Frank Dux
Encyclopedia
Frank W. Dux is an American
martial artist
and fight choreographer
. Dux established his own school of Ninjutsu
in 1975, called "Dux Ryu Ninjutsu".
He was the inspiration for the 1988 film Bloodsport
starring Jean-Claude Van Damme
.
Ninjitsu by Senzo Tanaka.
Dux's martial art style, Dux Ryu Ninjitsu, is not a koryu
(15th century feudal form of Ninjutsu), but is still claimed to be "based on its Koga Ninja
root principles of adaptability and consistent change." Frank Dux formulated the proprietary augmentation technology he calls DUX FASST (Focus-Action-Skill-Strategy-Tactics).
The accuracy of many of Dux's personal claims have been disputed, including his martial arts background, fighting in the Kumite
, and prior military service. According to the Los Angeles Times
, the organization that staged the Kumite had the same address as Dux's house, and the trophy he won had been bought and paid for by Frank Dux at a local trophy store. This was disputed by Dux stating that the receipt was fabricated.
, and also served as fight choreographer. The film featured Jean Claude Van Damme who portrayed Frank Dux.
The film has been described by Dave Carter of Inside Kung Fu Presents The Complete Guide To Ninja Training as the "Ultimate Movie of the Ultimate Martial Art Contest". Dux also received co-writing credit for another Van Damme film, The Quest
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
martial artist
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
and fight choreographer
Stage combat
Stage combat is a specialized technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet productions. The term is also used informally to describe fight choreography for other...
. Dux established his own school of Ninjutsu
Schools of Ninjutsu
There are several modern martial arts schools that claim to teach martial arts derived from Ninjutsu, the historical arts of the Ninja covert agents or assassins of feudal Japan....
in 1975, called "Dux Ryu Ninjutsu".
He was the inspiration for the 1988 film Bloodsport
Bloodsport (film)
Bloodsport is a 1988 American martial arts film directed by Newt Arnold and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb and Leah Ayres. The film is based on the claimed adventures of Frank Dux, and was followed by three sequels Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite , Bloodsport III and Bloodsport 4: The...
starring Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
.
Martial arts career
Dux states that he was introduced to and trained in Koga YamabushiYamabushi
' are Japanese mountain ascetic hermits with a long tradition as mighty warriors endowed with supernatural powers. They follow the Shugendō doctrine, an integration of mainly esoteric Buddhism of the Shingon sect, with Tendai and Shinto elements...
Ninjitsu by Senzo Tanaka.
Dux's martial art style, Dux Ryu Ninjitsu, is not a koryu
Koryu
is a Japanese word that is used in association with the ancient Japanese martial arts. This word literally translates as "old school" or "traditional school"...
(15th century feudal form of Ninjutsu), but is still claimed to be "based on its Koga Ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
root principles of adaptability and consistent change." Frank Dux formulated the proprietary augmentation technology he calls DUX FASST (Focus-Action-Skill-Strategy-Tactics).
The accuracy of many of Dux's personal claims have been disputed, including his martial arts background, fighting in the Kumite
Kumite
Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata....
, and prior military service. According to the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, the organization that staged the Kumite had the same address as Dux's house, and the trophy he won had been bought and paid for by Frank Dux at a local trophy store. This was disputed by Dux stating that the receipt was fabricated.
Publications
Dux has written an autobiography entitled The Secret Man: An American Warrior's Uncensored Story. Dux was the inspiration for, and co-wrote, the 1988 motion picture BloodsportBloodsport (film)
Bloodsport is a 1988 American martial arts film directed by Newt Arnold and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb and Leah Ayres. The film is based on the claimed adventures of Frank Dux, and was followed by three sequels Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite , Bloodsport III and Bloodsport 4: The...
, and also served as fight choreographer. The film featured Jean Claude Van Damme who portrayed Frank Dux.
The film has been described by Dave Carter of Inside Kung Fu Presents The Complete Guide To Ninja Training as the "Ultimate Movie of the Ultimate Martial Art Contest". Dux also received co-writing credit for another Van Damme film, The Quest
The Quest (film)
The Quest is a 1996 American martial arts action film written and directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme. The film starred Van Damme, Roger Moore, Janet Gunn, and James Remar. The film is Van Damme's directorial debut. The plot revolves around an international martial arts tournament, with a storyline...
.
Further reading
- Stewart, John. "Kumite: A Learning Experience", in Black Belt, November 1980 v. 18 #11, 28-34, 91.
- Klein, Michelle. "Frank Dux: The Man Behind the Legend", in Inside Kung Fu Presents: The Complete Guide to Ninja Training, May 1987: 48-53.
- Ralph KeyesRalph Keyes (author)Ralph Keyes is an author and lecturer who has written 16 books including Is There Life After High School?, which was adapted as a musical that opened on Broadway in 1982 and is still produced by theater groups across the United States...
, The Post-Truth Era: Dishonesty and Deception in Contemporary Life, St. Martin's Press (2004), ISBN 978-0312306489.
External links
- Reel Faces - Bloodsport - ChasingtheFrog.com