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Steven Seagal teaches Aikido in Russia's Udmurtia

The 61- year-old actor is one of the best experts in Oriental martial arts in the world
Photo ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin
Photo ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin

IZHEVSK, October 2 (Itar-Tass) - Famous actor Steven Seagal has attended an Aikido drill at Udmurtia University. "The actor came to watch the drill as a private guest. It was his own initiative to visit the university," University official Ekaterina Kubayeav told Itar-Tass.

The actor himself conducted an Aikido drill at the University gym on Tuesday evening, demonstrating Aikido skills to the University athletes for about an hour. After the drill was over the actor talked to students, signed autographs to his fans eager to be photographed together with the celebrated actor, the spokeswoman said.

The actor's plans to visit the university had been kept secret until the actor actually arrived, she said. Dean of the University department for Physical Training Aleksandr Alabuzhev said they did not want crowds to come. “We are interested in Seagal first of all because he is a top class sportsman. There are around a dozen such Aikido experts in the world like Steven Seagal is. Attending his Aikido master class was not only a great honor for the university students and teachers, but was also a big experience in one's professional sports career," Alabuzhev said.

61- year-old Steven Seagal, well known to the Russian audiences for his famous films Under Siege, Out for Justice and others, is one of the best world experts in Oriental martial arts which he has been practicing since childhood.