Fight scenes


I have seen a lot of his movies and this was the first one that I can recall where he does jump kicks and spin kicks. He seldomly uses his legs other than basic front kicks so to see him do spin kicks and jump kicks if that was him was a surprise. He is mostly upper body which on it's own is awesome to watch because of his speed. He does look like he has slimmed down some except for in the face.

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I suspected as much about a stunt double. How they did it I was not aware of. That is a hell of a lot of editing work to go through for a tv movie. In some seems he looks like he has lost a little weight or at least compared to a few years ago but I hate to say it his face still looks pretty bloated so he obviously hasn't lost much weight. I just though the over did it with the wire work and bad guys getting hit once and flying back 10 feet. I know most fight scenes on tv or in the movies or very unrealistic. Seldomly to they last that long and most of the time any two people could not take that many sustained number of high power kicks or punches, and if they did they would come away bruised and bloody. I've been a martial arts fan for years, starting with Bruce Lee. One of the things I will do when watching a movie is try to see if I can tell when it is a stunt double and when it is not. As you stated when the face is not visible it is most likely not him. To look at Seagal now as compared to back when he did Hard to Kill or the couple of other movies in that time frame it is surprising how much his physical appearance has changed.

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I am a big fan, but I have to admit, the man doesn't age gracefully. If he wants to use the doubles, stop making the *beep* movies, because no one wants to see a stunt double. His acting has gotten worse too, not that it was ever any good, but man, there isnt any incentive to see him anymore.

1. He has become a mumbling old man.

2. He is pretty fat, and no matter how good a fighter he is, he has slowed down.

3. His movies are getting dumb.

To Seagal: I am your number one fan, but unless you have a good movie planned, quit. You are embarrasing yourself and the fans that support you

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I agree with ya. Years ago I was a big Seagal fan back when he did Out for Justice, Hard to Kill and so forth. I'll grant you the basic plot of him being a cop or former CIA or something along that line (Belly of the Beast) got old. But now he looks really rough. And when you are a martial artist and you are needing stunt doubles for your movies, that should be a hint to just stop. It surprised me that he or whomever went for doing the jump kicks didn't figure that that wouldn't be noticed since Seagal has never done any of that stuff.

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If he cant fight anymore, he should stop making films. Or do you honestly watch him for his "acting abilities"?

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In case you didn't know, Kung Fu isn't a japanese martial art.

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Most of the big action stars use stunt doubles, I watched the making of Romeo Must Die the other day and Jet Li has AT LEAST 50% of his fights/stunts done by a stunt double I was pretty disappointed at how much he actually does. So to say Seagal should stop doing films cos he uses a stunt double do you think Jet Li should also stop doing films?

The only action stars I can think of that do all their own stunts are Jackie Chan, Sammo and Tony Jaa.

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So to say Seagal should stop doing films cos he uses a stunt double do you think Jet Li should also stop doing films?
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Er..Jet Li HAS stopped making martuial arts films. He announced about a year back that once he had finished the film he was working on at present (and I must confess I don't know which film it was but I suspect it's the one with Jackie Chan) he was not going to do any more martial arts flicks and concentrate on 'serious acting roles'


This film should have been called 'Belly of the Star'

How much more baggier can Segal's clothes get to hide his gut??

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Yes if you watch the fight scenes very closely in this movie, you will see that a DOUBLE for Steven Segal was used. I knew this as soon as i saw the ( fighting style ) because that was NOT AKIDO. As some people know that Sensai Steven Segal is an Akido Master ( 7th Dan granted by the Aikikai ).Plus the double was much slimmer and they had to wrap some kind of a pillow to his tummy under his shirt hahah! that you can see too....

Alright,so the fact is A DOUBLE WAS DOING probably %80 of the fighting scenes. Still why are some people here bashing and talking bad about Sensai Steven and how he got old and this and that?? I think you dont really know anything about Sensai Steven and the REAL POWER of AKIDO.REMEMBER THIS IS A MOVIE.

I think it was the DIRECTORS Fault, he should have focused on showing the beauty and the power of AKIDO in this movie not using other styles.That is what a martial arts movie should be based on. **TO EXPRESS A FIGHTING STYLE HONESTLY**. If it is a kung fu movie then you stick with kung fu if it is karate then it is karate.

Sensai Ryu (1st Dan Kung Fu, 1st Dan Akido )

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ok just who the hell saw segall deliver a jump kick? ive seen the move four times and he does NOT do a jumpkick! sure he kicks some poor schmuck bu it was a ROUNDHOUSE KICK not jumping kick! learn to see the diference betwean a roundhouse and jumping kick.

"Here's a quarter... Go call someone who cares"

by the way mr fistofthedragon_1980 the title of teacher is spelled s-e-n-s-e-i not s-e-n-s-a-i, if you have first dan black belt then you should know this. but what should one expect from a mere first dan n00b. come back when you have at least 3rd dan black belt in ninjitsu, 3rd dan black belt in tae kwon do.

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Steven Seagal doesnt use kicks much because that isn't a big part of Aikido. Aikido is a self defense martial art using the attackers energy against them. So obviously, to do that, no kicking is required. So, if you watch carefully, you will notice that everytime Steven Seagal does a roundhouse kick or a jumping spin kick, its not him, its a stunt double.

An Attacker With a Weapon, is an Attacker Without Hope.

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bowser 5, I'd just like to say, the purpose of martial arts, especially aikido, is to unite, not to fight. I grant you that ninjitsu was an art of survival, and tae kwon do likewise, but even so, the focus and training behind any martial art, be it something as (no offence, based on what I've seen and done) rigid as karate to something as flowing as wu shu, the purpose is development, self defence, and control over yourself. I think your attitude is wrong, even if your point is valid.

Aikido sensei Ryu dude, it's aikido, not akido, and quite right, it's sensei, not sensai. That's a cross between sensei and senpai from what I can tell, but I won't nitpick, you made valid points to.

Also for the guy who said there is no jump kick, you must have an edited version, or something. I have a Region 2 PAL DVD, and the jump kick is just before the end (I think) of the first fight. He jumps about seven or six feet off the floor, and delivers a kick to a guy's head. It's ludicrous, and I remember swearing a lot when I first saw it.

Personally, I'd love for Stevie to do a period martial art film, perhaps based on the life of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, he could play Ueshiba, he's probably suitable for the part, but it would be zero gunplay, a little swordplay (I'd forgive a little creative license taken to make it more exciting, I guess), but ALL aikido, and none of this flying kick nonsense, all about the aikido. It would be a beautiful vehicle to educate people about aikido.

Also, just one more thing to add - it strikes me that Seagal may do the physical art of aikido, but he's using it all wrong. He picks fights, for a start, I know he's a cop and stuff, in most films, but there are a good few instances where he's been the aggressor, and it's not necessary. What he does is closer to aikijutsu, the art aikido was developed from, which was designed basically to kill, straight. He may be a master of and teach aikido (and I know that he's an amazing teacher, from many of his students), but on screen, I fear he does something closer to aikido, in philosophy, at least.

I agree he should stop making these movies if he can't do them, but you know what? Anyone can do aikido, as long as they can stand, really. I mean, surely, if Morihei Ueshiba could throw young men across the dojo three at a time in his 80s, Seagal in his 40s or 50s, however old he is now, should be able to do it on screen convincingly. I think his main problem is emphasis on action, and not on the art itself.

If anybody from the movie industry is reading this, or Steven himself (you never know), please, I implore you, consider my idea for a period film, or something to emphasise the beauty of the art, not its violent side (which incidentally comes from the man, not the art itself.) Please.

Kung fu movies are like porn. There's 1 on 1, then 2 on 1, then a group scene...

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I would like to see a period film. Good idea!

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Yeah not a bad idea that.

And for anybody who thinks an older man cant fight go pick a fight with Steven Segal. I suspect he could still kick over 90% of anyones asses.

Remember in boxing. In a demenstration match a 46 year old + Rocky Marciano gave an 'in his prime Muhhamed Ali' a very tough time whilst sparring for the computerised fight. So much so that he winded Ali who took several minutes to recover and earned Ali's greatest respect. Ali was not know for respecting ANY opponent. Geroge Foreman came back at over 40.

Aikido like Jiu Jitsu - (Not Judo!!) is not the sort of style that requires a lot of jumping about so is perfectly suitable for an older (and er, fatter) man. Especially if combined with a good hard punch. However, drop the silly spinning jump kicks by an obvious stunt double. It looks really silly.

I learned Jiu Jitsu and our school also used to teach a system of self defense for women based on it. The emphasis is on low kicks and punches to sensitive areas like shins and knees, plus Aikido/Judo type moves. You learn a lot about where to punch i.e. nerve clusters etc. I am quite strong physcally but I have taken a few accidental blows (I was usually 'cast' as the thug) by slim teenage girls or one 50+ woman and beleive me, take a punch or straight finger jab in the wrong place and that is it, you just want a few minutes alone in a quiet room with momma. A lot of it is due to confidence, skill and surprise.

The trouble is Hollywood (and Honh Kong) always has to go over the top. Lots of wires, airial ballet and silly John Woo type explosions. You can always tell a John Woo movie. As soon as two cars collide there is immediately an explosion with lots of sparks. Car manufacturers (who spend millions making cars safe to meet safety regulations) must have a fit if they watch that. Ha Ha.

Anyway, can we also dispense with one man out shooting 60 men with automatic weapons and escaping unhurt or taking on 10 skilled swordsmen in an open warehouse. No-one could survive that and the Thai are very skilled martial artists. Muay Thai is a 'hard man' martial art with a very high work rate from an early age and in competition full use of feet elbows, knees etc. Not the pansy, mystic rule governed Japanese stuff. Sword and weapon fighting is also very good and they would simply wear him down by small cuts to his arms legs etc. It is not unlike Phillipine Kali (as used to train navy SEALS and as shown in Jason Bourne movies and a film with Tommy Lee Jones). Small multiple cuts, slashes etc to bleed and wear down the opponent. Hollywood always has to go for the one parry, one slash kill effect.

I always thought that Segal fight scenes were 'quite' beleivable. My favourite scene has to be on the battleship when he grabbed one opponent by the neck to disable him, pivoted off him to kick a second (this would immediately give more power to the kick) before dealing with number three (can't remember how off-hand) keeping number one off balance before dealing with him.

That is exactly how a situation like should be approached by an intelligent and skilled fighter and is beleivable. Not the 'line up, one opponent at a time' fantasy stuff.

This is one of his silliest but given the right material he could still make good solid films. Not everyone want to see ballet and wires kung fu movies.

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I have studied martial arts my entire life, from Karate to Kajunkenbo, and because of Seagal's early films, I began studying Aikido back in early 1989, and haver stuck with it ever since. What I am irritated by, with some of his recent films, is the over use of acrobatics, and because of them, the use of stunt doubles.

For me, because his acting is horrible, the only reason I have ever watched his films is to watch him use "the peaceful way" against his opponents. If I want to watch acrobats, I'll watch Jet Li, Jackie Chan or Jason Stathum. What made Seagal so cool was his martial arts style was so different from traditional martial arts movies.

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bruce lee is the man you want to see if you want to watch a kung fu movie

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He doesn't use his legs since he too much of a bad ass to ever need to. His technique and speed is wicked.

"I went to a college where ivy-leaugers aren't fit to mop the floors" - homeopt

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