It turns out that my colleague is one of only about twenty people living in the states that is a seventh degree black belt. ( My degree may be off +\- one ). After I asked him what do all the different degrees mean and what you need to do to earn them, I asked him if I would know one of those other twenty people( I was thinking UFC)...Turns out that Seagal is one of them...It also turns out the he was/is a real bad-ass...He also told me that there is some controversy in the Aikido community as to Seagal's ranking...(something to do with his first marriage)
What is the name of your friend?
I took classes from Seagal in 94 and 95.
He was very good back then and not fat like now.
The guy is tall, super fast and very hard.
If you take a fall or lock from him you better be prepared because he doesn't hold back.
Now I'm more into his student Haruo Matsuoka (
http://www.ikazuchi.com/)
He is the short guy who is getting thrown in the dojo in the beginning of Above the Law from Steven Seagal (
).
You can also see Matsuoka
here at the 35sec mark and at the 1 minute mark)
He was a long time student of Seagal and his highest ranked student as well and also fast as lightning.
They can't see eye to eye now.