The American-Russian-Serbian ex-Hollywood star Steven Seagal has opened an Aikido martial arts center in Moscow with the aim of making Russian youth fit for the army. Putin’s elderly friend solemnly cut a ribbon at the opening ceremony and declared that the spread of Aikido in Russia must be accelerated. The state news agency Tass reported that the “All Russian Typhoon Martial Arts Center” should become an “institute for patriots and martial artists”. Seagal was invited as a guest of honor.
Steven Seagal rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s for films such as “Red Alert”, “On Burning Ice”, “Glimmer Man” and as the recipient of numerous sexual harassment allegations. In the action actor hierarchy, he was always overshadowed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Harrison Ford and other A-listers. Famous stuntmen refused to work with him because he was uncontrollably rough during movie scenes. For example, Bond actor Sean Connery claimed that Seagal deliberately broke his wrist while filming Never Say Never Never.
Since 2013, Seagal has been working as an ambassador for a Russian arms company. With his help, the import ban in the US is lifted. Unlike other Western friends of Putin, Seagal supported both the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. For this he received several awards and in 2018 the title of “Special Ambassador”. He celebrated his 70th birthday in Moscow. Among the guests were several Russian oligarchs and propaganda figures such as Vladimir Solovyov and Olga Skabayeva. In 2014, he met the nationalist biker gang Night Wolves in Sebastopol.
The «Purely Russian Typhoon Martial Arts Center» will not be the last in Moscow. Seagal owns a quarter of Gorki Holding Co., which was awarded a large plot of land in Moscow’s posh Rublevka region in October. The next Aikido center will be built there. As “Newsweek” reports, a hospital for children with cancer was originally planned to be built there.
(together)
This is Russia’s response to the drone arms race
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
