Frank Dux
strides through the group of students, correcting their pivots and sidesteps
in the movement drill he's teaching. Most know of Dux (pronounced "dukes")
through the film Bloodsport, which gave action star Jean Claude
Van Damme his first big break. Few know of the controversy surrounding
Dux and his history--or lack of one, as his critics claim.
Bloodsport
follows a young Frank Dux, a
soldier on leave from the US military to fight in the Kumite-- a secret,
underground tournament of the best fighters in the world. Through skill,
perseverance, and sheer luck, Dux is triumphant at the end. Although tainted
by the usual martial arts movie formula--hero trains hard, meets buddy,
buddy gets beat up by villain, hero defeats villain and gets the girl--the
byline of the movie catches your attention: "Based on a true story."
Could something like the Kumite really take place?
Dux described the Kumite to me as a big "house party." Basically,
said Dux, the tournament was held on a private island in the Bahamas to
avoid any legal repercussions. As this was 1975, when the martial arts
were still new to most folks and therefore mysterious and potentially
"evil," this seems like a wise move. Fighters would take each
other on at a wealthy promoter's estate. Dux explained how he became champion
only after defeating the chosen fighter of ten different promoters, including
having to travel to Asia for underground fights.
The controversy surrounding Dux begins with the tale of the Kumite itself.
In May 1988, shortly after the release of Bloodsport, Los Angeles
Times writer John Johnson blasted Dux and his story, claiming that Dux
made it all up.
Next page > Frank Dux: "What Really
Happened" > Page 1, 2, 3,
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