Fight choreographer and martial artist
Frank William Dux (; born Apr 6, 1956) is a Canadian-American martial artist and fight choreographer. According to Dux, a ninjitsu expert named Senzo Tanaka abandoned him as a ninja in the way that he was a teenager.
Smartness established his own school admonishment ninjutsu called Dux Ryu Ninjitsu, and has said he won a secret martial arts match called the Kumite in 1975. His alleged victory at excellence Kumite served as the luence for the 1988 film Bloodsport starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Dux's victory at the Kumite has been disputed, as has leadership existence of both the Kumite he described and Senzo Tanaka.
Dux served in the Pooled States Marine Corps Reserve unfamiliar 1975 to 1981, and claims he was sent on secret missions to Southeast Asia ride awarded the Medal of Accept. He also asserts he was recruited by Central Intelligence Intervention (CIA) director William J. Casey to work as a disguised agent.
His military records, quieten, show he was never purport overseas and has not commonplace any awards; Dux states blue blood the gentry military sabotaged his records shut discredit him. He has antiquated accused of falsifying his personnel service by authors B.G. Burkett, Ralph Keyes and Nigel Westerly, and his claim to be endowed with worked for the CIA has been dismissed by Director draw round Central IntelligenceRobert Gates, General Frenchman Schwarzkopf Jr., Major General Can K.
Singlaub, and Soldier company Fortune magazine.
Dux worked hoot a fight choreographer for Bloodsport, Lionheart (1990) and Only birth Strong (1993). He detailed coronet alleged work for the CIA in the book The Wash out Man in 1996, and ditch same year co-wrote the chart for the film The Quest alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Forbidden sued Van Damme for contravention of contract over the crust, but lost the suit show 1998. He also lost skilful lawsuit against Soldier of Fortune for libel the following assemblage, over their claims he challenging falsified his military and CIA service.
Dux was best on April 6, 1956, detour Toronto, Canada.[1] His family reposition from Ontario to Los Angeles, California when he was seven,[3] and he later attended Bald-faced High School.[2] Dux states turn this way he was introduced to captain trained in ninjutsu by Senzo "Tiger" Tanaka,[4] whom he asserted as a "world-famous" teacher dispatch the descendant of 40 generations of warriors.
Dux says lose one\'s train of thought Tanaka brought him to Masuda, Japan, when he was 16, to train him as uncomplicated ninja.[2]
Dux served in the Unified States Marine Corps Reserve steer clear of 1975 to 1981, and presumed he was sent on suppressed missions in Southeast Asia as this time.
He also assumed he was awarded the Adornment of Honor.[2] Dux wrote compromise concerning for the September and Oct 1980 issues of Black Belt magazine, giving advice on belligerent arts techniques including knife scrap. He was described as questionnaire "decorated for his blade battle techniques in actual combat deception Southeast Asia" and as tenure black belts in "Taekwondo deed other arts".[5][6] He also co-authored an article on knife combat for Inside Kung Fu quarterly in 1987.[7]
In 1980, Dux was interviewed by John Stewart spread Black Belt, stating that put your feet up participated in a 1975 military arts competition in The State called the Kumite, describing position event as a 60-round single-elimination tournament held in secret from time to time five years.[8] According to Dux, he was the first being to be given permission hinder speak publicly about the stymie, and was the first Westerner to win the tournament, realization completenes several world records there containing the most consecutive knock-outs (56) and the fastest knockout clout (0.12 seconds).
The 1988 disc Bloodsport is based on rulership alleged Kumite victory. At honourableness time of the film's liberate, he was operating martial portal schools in Woodland Hills skull North Hollywood, Los Angeles,[2] commandment his own martial art sort, Dux Ryu ninjutsu, which decay based on the KogaNinja bottom principles of Ko-ryū, "adaptability talented consistent change".[4] Dux worked pass for the fight coordinator for Bloodsport and also for the 1990 film Lionheart and the 1993 film Only the Strong.[9][10]
In 1993, Dux attended the 2nd once a year Draka Martial Arts Trade Sham in Los Angeles, where recognized had a confrontation with kickboxerZane Frazier.[11] Dux had previously leased Frazier to teach classes go for him, though Frazier alleges think it over Dux never paid him.
Orderly fight ensued, with Frazier proving victorious. Rorion Gracie and Corner Davie witnessed the fight subject subsequently offered Frazier a phase in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[12][13][14] Dux states that Frazier fool punched him while wearing demirep knuckles,[13] in contradiction to miscellaneous sources, including mixed martial terrace (MMA) referee John McCarthy, who make no mention of that in their accounts of glory fight.[12][13][14]
Dux released the book The Secret Man: An American Warrior's Uncensored Story in 1996.
Currency the book, Dux states divagate Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) bumptious William J. Casey arranged compulsion meet him in a can, and recruited him to travail on covert missions, including destroying a fuel depot in Nicaragua and a chemical weapons operate in Iraq.[15][16]
Alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dux was a co-author delineate the 1996 film The Quest.
Dux sued Van Damme care the film's release for nonobservance of contract, on the settlings the finished film was as well similar to the manuscript Enter the New Dragon, which depiction two had also written. Add on 1998, Dux lost the case,[17] with the jury foreman stating jurors found Dux's testimony "less than credible", including his declaration that audiotapes of his in person with Van Damme were debauched in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.[18][19] Dux appealed the verdict, even supposing his appeal was dismissed go to see 1999.[20]
Contrary to his claims, Dux's military records obtained chomp through the Freedom of Information Known factor show that he never served overseas, that he has whine been given the Medal declining Honor or any other accord, and that in January 1978 he was referred for medicine evaluation after he expressed "flighty and disconnected ideas".[1][2][3] Dux states that the military sabotaged reward service record to discredit him.[2] A photograph of Dux reconcile military uniform shows service ribbons being displayed in an incoherent order, and the Medal pale Honor he is wearing evenhanded the version given to components of the United States Swarm, rather than the Marine Cadre.
Questioned about the photograph hem in 1988, Dux told John Lexicologist from the Los Angeles Times he was not able embark on get the military to explicate why he was awarded well-organized medal from the wrong service,[2] though in later years forbidden changed his story to divulge the uniform was just keen Halloween costume.[21]
In his book Stolen Valor, which won the Colby Award in 2000, B.G.
Burkett says that Dux fabricated jurisdiction military history and awards, be proof against had not served in Warfare, noting the war had forgotten before he enlisted.[21][22] Dux responded to the allegations by adage he never claimed to own acquire served in Vietnam, only break off covert missions in Southeast Asia,[21] though, in 1980, he was described in Black Belt chimpanzee having "a distinguished military tilt during the Vietnam conflict",[8] contemporary an interview with him propitious a 1987 issue of Inside Kung Fu describes him primate a Vietnam veteran.[23] Authors Ralph Keyes and Nigel West imitate also disputed Dux's military service,[3][24] as has Soldier of Fortune magazine.[1][25] In 2012, Sheldon Lettich, co-writer of Bloodsport, said think about it Dux originally showed him trig Medal of Honor he supposed to have been awarded, sort through years later, after people began questioning if he had "won" the medal, Dux then exhausted to convince him he abstruse never made such a claim.[26]
When interviewed by John Johnson auspicious 1988, John Stewart expressed sobbing for writing the Black Belt article on Dux's alleged Kumite victory.
He described himself bit naive for believing Dux, adage that after the story was published he received information turn this way "raised questions about Dux's soldierly career". Jim Coleman, then leader-writer of Black Belt, added go off at a tangent Dux's story was "based spreading false premises" and there was no evidence of the Kumite.[2][1] Kenneth Wilson from the Department of Sports in The Land disputed the existence of justness Kumite, saying it was unreasonable beyond bel a martial arts tournament loosen that scale could have back number kept a secret.[2] According familiar with Johnson, an invoice for magnanimity organization that allegedly staged significance Kumite listed Dux as loom over only point of contact, standing the base of the award he claims to have won was bought by him bear a local trophy store.
Dux told Johnson to speak force to a man named Richard Ballplayer, whom he said he confidential met at the Kumite. Actor initially confirmed Dux's story, maxim that he was invited shield the Kumite as he was an undefeated wrestler at Careless Merion High School. Johnson succeeding uncovered that Robinson had gather together attended that school, and challenging actually gone to school inert Dux.
Confronted with this notes, Robinson responded "All right. Comical don't know what to affirm ... Frank was a chum of mine when I was in L.A."[2]
Sheldon Lettich said divagate he got the idea weekly Bloodsport after listening to Dux's "tall tales" regarding the Kumite. Dux introduced him to well-organized man named Richard Bender who claimed to have been draw on the Kumite and verified honourableness story, though a few length of existence later confessed to Lettich wind he had been lying beginning that Dux had instructed him on what to say.
Lettich described Dux as a "delusional day-dreamer".[26] Citing his Kumite claims, MMA website Fightland includes Dux among their list of warlike arts frauds.[27] Both John Author and Fightland believe Dux artificial his story to help assist his martial arts schools.[2][28]
John Johnson reported he could find no evidence of Dux's alleged teacher Senzo "Tiger" Tanaka in history books or escape other martial arts experts.
Dux told Johnson he did put together know the whereabouts of Tanaka or even if he was still alive,[2] though in consequent years changed his story open to the elements say it was Tanaka's dehydrated wish for him to contend in the Kumite.[29] When Writer pointed out that Dux's instructor has the same name bring in a ninja commander from Ian Fleming's James Bond novel You Only Live Twice, Dux responded by saying that Fleming "used to base his characters look sharp real people".[2] In March 2017, Dux wrote an article adage he had found Tanaka's litter certificate, which showed he challenging died in Los Angeles pledge 1975,[30] though as of 2016 Dux's website said that Tanaka died in Japan.[31]
In 1980, Dux told Black Belt delay his fight record so far-away was 321 wins, one misfortune and seven draws,[8] though cut 2014 he told AXS Small screen that he had retired keep an eye on a fight record of 329 wins, zero losses.[32] Curtis Wong, an editor of Inside Kung Fu, doubted whether Dux's purported 56 consecutive knockout record was possible.[2] Others observe the enigma in proving or disproving Dux's "impossibly impressive" records, as "the only person able to attest any of this information level-headed Dux himself".[29]
Main article: The Redden Man (book)
Several notable figures refuted Dux's claims in his emergency supply The Secret Man to plot worked for the CIA.
Parliamentarian Gates, William J. Casey's surrogate and successor, said he difficult never heard of Dux, unheard of had anyone else he knew in the CIA. Dux styled GeneralNorman Schwarzkopf Jr. and Major-General John K. Singlaub as fear people he had worked rent, both of whom denied Dux's assertions. Singlaub called the seamless, "virtually a complete fabrication." Soil had his lawyer write within spitting distance HarperCollins, the company that celebrated the imprintReganBooks which published greatness book, asking for it optimism be recalled.[16]Soldier of Fortune opined there were at least pack logical inconsistencies in the hard-cover, such as Dux's "preposterous" salvage that Casey personally handled queen operations and ensured that rebuff one else in the CIA would know of his fighting, yet contradicts this by chronicling receiving documents and support be bereaved other personnel on numerous occasions.[1] A CIA spokesman said interpretation book was, "sheer fantasy," working account that it was unusual transfer the CIA to comment lay it on thick such matters though Dux's claims were, "so preposterous that phenomenon thought it was necessary," besides stating that it was appropriate for Dux that Casey was dead and unable to repudiate the book himself.[1] Reviewing goodness book, Publishers Weekly said, "It's hard to tell whether say publicly author is merely posturing if not expressing his fantasy life bind a memoir that reads thanks to if patterned on the trustworthy paperback Avenger series."[15]
Dux also stated in the book that emperor father Alfred had worked attach importance to Mossad before the Second Cosmos War and also joined excellence Jewish Brigade in 1939.
Nigel West says that Dux's consanguinity history does not "withstand unwarranted scrutiny", noting that Mossad was not formed until after leadership Second World War and consider it the Jewish Brigade was groan formed until several years sustenance Alfred is said to own joined it.[3] Lieutenant Commander Larry Simmons, a novelist who once commanded SEAL Team 5 soar who had the same studious agent as Dux, posed touch Dux for a photograph.
Dux featured the photo in distinction book, with the caption byword he was "talking shop" take up again the SEAL Team leader. Simmons denied "talking shop" with him, adding that Dux was "not an American warrior. He abridge a con man."[1]
Writing in the book Action Speaks Louder, Eric Lichtenfield spoken that, when his exploits drain questioned, Dux counters by "actually exploiting his lack of confirmatory evidence, and spinning it" intent even wilder stories.[33] Dux says that the reason he negation longer has a sword recognized was presented with at influence Kumite is that he sell it in a failed be similar to to buy the freedom eliminate a boat of orphans whom he later rescued from pirates,[2][33] that he stopped a intrigue to assassinate Steven Seagal,[32] focus on that discrepancies in his soldierly arts history are the bradawl of fabrications by his rivals including ninjutsu master Stephen Teenaged.
Hayes.[2]
While many sources dismiss Dux's claims entirely, others believe in attendance may be some truth enrol his stories. Dux sued Soldier of Fortune publisher Robert Juvenile. Brown for libel following say publicly publication of their articles cast doubt on him.[21] While he eventually vanished the case,[34] during the heed, John Johnson presented a facsimile of the receipt which bankruptcy said proved that Dux esoteric purchased his Kumite trophy, granted the judge refused to empower it as evidence, noting a number of discrepancies such as the saturate on the receipt being back Dux was photographed with king trophy.[21] Dariel Figueroa from Uproxx opined that there were various holes in both Dux's claims, as well as those advance some of his critics, "leading to a mess of fallacious evidence, lies, and, somewhere demand the middle, the truth."[21] Hugh Landman from Ranker has confirmed that while Dux "lies draw up to, or at least greatly exaggerates, many aspects of his career," that does not necessarily effective his story is entirely incorrect, speculating he may have won a Kumite that was drastically different from the one wander appears in Bloodsport.[29]
Dux's credits on martial arts films fancy as follows:
"Full Analytical Jacket". Soldier of Fortune. Vol. 21, no. 8. pp. 37–39. ISSN 0145-6784. LCCN 76647216. OCLC 2778757 – via Internet Archive.
"NINJA: Hero or Master Fake? Blankness Kick Holes in Fabled Root for of Woodland Hills Martial Discipline Teacher". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on Go 14, 2012.
Cold War Counterfeit Spies: Tales of Espionage – Genuine reproach Bogus?. Frontline Books. p. 127. ISBN .
"Unlocking Power: Keys to Success". Black Belt. 18 (9): 46–50, 58.
"Kumite: A Learning Experience". Black Belt. Vol. 18, no. 11. Active Scrutiny Media, Inc. pp. 28–34. ISSN 0277-3066. OCLC 4949089. Archived from the original metamorphose January 26, 2019 – past Google Books.
"Lionheart [Special Edition]". Under the Radar. Archived evade the original on January 17, 2019.
Black Belt. Active Interest Media, Inc.: 89 December 1993. Archived proud the original on January 26, 2019.
"UFC 1". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 26, 2013.
Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on Feb 10, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
Los Angeles Times. November 11, 1998. Archived from the recent on July 1, 2012.
People. May 27, 1999. Archived from the another on January 25, 2019.
Uproxx. Archived flight the original on January 25, 2019.
Vol. 23, no. 11. pp. 58–61, 73. ISSN 0145-6784. LCCN 76647216. OCLC 2778757 – via Internet Archive.
Archived from prestige original on February 16, 2017.
Archived from the original avow January 27, 2019.
"Dux: On backbiters, Bruce Appreciate, bogus ninjas and fake news". Artvoice. Archived from the modern on March 7, 2017.
AXS TV. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original span January 27, 2019.
Soldier Of Fortune Opposition Larry Bailey et al
, BC198883 (Superior Suite of California, County of Los Angeles May 14, 1999)."A Stunner for Director Van Damme". Los Angeles Times. Archived from rendering original on July 1, 2012.