Joe Rogan discussed Steven Seagal’s martial arts background on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, with guests The Black Keys. Rogan expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of Seagal’s aikido techniques in real combat situations.
Rogan acknowledged Seagal’s legitimate background in aikido, noting that he was the first American to run a dojo in Japan. However, he argued that while aikido may have historical roots in samurai combat, it’s not practical against modern fighting styles.
“If someone just grabs you and wrestles you like a Division 1 wrestler against aikido, there’s zero chance,” Rogan stated. He used the example of MMA champion Daniel Cormier, asserting that an aikido practitioner would have no defense against Cormier’s wrestling skills.
The podcast host also touched on Seagal’s later career, referencing some of his more recent, critically panned films. Rogan and his guests joked about scenes where an aging Seagal performs aikido moves without even standing up from his chair.
Rogan shared an anecdote about Seagal being choked out by legendary martial artist Gene LeBell, contradicting Seagal’s claim that he couldn’t be choked. This story, according to Rogan, highlights the limitations of aikido when faced with other martial arts techniques.
While respecting aikido’s cultural significance, Rogan ultimately concluded that it’s not an effective style in modern combat sports or self-defense situations.
