Amos Stevens
New Member
Originally posted by Idaho Aikido Man:
Hello All
Subject: Biography Of Shihan Steven Seagal
On April 10th,1951 In suburban Detroit,Michigan..Stephen and Patricia Seagal had there first son and named him Steven.In the mid fifties,Mr Seagal took a young steven to a michigan football game and at the half time show was a martial arts demonstration given by a little old man.He was magical.He was able to toss huge multiple attackers away from him like rolled pieces of paper.The demonstaration had a strong ,lasting impression on steven, something inside telling him to train in the martial arts.
In 1957,the family moved to Fullerton , Ca. at age seven, steven began his training under karate master Fumio Demura, and by the age of 15 he started to become a typical teenager who would get into fights. He had grown very independent and was trying to decide what he wanted to do with his life so he subseqently decided to leave home.
It was a round this time that he started to become centered in something that would become a permanent part of his life.Steven Seagal met Shihan Kyoshi {Harry} Ishisaka {A Master Of Aikido} and chief instructor for the orange county aikikai.He bacame Ishisaka's top student,doing many demonstrations with his teacher at the former japanese village in deer park,California. Aikido was not well known in the united states at that time.
At age 17, young steven seagal decided to move to japan to train with the aikido masters. Steven Seagal's early years in japan were filled with with struggle:everything from finding work to support himself to finding a japanese master to except him as a disciple.
In 1975, he became the first american in japanese history to open an aikido dojo in japan. Being an american instructor, he recieved many challenges to fight and test his technical skills. This would continue for the first 2-years until Sensei Seagal was able to establish himself as leading aikido master in japan.For a period of six years,he trained eight hours a day in physical technique. He began to hit a plateau in his training and could not understand why it was happening.
Sensei seagal began to study the religion and teachings of O'Sensei.
He became a devoted follower of the shinto religion and more specifically the Omoto-Kyo sect. of which O'Sensei was a member. While in japan, he went to the meetings with his family and and spent a great deal of time in meditation and prayer.It was then that Sensei seagal began to notice a remarkable change in his technique.
In 1982 he opened his first american dojo in Taos,New Mexico, actor Scott Glenn,Jackson Brown,Irvin Kershner,Nick Scroggins were the board of directors for Ten Shin Aikido in Taos , NM. Then in 1983 Sensei seagal opened Ten Shin Dojo on ventura blvd. in Sherman Oaks , California. A phone call was made to Osaka, Japan to summon his uchi-deshi Harou matsuoka to the united states. Matsuoka Sensei who had just graduated from college, was very excited to join his master. A dojo opening was planned and invitations were sent to every aikido dojo within a 100 mile radius and all through out los angeles area to watch Sensei Seagal's demonstration. The event sent out a message to los angeles area aikidoka's that Sensei Seagal was a serious Practioner in the art of aikido.
On may 27th,1995 Sensei Seagal participated in the "33rd ALL JAPAN AIKIDO DEMONSTRATION FESTIVAL" while there , he was invited to a private ceremony with Doshu-Kisshomaru Ueshiba {O'Sensei's son}where he recieved his 7th degree blackbelt.
Since this time Sensei Seagal has traveled around the world promoting excellent aikido seminars along with his Dharma teachings...usually he includes dharma teachings with all his aikido seminars.
Peace To All
Sensei Glenn Odle
Hello All
Subject: Biography Of Shihan Steven Seagal
On April 10th,1951 In suburban Detroit,Michigan..Stephen and Patricia Seagal had there first son and named him Steven.In the mid fifties,Mr Seagal took a young steven to a michigan football game and at the half time show was a martial arts demonstration given by a little old man.He was magical.He was able to toss huge multiple attackers away from him like rolled pieces of paper.The demonstaration had a strong ,lasting impression on steven, something inside telling him to train in the martial arts.
In 1957,the family moved to Fullerton , Ca. at age seven, steven began his training under karate master Fumio Demura, and by the age of 15 he started to become a typical teenager who would get into fights. He had grown very independent and was trying to decide what he wanted to do with his life so he subseqently decided to leave home.
It was a round this time that he started to become centered in something that would become a permanent part of his life.Steven Seagal met Shihan Kyoshi {Harry} Ishisaka {A Master Of Aikido} and chief instructor for the orange county aikikai.He bacame Ishisaka's top student,doing many demonstrations with his teacher at the former japanese village in deer park,California. Aikido was not well known in the united states at that time.
At age 17, young steven seagal decided to move to japan to train with the aikido masters. Steven Seagal's early years in japan were filled with with struggle:everything from finding work to support himself to finding a japanese master to except him as a disciple.
In 1975, he became the first american in japanese history to open an aikido dojo in japan. Being an american instructor, he recieved many challenges to fight and test his technical skills. This would continue for the first 2-years until Sensei Seagal was able to establish himself as leading aikido master in japan.For a period of six years,he trained eight hours a day in physical technique. He began to hit a plateau in his training and could not understand why it was happening.
Sensei seagal began to study the religion and teachings of O'Sensei.
He became a devoted follower of the shinto religion and more specifically the Omoto-Kyo sect. of which O'Sensei was a member. While in japan, he went to the meetings with his family and and spent a great deal of time in meditation and prayer.It was then that Sensei seagal began to notice a remarkable change in his technique.
In 1982 he opened his first american dojo in Taos,New Mexico, actor Scott Glenn,Jackson Brown,Irvin Kershner,Nick Scroggins were the board of directors for Ten Shin Aikido in Taos , NM. Then in 1983 Sensei seagal opened Ten Shin Dojo on ventura blvd. in Sherman Oaks , California. A phone call was made to Osaka, Japan to summon his uchi-deshi Harou matsuoka to the united states. Matsuoka Sensei who had just graduated from college, was very excited to join his master. A dojo opening was planned and invitations were sent to every aikido dojo within a 100 mile radius and all through out los angeles area to watch Sensei Seagal's demonstration. The event sent out a message to los angeles area aikidoka's that Sensei Seagal was a serious Practioner in the art of aikido.
On may 27th,1995 Sensei Seagal participated in the "33rd ALL JAPAN AIKIDO DEMONSTRATION FESTIVAL" while there , he was invited to a private ceremony with Doshu-Kisshomaru Ueshiba {O'Sensei's son}where he recieved his 7th degree blackbelt.
Since this time Sensei Seagal has traveled around the world promoting excellent aikido seminars along with his Dharma teachings...usually he includes dharma teachings with all his aikido seminars.
Peace To All
Sensei Glenn Odle
