The Insanity of Steven Seagal

JRE Clips

13 Mar 202409:25

Summary

TLDRThe transcript discusses the enduring appeal of Steven Seagal movies and his martial arts background, particularly Aikido. It humorously highlights the improbability of Seagal's on-screen feats in his later years, contrasting them with his real-life martial arts expertise. The conversation also touches on Seagal's interactions with notable figures and his status as a Russian citizen, offering a blend of entertainment and insight into the world of martial arts and film.

Takeaways

🎬 The discussion revolves around the appeal of old movies and music, highlighting their nostalgic and entertaining value despite potential flaws.
🌟 Steven Seagal's later movies are mentioned as examples of films that have gained a cult following due to their perceived 'so bad, it's good' quality.
👴 The humor in Seagal's later films stems from the unrealistic portrayal of an aging action hero and his equally aged special forces team.
🥋 Seagal's aikido expertise is discussed, explaining its origins and practical limitations in real-world combat scenarios.
🤣 The anecdote about Seagal's encounter with Jean Leal, a renowned martial artist, underscores the contrast between Seagal's on-screen prowess and real-life martial arts capabilities.
🍿 Seagal's eccentricities, such as his interactions with political figures and peculiar on-screen moments, are highlighted as part of his enduring appeal.
🌍 Seagal's later life activities, including becoming a Russian citizen and his ties to Vladimir Putin, are mentioned as examples of his evolving public image.
🎥 The conversation touches on the theme of aging actors finding new audiences in foreign countries and the surreal experiences that come with it.
🥊 The practicality of martial arts in film is debated, with aikido being cited as an example of a discipline that looks impressive but has limited effectiveness in certain situations.
😅 The script includes humorous commentary on Seagal's physical appearance and his portrayal in various media, including a comedic routine by Tom Segura.
📈 The narrative of Seagal's life and career is used to reflect on the nature of fame, the martial arts, and the entertainment industry's perception of action stars.

Q & A

What is the main difference between old music and old movies mentioned in the transcript?
-The main difference highlighted is that old music remains enjoyable ('dope'), while some old movies are appreciated for being 'insanely bad'.
Which actor's movies are described as 'insanely bad' in the transcript?
-The actor whose movies are described as 'insanely bad' is Steven Seagal.
What is the significance of the age of the characters in Seagal's later films?
-The significance is that the characters, including Seagal's special forces team and the commander, are all portrayed as being quite old, which is humorously unrealistic given the physical demands of such roles.
What martial art is Steven Seagal known for?
-Steven Seagal is known for Aikido, which is a martial art invented for Samurai to fight against someone with a sword, focusing on the redistribution of energy.
What was unique about Steven Seagal's position in Japan?
-Steven Seagal was the first American to run a dojo in Japan, which was unusual given the cultural context.
What is the story about Seagal and Jean Leal mentioned in the transcript?
-The story is that Seagal claimed he couldn't be choked out, and Jean Leal, a legendary martial artist, choked him out instantly during a sparring session.
What was Jean Leal's contribution to Bruce Lee's training?
-Jean Leal trained Bruce Lee in grappling, teaching him techniques that were not commonly seen in movies at the time.
How does the transcript describe the effectiveness of Aikido in real combat situations?
-The transcript suggests that Aikido would be effective against a sword-wielding opponent, but its practicality in modern combat situations, especially against wrestlers or fighters who do not commit to the technique, is questionable.
What is the significance of Seagal's Russian citizenship mentioned in the transcript?
-The significance is that it highlights Seagal's changing affiliations and the perception of him becoming more associated with Russia later in his life.
What is the anecdote about Jean Leal and his encounter with some men in his neighborhood?
-The anecdote is about Jean Leal confronting some men who were messing with someone's car in his neighborhood. Despite being an old man, he managed to intimidate and defeat all three men, showcasing his martial arts prowess.
What is the transcript's overall view on the portrayal of martial arts in movies?
-The transcript suggests that while martial arts in movies can be entertaining and visually impressive, they often do not accurately represent the practical effectiveness of the techniques in real-world combat situations.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Steven Seagal's Evolution in Film and Martial Arts

This paragraph discusses the evolution of Steven Seagal's film career and his martial arts background. It starts with the speaker's experience watching Seagal's movies, noting the humor found in the unrealistic portrayal of aging action heroes. The conversation then delves into Seagal's martial art specialty, Aikido, and its origins for Samurai combat. The speaker highlights Seagal's unique position as an American running a dojo in Japan and his later controversial citizenship in Russia. The paragraph also touches on Seagal's interactions with other martial arts figures, such as his encounter with Jean Leal, a renowned martial artist who once choked Seagal unconscious, showcasing the reality behind Seagal's on-screen persona.

05:02

🥋 The Practicality of Aikido and Seagal's Martial Arts Legacy

The second paragraph focuses on the practicality of Aikido, the martial art Steven Seagal is known for, and its limitations in real-world combat scenarios. It compares learning Aikido to learning a language with limited vocabulary, suggesting that it's fun but not entirely effective in a real fight. The discussion includes anecdotes about Seagal's past, his teaching days, and his encounters with other martial artists. The speaker also contrasts Seagal's early legitimate martial arts demonstrations with his later, less believable movie fight scenes, emphasizing the difference between the art form and its cinematic portrayal.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Jogan Experience movies

The term 'Jogan Experience movies' seems to be a colloquial reference to the filmography of Steven Seagal, an American actor and martial artist known for his action movies. The 'Jogan' part might be a playful misspelling or mispronunciation of 'Yoga', which is not directly related to Seagal's work but could be used to describe the unique and often criticized style of his films. The movies are characterized by their blend of action, martial arts, and often over-the-top scenarios.

💡Steven Seagal

Steven Seagal is an American actor, producer, martial artist, and musician who is known for his roles in action films. He is often recognized for his distinctive look and his portrayal of tough, no-nonsense characters. In the context of the video, Seagal's later films and his martial arts background are discussed, highlighting his transition from a respected martial artist to a subject of ridicule due to the perceived decline in the quality of his movies over time.

💡Aikido

Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art that focuses on using an opponent's energy against them, often employing throws and joint locks. It was developed by Morihei Ueshiba and is known for its emphasis on blending with the movements of the attacker and redirecting their force. In the video, Seagal's expertise in aikido is mentioned, emphasizing his background as a legitimate martial artist and how it translates (or doesn't) to the unrealistic scenarios in his movies.

💡Energy redistribution

Energy redistribution in the context of aikido refers to the technique of using an opponent's force against them by redirecting their energy. This concept is central to aikido and is used to neutralize an attacker's aggression without causing harm. In the video, this concept is mentioned to explain the philosophy behind aikido and how it is applied in combat, contrasting the real-world application with its portrayal in Seagal's movies.

💡Jean Leal

Jean Leal, mentioned in the script as 'Jean leel,' is likely a reference to Gene Lebell, a renowned judo champion and professional wrestler known for his skills in grappling. He is also known for training Bruce Lee and is a significant figure in the history of mixed martial arts. The speaker recounts a story where Lebell choked out Seagal, highlighting the contrast between Seagal's on-screen martial arts and real-world combat capabilities.

💡Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, is a full-contact combat sport that allows striking and grappling, both standing and on the ground, using techniques from various combat sports and martial arts. The term is used in the script to emphasize the practicality and effectiveness of martial arts in real-world scenarios, contrasting with the often exaggerated and unrealistic depictions in movies.

💡Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee was a Hong Kong-American actor, martial artist, and philosopher who is widely considered one of the most influential martial artists of all time. He is known for his roles in various martial arts films and for his foundational work in developing the martial art of Jeet Kune Do. In the video, Lee is mentioned in the context of his training with Gene Lebell, emphasizing the practical application of martial arts and the contrast with the stylized martial arts seen in movies.

💡Rear Naked Choke

A rear naked choke is a chokehold used in combat sports, including mixed martial arts (MMA), where the attacker stands behind the opponent and applies pressure to the carotid arteries, which can lead to unconsciousness. The term is used in the script to describe a specific martial arts technique and to illustrate the story of Gene Lebell choking out Steven Seagal, emphasizing the difference between movie fighting and real martial arts.

💡Russian Citizenship

Russian citizenship refers to the legal status of a person recognized as a citizen of Russia, according to Russian law. In the context of the video, it is mentioned that Steven Seagal has obtained Russian citizenship, which is significant as it reflects his close ties with Russia and its government, including President Vladimir Putin.

💡Preposterous

The term 'preposterous' is used to describe something that is absurd, unbelievable, or ridiculous. In the video, it is applied to the unrealistic and exaggerated scenes from Steven Seagal's later movies, emphasizing the disconnect between the portrayal of martial arts in these films and the actual practice of martial arts in real life.

💡Samurai

Samurai were the military nobility and officer caste in medieval and early modern Japan. They were known for their strict adherence to a code of conduct called Bushido and their martial prowess. In the video, the samurai are mentioned in the context of aikido, which was developed as a method for them to defend themselves against opponents with swords, showcasing the historical and cultural significance of martial arts in Japan.

Highlights

The comparison between the nostalgia of old music and old movies, highlighting the enduring appeal of certain cultural artifacts.

The discussion of Steven Seagal's movies and the humor found in their perceived 'badness'.

The mention of Seagal's advanced age and its impact on the believability of his action scenes.

The anecdote about Seagal's special forces team being of similar advanced age, adding to the comedic element.

Tom Segura's comedic bit on Seagal, showcasing the cultural impact of his films.

The revelation of Seagal's background as an aikido specialist and the martial art's purpose.

The practical limitations of aikido in real-world combat situations, especially against wrestlers.

The humorous observation of Seagal's later films where he seemingly doesn't even stand up during fight scenes.

The unique historical fact that Seagal was the first American to run a dojo in Japan.

The discussion of Seagal's changing appearance and demeanor over the years.

The account of Seagal's interactions with foreign leaders and his eventual Russian citizenship.

The critique of Seagal's aikido demonstrations as being less effective in recent years.

The story of Seagal's encounter with martial arts legend Gene Lebell and the outcome.

The explanation of aikido's historical context and its development for disarming opponents.

The recounting of Gene Lebell's career, including his training of Bruce Lee.

The anecdote about Gene Lebell's real-life confrontation with a group of men, demonstrating his martial prowess.

The humorous recounting of Seagal's defensive move in a choke situation and its ineffectiveness against Gene Lebell.

The reflection on the practicality of martial arts in film versus real-world scenarios.