The reach and influence of Sensei Steven Seagal is as varied and storied as it is deep. He is a famous actor, film producer/director, musician, and Jefferson Parish Deputy Sheriff but most importantly an avid martial artist and mixed martial arts enthusiast.
From an inspirational martial arts film superstar to his relevance and influence in mixed martial arts, Seagal has had some very intriguing and interesting interactions with the superstars of the aforementioned genre. Here we will take a look at some of the most enigmatic and fascinating interactions between Seagal and the world of martial arts.
3) Steven Seagal teaches Anderson Silva the front kick that knocked out Vitor Belfort
The relationship between Anderson Silva and Steven Seagal is an interesting one. Seagal spent time at the famed Black House gym, where Silva trains and according to an interview Seagal did with Bruce Buffer on the UFC announcer’s radio show, the actor began training with Anderson Silva after the fighter sent him a postcard asking him to pass on some of his lethal maneuvers.
However; things get a bit more interesting when, in an interview after UFC 126 with Ariel Helwani, Seagal claimed to teach a variation of the front kick that HE created and only a few know about, including Silva, which won Silva the UFC Middleweight world title. Was this all an elaborate set-up by Anderson or did Seagal in fact deserve some credit for Silva’s win? In the short clip below you can actually watch as Anderson Silva and his team makes fun of Seagal. The truth surely lies somewhere in the middle; you be the judge.
“>
2) Steven Seagal teaches Lyoto Machida the crane kick that knocked out Randy Couture
Again we find Seagal-inspired training methods at the heart of a fight ending, beautiful, Karate Kid-esque crane kick knockout delivered by Lyoto Machida to the face of Randy Couture. It is well established that Seagal did in fact spend time with Machida at Black House gym but this time however; we have backstage video footage of Machida and Seagal working together. Once again we must ask the question, is this one of the most elaborate and entertaining troll jobs by Team Black House or legitimate training inquiries?
“>
1) The infamous Judo Gene Lebell and Steven Seagal story
One of the best and most infamous Seagal interactions on record is the time he spent with the legendary Gene Lebell on the movie set of Out for Justice in the early 1990s (released 1991). At some point, Seagal began bragging about a move that he had in his arsenal which made him impervious to being choked unconscious.
As the story goes, not only was Lebell able to render Seagal unconscious but Seagal allegedly defecated himself in front of numerous onlookers. Never one to publicly demean anyone, there is no public record of Lebell verifying this story, Ariel Helwani did in fact try to get confirmation unsuccessfully, however; you can listen below as Joe Rogan, from an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, recalls Gene Lebell telling him this hilarious story in a manner in which only Rogan can deliver!
“>
