Steven Seagal, the first and non-Japanese Aikido master to own a dojo in Japan, reminded the world why he’s a legend both on and off the mat. At a demonstration that could only be described as “spiritually odd,” Seagal performed feats of martial prowess that left his students wondering if they were learning Aikido—or magic tricks.
Kicking off the session with a philosophical flourish, Seagal explained Aikido’s ethos: “Aikido is basically being one with the universe, one with nature, so you can sense the intention of your attacker.” And by “sense,” he apparently means “make them question their life choices before they even throw a punch.”
For his first act, Seagal demonstrated his mental mastery by stopping two black belts from lifting him off the ground. Was it a demonstration of universal energy, or had Seagal simply mastered the art of eating just enough sushi to defy physics? Either way, the crowd was riveted. Then came the pièce de résistance: Seagal singlehandedly (or rather, single-fingeredly) fended off two attackers with the power of his little finger. Yes, his pinky. Somewhere, a chiropractor is preparing a TED Talk on “pinkynomics.”
The key to Seagal’s Aikido is the power of ki—a mystical energy force he claims is the secret sauce behind moves that turn incoming attacks into awkward stumbles. Critics might call it “falling politely,” but Seagal insists it’s all about redirecting aggression with cosmic finesse.
Of course, not everyone’s buying it. Joe Rogan, the king of calling out martial arts myths, weighed in on Seagal’s claims during many of his podcasts. While acknowledging Seagal’s historical credentials (and his undeniable flair for running a dojo like a samurai soap opera), Rogan wasn’t convinced. “If Daniel Cormier grabs you like a Division 1 wrestler, that universal energy won’t save you,” Rogan quipped, referencing a hypothetical match-up that would probably last as long as Seagal’s hair dye in a rainstorm.
Rogan also recounted the infamous story of Gene LeBell allegedly submitting Seagal despite his claims of being “unchokeable.” The details of that story remain a martial arts mystery, but one thing’s certain: Aikido’s “move with the energy” philosophy doesn’t do much when the energy in question is a wrestler slamming you to the ground.
In the end, Seagal’s demonstrations remain a fascinating spectacle. They may not make you UFC-ready, but they’ll definitely make you rethink what’s possible with a well-trained uke to demonstrate with. Whether it’s a spiritual connection to the universe or just some impressive stagecraft, Seagal proves one thing: no one lifts Steven Seagal unless Steven Seagal allows it.
