[quote]punchedbear wrote:
[quote]Robert A wrote:
I was under the impression it was Gene LeBell himself that choked out Seagal on a film set.
[/quote]
I have heard multiple stories about it and each one crazier than the one before it. The most logical one I have heard was Seagal was talking some crap about how he couldnt be choked out because he could control his breathing or blood flow because of his ki. He sat down and proceeded to get choked out.
I have also heard it was a full blown fight and Lebell kicked his ass and choked him out but that doesnt sound likely seems he still works in Hollywood. Choking out a star of a movie in a fight isnt gonna get you more work in Hollywood. [/quote]
The fullest version I’ve read, which stemmed from a thread posted on Bullshido some time ago was that on the set of Under Seige Segal had been boasting and bragging about his overall greatness to the stuntmen and the subject of chi was brought up. Steven proclaimed that he had a greater than normal control over his chi and could thus control blood flow throughout his body or some shit. Gene Lebell who was nearby (as it was his stunt crew) caught wind of this, approached him and called him out; assuring Steven that he could in fact choke him out. Steven apparently never even knew who Gene was and so stepped up to the challenge.
Now Gene didn’t like Steven. Apparently he was a total dick to Gene’s stunt crew, overly rough with the manhandling during scenes, so when Gene got this opportunity he got stuck right in but Steven immediately tapped and said it wasn’t fair as he wasn’t ready. Gene backed off and told him fine, let me know when you ARE ready. Steven composed himself, told Gene “ok” and as Gene went to apply the choke Steven reached down and tried to grab Gene by the balls, to which Gene backed up with him, still applying the hold… until his lights went out, which apparently happened as quickly as any other mortal man. Also, as sometimes happens, Steven pissed and shat his panties and considering he was such a dick about the whole thing Gene and co dragged him across the room and stuffed him into a locker.
When Steven came to he was furious and immediately had Gene and his crew fired and told them they’d never work in the movies again. I don’t know how it came around exactly but the threat of publicly coming forth with the story saw the team re-hired by the producers however on the proviso that no one involved publicly recounted the tale. Of course it came out anyway in a tabloid of some sort…
however, it is just a story. Bottom line is only the people who were there can fully comment on what truly happened. But having read that story and listened to a radio interview on it (will try to find both these sources and link them back here for anyone interested) I tend to believe that there’s at least some truth in it.
Steven was acting like a dick (not uncommon for him apparently if you consider all the rumours), got choked out, and continued to be a dick.
Note I am making no comment on his Aikido ability or ability to train others, nor indeed his firearms skills which he is also ‘supposedly’ highly regarded for.
edit - appears the film was Out For Justice, not Under Siege, my bad.
LOL! Edit 2, just to show how much a story can grow in the re-telling, this is the original source I caught this story in a couple of years ago. MTripps post on bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=92170&page=2&highlight=steven+segal
Youtube interview with Jon Wertheim on the subject
and if Jon Wertheim is writing about it you can pretty much guarantee there’s some truth to it, considering neither party has come forth to refute or confirm the story.