Also known as
Steven Frederic Seagal · 武榮道
Description
American actor, producer and martial artist. He studied karate under Fumio Demura before taking up aikido under Harry Ishisaka at the Orange County Aikikai. He received his 1st dan from Koichi Tohei in the summer of 1974, then moved to Japan where, with his wife Miyako Fujitani, he ran the Tenshin Dojo in Osaka as the first westerner to operate an aikido dojo in Japan. He returned to the United States in the early 1980s and became a film actor from 1988 (Above the Law). His claimed rank of 7th dan is disputed; the Aikido Journal Encyclopedia records him at 6th dan.
Teachers (4)
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Fumio Demurasports_martial_artsShito-ryu ProbableProbableAikido Journal Encyclopedia states Seagal studied karate under Fumio Demura before beginning aikido; training period not specifiedThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkAikido Journal Encyclopedia states Seagal studied karate under Fumio Demura before beginning aikido; training period not specified -
Harry Kiyoshi Ishisakasports_martial_artsAikidō ConfirmedConfirmedAikido Journal and Wikipedia both identify Ishisaka as Seagal's first aikido teacher at the Orange County AikikaiThe evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.location_onOrange County Aikikai badge (1970–1974)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkAikido Journal and Wikipedia both identify Ishisaka as Seagal's first aikido teacher at the Orange County Aikikai -
Koichi Toheisports_martial_artsAikidō ProbableProbableAikido Journal records that Seagal received his 1st dan from Koichi Tohei in Orange County in the summer of 1974The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.location_onOrange County Aikikai badge (1974)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkAikido Journal records that Seagal received his 1st dan from Koichi Tohei in Orange County in the summer of 1974 -
Ueshiba Moriheisports_martial_artsAikidō RefutedbalanceRefuted – conflicting evidence recordedSeagal claimed to have been a student of Morihei Ueshiba, but Ueshiba died in 1969 when Seagal was 17, five years before Seagal moved to Japan at age 22; Wikipedia explicitly states the claim is falseThe evidence establishes that the claim is false: it is incompatible with the claim, and nothing credible supports it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSeagal claimed to have been a student of Morihei Ueshiba, but Ueshiba died in 1969 when Seagal was 17, five years before Seagal moved to Japan at age 22; Wikipedia explicitly states the claim is false
Lineage
- Shito-ryu Fumio DemuraRyusho SakagamiKenwa Mabuni · 3 generations
- Aikidō Harry Kiyoshi IshisakaKoichi ToheiUeshiba Morihei · 3 generations
Ranks (2)
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military_tech1 dan ProbablebalanceProbable – conflicting evidence recordedAward of 1st dan in 1974 documented by Aikido Journal; contested by ex-wife Miyako Fujitani's account that the belt was granted when the judge fell asleep, and her dating of the black belt to 1978The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.Dan-Kyu System (1974)granted by Koichi Tohei, Aikikai Foundation
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkAward of 1st dan in 1974 documented by Aikido Journal; contested by ex-wife Miyako Fujitani's account that the belt was granted when the judge fell asleep, and her dating of the black belt to 1978military_tech7 dan PossiblebalancePossible – conflicting evidence recordedRank disputed. Seagal claims 7th dan shihan per Wikipedia; Aikido Journal Encyclopedia records him at 6th dan ('rapidly promoted to 5th dan in consideration of his position as chief instructor of the dojo and was eventually awarded 6th dan').Some evidence points to the claim, but it is thin, indirect, or in unresolved conflict with other evidence.Dan-Kyu Systemgranted by Aikikai Foundationfact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkRank disputed. Seagal claims 7th dan shihan per Wikipedia; Aikido Journal Encyclopedia records him at 6th dan ('rapidly promoted to 5th dan in consideration of his position as chief instructor of the dojo and was eventually awarded 6th dan').
Sources
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KZSRDXQWMW7159NW1MGS7XJ5
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Steven Seagal. In Martialis: Martial Arts
Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KZSRDXQWMW7159NW1MGS7XJ5 - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KZSRDXQWMW7159NW1MGS7XJ5, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Steven Seagal}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database},
year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KZSRDXQWMW7159NW1MGS7XJ5}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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