Conversation so far:
What significance did martial arts have in Steven Seagal's life?
The date of his journey has become a point of contention due to Seagal's statement that he studied with Morihei Uyeshiba, the founder of aikido, who died in 1969.
When did he begin martial arts?
1974.

Question: What inspired him to begin?
Self-contained rewrite: What inspired Steven Seagal to begin martial arts?