If you didn’t already know, Steven Seagal is a 7th-dan black belt in aikido, and he began his adult life as a martial arts instructor in Japan, becoming the first foreigner to operate an aikido dojo in the country.

In the two videos below, you can watch aikido students testing for black belt under Master Seagal.

Check out part 1 of 2 below:

And here is part 2 of 2:

Haruo Matsuoka Sensei has more than 30 years of aikido experience. For more than 20 years, he was one of the highest ranking disciples of Shihan Steven Seagal (7th Dan). In 2012, Matsuoka Sensei has received 6th Dan directly from the Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba.

Seagal began using Haruo Matsuoka as his uke, demonstrating throws and other aikido techniques on him during class despite his rank. (According to Japanese etiquette, the head instructor demonstrates techniques only on the most senior student, allowing him to learn quickly by feeling each move.) Seagal put him ahead of his seniors and gave him the opportunity to absorb knowledge directly from the source and thus advance more rapidly. “Nothing compares to those days back in Japan,”  Matsuoka said. “Our lives were pure aikido.”

Haruo Matsuoka earning his aikido black belt:

By the time Matsuoka took his black-belt test in 1978 – during a time when Seagal’s exams were held behind closed doors – he passed with flying colors on his first try. His success was the fruit of three months of intensive preparation. Testing in Japan was far different from testing in America, Matsuoka said. “It isn’t something that just happens on the day of your major test.

“It’s an ongoing process that begins months ahead of the actual date, with your master putting you under closer scrutiny for candidacy. Seagal sensei was watching us closely at every practice, helping us grow in aikido.”