STEVEN SEAGAL- Biography of an Action Hero A master of several Japanese martial arts,
Steven Seagal is a popular action movie hero whose films combine spiritual concepts and
social/environmental consciousness with high-voltage violence. Born in Lansing, Michigan on April
10, 1951, Seagal traveled to Japan at the age of seventeen. There, he taught English, studied
Zen, and perfected his martial arts, earning black belts in Aikido, karate, judo, and kendo.
Afterwards, he became the first Westerner to open a martial arts school in Japan. During this
time, Seagal occasionally choreographed fight scenes in movies and coached such stars as Sean
Connery and Toshiro Mifune. He also became interested in Eastern religion: in a November, 1997
interview for the Shambala Sun, he stated that his encounter with Tibetan Buddhism resulted
from his study of acupuncture. Seagal spent about 15 years in Asia before returning to the States,
where he opened a new martial arts academy and also worked as a celebrity bodyguard. Seagal
contracted to make martial arts films for Warner Bros. For his first film, he carefully refashioned
an average police drama into Above the Law (1988), which stressed characterization and plot as
well as high-energy action scenes.It was well-received and Seagal found himself an instant star
among action aficionados.
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