and unstructuered.
My instructors both past and present have met and seen Seagal in action – a previous instructor of mine who is an mma specialist and a 5th degree black belt in Wushu, said , and I quote ” The guy is the most arrogant prick Ive met, hes hair piece is as laughable as his gut, but god the man is good at his form”
Bob Patterson // September 7, 2009 at 6:20 AM
On a serious note, it’s just too bad that the philosophy that usually accompanies aikido did not have a more positive effect on Mr. Seagal.
God knows that in the how ever many years I’ve been blogging I’ve not disparaged his martial arts skill from the early years (recently he’s let himself go to hell IMO). However, somewhere along the way he took a turn onto ludicrous lane and has never been able to get off!
Gerry // September 19, 2009 at 3:10 AM
Since Bruce Lee is dead, he is out of the picture now… But, his art lives on. However, we are not comparing arts, but the practitioners.
Jet Li is a very fluid fighter, and has learned and practices many forms. In this regard he is like Jackie Chan. Both are well endowed fighters, and very talented. Do, however, note there is no record (to my knowledge) of either fighting outside of acting. So, their skills have only been tested in front of the camera.
Steven Segal, on the other hand, has been tested outside of acting. When he was in Japan, and when he took over his father in-law’s dojo, he did have to ‘prove’ himself multiple times.
This would be similar to Bruce Lee; when Bruce Lee started a martial arts school in the States, he would have to contend others in order to have the ‘right’ to teach un-Chinese.
Steven Segal, was the first non-Japanese to head a dojo in Japan, and doing so brought unwanted attention his way. Many times he had to ‘prove’ he was ‘worthy’, and therefore… I believe Steven Segal would be the ultimate fighter of the ones listed above.
Now, if Bruce Lee were still alive… We would have a debate. And, before you vie that Chuck Norris and others have fought outside of acting… These fighters fought in competition settings, not street fights (where it truly matters).
JC
Bob Patterson // September 19, 2009 at 5:01 AM
JC –
Thanks for your input! Ah the infamous “which action star could beat up another action star” question!