How does the action star and Aikido master handle real life police work?

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I will admit right off I’m a fan of Steven Seagal, and the action films he makes, because frankly you don’t need a deep plot or complex characters to be entertained.  Hand to hand combat, car chases, and explosions are all a lot of fun if they’re not really happening to you, and among those who make it look exciting is Steven Seagal.  He starred in Above the Law with sexy action star Pam Grier as a Chicago police officer who takes on drug dealers and corrupt CIA agents.  In my personal favorite Out Force Justice he’s back as a police office, but this time he’s NYPD and is teamed with Law and Order’s Jerry Orbach as they and the mob track down a drug crazed cop killer.  Along the way he continued to study and train in the Japanese martial art of Aikido which is designed to subdue rather than injure an attacker.

Since those films Seagal has kept busy with a number of direct to video projects, a really cool Mountain Dew commercial, and his music, but in his most recent endeavor he’s trying to show the realities of law enforcement.  On Steven Seagal: Lawman the audience gets to follow the 57 year old actor around as he and Sheriff’s deputies patrol the streets of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. So how does the action star fair in the unscripted world of reality TV, and more importantly do his martial arts abilities make the grade in a real street fight?  Well, if you’ve been following the series you know Seagal hasn’t ended up in any fights that rival his films, but he’s showing what he knows from years of martial arts training and that isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Thought he show premiered well on the A&E cable network it has had plenty of critics, but they’re probably the same folks who make fun of his films.  If you’re like me you and you caught the show you saw the day in the life of a typical cop, long hours of boredom interrupted by intense moments of fear and danger.  Fact is police work no matter where you are isn’t exciting most of the time and for those who think it will be different because a movie star is involved are wrong.  It is basically like watching the show Cops, but with a more well known reserve deputy riding along.  It is entertaining, but like many TV shows it only gives you a brief glimpse into the world of law enforcement, and it doesn’t explain what is necessary for a police or civilian to know to survive on the street.

Steven Seagal is a 7th degree Aikido black belt and he should be praised for this accomplishment, but though the style was developed for self defense it shouldn’t be your first choice.  In one episode Seagal takes time out to train a group of rookie police officers in a variety of complex techniques meant to take control of a suspect.  Sure they all work, but they’re all overly complex, and when you’re being attacked by a screaming suspect it is doubtful even a seasoned police officer will remember these moves.  Also it only takes the most minor of movements to ruin some of the holds, and if the suspect is stronger than you look out.  It is the same thing when it comes to weapons retention, Seagal shows complex techniques that work, but only in optimal conditions, and that is never the case out on the streets.

Now maybe you’re wondering why they won’t work for you, but they work so well for Seagal, well the man is a master, but it took him forty years to get there, and you don’t have that kind of time.  At the Self Defense Company we teach our police office clients more basic techniques that they can practice and easily execute and they can learn in it days and hours not years of long training.  We teach officers how to dominate the scene from the beginning and how to take control of the suspect and what to do when they fight back, and if someone does try to take your weapon hit them and make them sorry they ever thought about it.  We do hope Mr. Seagal takes time out of his busy schedule to come train with us or if not order the training system he wouldn’t be the first police officer or Aikido student to come our way.  Remember you don’t have to hurt a suspect, but if it’s between you or him good training will make sure it is him.