Steven Seagal at a glance
52'..................Born...4/10... Lansing,Mich(outside of Detroit)......Parents Stephen/Patricia
57'..............Seagal family relocates to Fullerton,Calif.
59'...............Age 7 ......Steven starts studying Shinto-Ryu Karatedo......Fumio Demura
69'..............Steven Starts taking Aikido...Harry Ishisaka
*** Unknown whether Seagal studied karate the past 10 years...Pat Seagal says that if Steven wasn't at the dojo..he was hanging out in the garage listening to rock music..Seagal stated in a TV appearance that he held job at Himies Hamburgers....also seal-coating driveways,etc.
71'/72'............Attends Fullerton College......leaves fall 72
*** There is an indication that Seagal made a 1st trip to Japan at this time...one of the sources has him meeting Fujitani "after returning from Japan".This seems highly unlikely though.
74'...........Seagal receives 1st dan........Meets Miyako Fujitani (2nd degree black belt)who is over from Japan to teach Aikido in L.A.Calif............Seagal and Fujitani leave for Osaka,Japan.
75'..................Seagal has 1st child (Kentaro) with Fujitani and are married........
*** Whether the chicken or the egg came first is one for you to search for if you really have to know,this also seems to be the only time period when Seagal could have spent with the Omoto-kyo sect....same as O'Sensei...Fujitani has stated that over their 10 year marriage Seagal was hardly around.
79'..............2nd child is born(Ayako)....receives 5th dan starts over-seeing Tenshin Aikido dojo..Osaka,Japan...........that is owned by the Fujitani family......Seagal Sensei as he is now called being the head teacher of the dojo also has taken the Japanese name Take Shigemichi.
*** This period would come to be the time source of the yakuza threats and the challenges from martial art people trying to "get one in" on the foreigner operating a dojo.
81'/82'/83'...................Numerous trip Japan/U.S...............opens 1st dojo Taos,New Mexico.....2nd in L.A. Calif............1st meets Kelly LeBrock in Japan.......who was over for a media production......
85'...............Seagal gets choreographer credit for the movie The Challenge under the name Steve Seagal.
*** There is also an interesting story about Seagal turning up on the set of The Challenge which was filmed in Japan to do the sword choreography.
86'/87'....................Divorces Fujitani.who resumes over-seeing the family dojo along with Kentaro and Ayaka............Marriage and 1st child (Annazalia)with LeBrock at Beverly Hills home.....Being that LeBrock is a Hollywood personality;one of her friends is wife of Tom Semel(producer)......and one of Seagals friends(martial and social) is Mike Orwitz(talent agent) Seagal who is seeking some work as a writer ends up starring in the film Above The Law.........Aikido demostration with Matsuoka on Warner soundstage with 12 executives present..............After 3 moves Seagal's L.A. dojo Tenshin Bugei Gauken finally ends up in Santa Barbara,Calif........where Seagal has also relocated.......Harou Matsuoka(Seagal's senior student in Japan)has come over by this time to be Sensei of the dojo.....and has an appearance in the upcoming film.
*** As to the order of these events;that's another for you to search for.As to when Seagal Sensei recieved 6th dan is not known to me....Present day he holds the rank 7th dan...Shihan(master)which was award by Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba..grandson of Morhei Ueshiba (O'Sensei)...founder of Aikido.
88'............Above The Law opens with great reviews and numerous articles and interviews with Seagal are released..........Seagal no longer teaches classes himself and rather trains with his senior instructors at his home............The public is curious as to how this unknown could come to get credits as star,writer and producer credits on a 1st movie................However this is the beginning of C.I.A.,O'Sensei,etc.rumors and misinterpretations of the media which are to haunt Seagal to this day........
*** Fraur a psychiatrist suggests that Seagal having spent half his life in Japan is in essence Japanese in thought process.......In Japanese the emotional rather than factual content is more important in what is being said.....in other words what street,mountain,etc isn't necessary to the over-all content of what's being stated.
89'/90'...........Seagal and LeBrock both star in the 2nd film Hard To Kill(Seven year Storm).........Seagal who is irritated for not getting some writing credit for this film goes over to Paramount for his 3rd film Marked For Death(Screwface).
*** For the musical people;it was during the making of this film that Seagal 1st appeared publicly playing live with The Jimmy Cliff Band who also appeared in the film.
91'........Seagal now back with Warner Brothers having more control and more credit for his films........releases 4th film Out For Justice(Prince of our Blood)........media is making accusations that Seagal can only play one type of character..........This doesn't go over to good with Seagal....Seagal by now has no problem stating exactly how he feels about Hollywood,media,etc..........
92'...........Under Siege(Dreadnought) is released.......becomes international box office material...Media almost apologetic resume positive reviews............Seagal is in complete control of production for upcoming film........Produces Tenshin Bugei Gakuen's "Celebration of the Human Spirit"
*** Until now "Steven Seagal" has basically been unknown overseas.......new market opportunities arise out of this.....Seagal starts endorsements of commercial products by doing adds,commercials.
93'..............Tenshin moves to Los Angeles,CA.......Gasshuku at Ventura,CA.
94'.............On Deadly Ground(Rainbow Warrior)is released.........Seagal 1st directing part in one of his films.............Seagal & LeBrock divorce.......Gasshuku at Seagal's Montana ranch....Promoted to 7th dan which makes him highest ranking American.
*** The media starts an all out attack on Seagal.....not only of the film......but of his private life as well........Seagal almost seems to go into media recluse at this point....which only fuels the media even more.
95'..............Box office receipts for On Deadly Ground and bad press has put Warner back in the position of production.......World Akido Festival ,Tokyo,Japan demonstrations.........Under Siege II(Dark Territory)released.....Seagal takes a bit part in Kurt Russell film Executive Decision.......
*** You have to remember that Steven Seagal has only been known abroad about 2 years at this time.....He's a bit hit there and still is to the present day....
96'..........Gasshuku in Paris,France.........Glimmerman released...... Steven Seagal Band plays at the opening........Seagal receives title from Tibetan Buddhists...
*** Though Seagal has not "officially" taught Aikido classes in years...He makes appearances to instruct,lecture and demostrate at numerous Aikido based seminar....one which was held on his Montana ranch......
97'......Produced Gasshuku in Santa Barbara....Lectures 3 days on "Compassionate Awareness and the Warrior's Mind" at Naropa Institute,CO...Fire Down Below released.......Steven Seagal Band plays numerous engagements at Plant Hollywood and Fire Down Below opening.......Numerous TV appearances and interviews......
98'...........Tenshin dojo in L.A. closes due to Matsouka returning to Japan...........next movie The Patriot is due....Seagal takes a bit part in "My Giant" a Billy Crystal movie ...and announcements of Seagal playing Gengis Khan are out.
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