Bas Rutten recently shared his thoughts on action star Steven Seagal and his skills as a martial artist. Rutten was complimentary of Seagal, who has received backlash over the years for his comments on other martial artists.
The UFC Hall of Famer was candid when addressing the action star’s reputation. ‘El Guapo’s remarks add new context to the an ongoing debate among MMA fans surrounding the effectiveness of Aikido.
Before becoming a bankable action star in Hollywood, Seagal was an Aikido practitioner, holding a 7th-dan black belt. Seagal’s skills were on full display during action scenes in his films, including Above the Law, Hard to Kill, and Under Siege.
In addition, Seagal has also attended several UFC events and even spent some time assisting Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida.
During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Rutten praised Seagal’s on-screen presence and Aikido mastery during his earlier films. He also made it clear that Seagal is a legitimate martial artist.
“Freaking love [Seagal] as an actor. The movie Nico [Above the Law], the one on the boat [Under Siege]. I mean, freaking unbelievable martial artist,” Rutten said. “You can say whatever you want to say, and people see him and they can have their own thoughts about him, but as a martial artist, what he does is really amazing.”
UFC Legend Bas Rutten Addresses Steven Seagal’s Remarks About Aikido’s Effectiveness
Bas Rutten also weighed in and shared his thoughts on Steven Seagal’s remarks about Aikido being effective in MMA. The UFC Hall of Famer explained the different situations in which the discipline could work.
However, Rutten also pointed out situations that would negate its effectiveness.
Rutten highlighted the importance of having knowledge of more than one martial art. He noted that Aikido is effective when someone is able to throw their opponent. But that is negated if the opponent can throw a quick straight punch.
“In Aikido, which is a beautiful art, there’s a lot of throws, but then somebody attacks you like this and then you go with them and you throw, you see the arm coming,” Rutten said. “If I stand in front of you, go boom [with a straight punch], you can’t grab that punch. You’re going to be too slow for it. Or somebody in the bar, with a big right hook, yes, perfect, Aikido step, they’re going to throw them.”
Rutten Addresses Whether Aikido Can Work in an MMA Fight
Rutten also emphasized that Aikido can also be effective in MMA. He said it is a discipline that can be useful, but only in certain elements.
“There’s a lot of elements from Aikido like hand control and the way to control the arms that you can use in mixed martial arts,” Rutten said. “But saying that pure Aikido is going to make you win a mixed martial arts match, it’s just not going to happen. Can you get luck? Of course, you can get lucky.”
The UFC Hall of Famer’s opinion carries significant weight, considering he has not only competed but also spent time as a commentator. Rutten has called fights featuring competitors from a variety of martial arts backgrounds, giving him firsthand insight into what has and has not worked.
UFC Legend Bas Rutten Shares Honest Thoughts on Steven Seagal