Put Up Your Dux!
The Return of the REAL Frank W. Dux!
By Michael Reis
As a child growing up, I was in awe of how cool martial arts appeared. I told myself, I just have to be able to do that. My parents agreed to allow this small and sickly boy a chance, and finally found a teacher willing to teach someone my age; that being 4 years old at the time. Thus began my journey in the world of martial arts. I didn’t know or care that there were several hundred different martial arts in the world; I was only 4 after all. I didn’t know who O’Sensei was, or who Ed Parker, Al Dacoscos, Chuck Norris, or even who Bruce Lee was.
It wasn’t until I was 12 that I saw my first Bruce Lee movie. It was at this time that I had the privilege of seeing the movie, “Above the Law” --and then just about every ninja movie made at that time! So of course I was to witness a certain movie based on a real man that fought in an underground tournament, the Kumite. The movie was no other than “Bloodsport.”
I began reading every magazine I could about martial arts. I was most intrigued by the skills of Steven Segal, Bruce Lee, Robert Bussey, Benny “The Jet” Uquerdez, Ed Parker and Frank W. Dux. These men set the benchmark on how to become great in the martial arts. They were all do-it-your-own-way kinds of fighters, but Frank intrigued me the most.
Hanshi Frank W. Dux told me himself that it had been a remarkable 30 years since he had been personally interviewed for any type of article in the United States. So you can imagine my excitement when the opportunity to interview and write about Frank W. Dux came around for me!
Anyone who knows anything about martial arts has surely read or heard about the countless claims and negative press circling around Hanshi Dux. I admit I even became a little skeptical about him myself. Who wouldn’t, right? When the easiest information you can find about him on the internet these days is how fake and overhyped his talents are, it’s pretty easy to jump on that bandwagon of belief and consider him a nothing too. However, I’m not the type of guy who likes to take everyone else’s word for it, and neither should you be. After 30 years of America only hearing the hype, now’s the time to hear the truth. My research reveals not only his upbringing, his actual accomplishments and talent, but also the allegations that seem to circle around Frank and the reason those allegations exist. Through this you should be able to make an informed and educated decision on whether or not to believe those claims made against him.
In 1956 Toronto, Canada, Frank W. Dux was born to parents who were holocaust survivors. It was at 7 years of age that Frank and his parents moved to California, but financial hardships would ensure a hard upbringing.
Although Frank possessed tremendous athletic ability, his family’s lack of financial means would force him to seek out less traditional ways of martial arts instruction. With the need to learn to protect himself, and his already ornate athleticism, his great desire to learn directed him towards finding free instruction; not something most people would expect from a champion martial arts fighter. Frank recalled what it was like training as he was growing up:
“John Leone would let me sit in on classes on ki energy and that’s what I learned from him. Then on Van Nuys Blvd., I would go see Bob Osman who was the strongest karate man in the world. Bob taught me the idea and concept that one punch is all you need, and develop your strength and power…I became a knockout king and that is where I got that from. When I went to Bill Ryusaki’s school you’d see Bruce Lee in there. I learned focus and speed through Bill.”
Allthough Frank was unable to pay for any lessons, it was obvious how incredibly he yearned to be taught. As such, Frank had an unwritten arrangement with Bill Ryusaki that allowed him his free lessons. “I would use the broom from the Chinese restaurant next to Bill’s school so I could clean up the front of the school and the Chinese restaurant, since it was their broom. And Bill would lift his blinds and let me watch the class and I would mimic the movements. Bill would look at me and guide me through the window. Everyone would make fun of me, ‘Look at this stupid kid out there.’ I had to overcome humiliation because I wanted to learn.”
In middle school the “Sidewalk Dragon” was already a proficient fighter, attributing much of it to genetics and the years of manual labor working to help out his family helped build his body up with developed muscle. “By the time I was 14 I was knocking out grown men. I loved training, but when I was a kid I was huge.” That comes at no surprise seeing as he grew to be 6’2 and ranging at around 200 + lbs. Frank shared another reason that made him such a proficient fighter, “Because of my lack of finances I didn’t have to stick to one school. I didn’t get indoctrinated to one style.” Frank remembered some of the training he did on the side walk that helped with body strengthening. “I knew about Muay Thai a long time ago and was using shin kicks before a lot of people. I would kick parking meters to train up my shins to get the bones hardened.”
There were some benefits to Frank’s financial hardships, as it would drive him to develop a sense of maturity and seriousness, in which he was able to lend to his training regimen. “I was mature. You have to be, when you are poor to survive. It makes you grow up quickly. I did not have much of a childhood. ‘How are we going to eat today?’ We’d go collect bottles so we could have food, and my mom was sick. My mother was really sick, and my parents were immigrants from the holocaust. They came to the country with nothing.” Frank continued, “Through that kind of adversity I trained myself, and through the kindness of many people, I learned martial arts.”
When Frank was older he attended a tournament where he was able to see Victor Moore put on an incredible demonstration in speed with the late Bruce Lee. “The punches were supposed to go to Vic’s chest while Bruce threw the punches. Vic was so fast he deflected them!” I wanted to see that for myself, so I went on a search for any video taped footage of such a demonstration. I was able to not only find footage of this demonstration, but you could clearly see by the look on Bruce’s face that Vic was more than capable of deflecting his speedy punches, before Bruce was finally able to get through. This research went a little further for me too after I was able to speak with Grand Master Victor Moore about this demonstration. “They show that video like sever punches were thrown,” Vic said to me as he remembered back, “the demonstration was Bruce was going to throw 3 punches and I got throw 3 punches all were supposed to be to the chest and we were supposed to see if we could deflect the punches. Bruce threw one I deflected it, Bruce threw his second I deflected it and he got a little frustrated with that one. Then someone called my name and I turned and then as I looked back at Bruce he threw his last one at my face. I just laughed and said, ‘It’s like that huh?’ so I got my turn. I bet those videos don’t show me throwing my punches do they.” I thought about it briefly and told them they didn’t and I didn’t even realize he threw punches at Bruce. “Well I did throw my 3 and my first 2 got him but he was able to deflect my third one. He told me I was the fastest American he’d ever seen.”
Frank also remembered a fight Vic Moore had with Chuck Norris. Vic won the fight, but due to rulings, and certain prejudices, the fight went to Chuck Norris. “I watched Chuck Norris go over to Vic after the fight and gave him a piece of paper and walk away. I went over to Vic to see what it said, and it said, ‘To the guy who beat me’. I asked Vic why he would do that and Vic said, ‘Because to be the best you have to fight the best.’” Frank shared with me another time he’d met up with Vic Moore. “I was 13 years old and I went up to Vic and asked him if it was true to be the best you have to fight the best. Vic said laughing, ‘Give it your best shot.’ I hit him right in his nose. After that one I did it again. It was the best fight that was fought, and yet it’s hardly ever spoken about. I admit Vic was probably taking it easy on me since I was a kid, but he eventually hit me so hard it rang my bell really well.”
Despite ringing Frank’s bell, Vic had some things to say about Frank’s skill: “I fought and beat them all: Chuck Norris, Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, Mike Stone, Mike Foster…Frank Dux was the only person I couldn’t beat. And he was still a kid at the time. He learned from me and I said to everyone he was the one to watch. The one who was going to take it all—the real Kumite, what we see as Bloodsport.”
Frank told me that every time he and Vic would fight it would take hours. They would trade getting knocked and knocking the other down, and after every fight they would say, “We ain’t done yet.” Just recently, after 35 years of not seeing one other, Vic and Frank took up where they’d left off, getting right back into the routine of things, and fought once again in the lobby of the Sheraton Downtown at the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Obviously, no matter how much time passes between them, they ain’t done yet.
In my interview with Frank he had much to say regarding Vic Moore and the prejudices that were seen in martial arts at that time. Vic had been unable to participate in the Kumite himself simply because he was black. “There was so much prejudice at the time; they weren’t going to allow it to happen. People forget that in the 60’s we’d just had the Civil Rights Movement. You’re talking about five or six years later, in 1975. People did not change that quick. People also don’t realize that martial arts were behind when it came to the Civil Rights Movement. They weren’t up with the times yet.”
You would think a fight like that wouldn’t go unnoticed, and it didn’t. Dr. Lawrence Day was there to watch Vic Moore and Frank Dux fight. He stated, “I watched Frank and Vic fight 2 or 3 times, and the last time I watched them fight, Frank won.”
This meeting with Vic Moore helped Frank to find his first hands-on teacher, Jack Seki. Jack Seki studied under Jigoro Kano, the founder of modern day Judo, in Tenjin-Shinyo Ryu Jujitsu (studied under Hachinosuke Fukoda, Sensei and Masatomo Iso, Sensei) and Kito-Ryu Jujitsu (studied under Tsunetoshi Likubo, Sensei). He was teaching locally for a price Frank could afford. “Jack was one of the few guys who put on a program where you could attend classes for a buck 25 a month. It was low enough that if I could collect bottles…I would turn them in to the local liquor store and get a nickel. That was basically me finding two bottles a day on my way home from school.”
This pairing led Frank to meet his next teacher, a friend of Jack Seki’s, the Kumite Champion, Senzo Tanaka. This was an extraordinary gateway to Frank’s introduction into the elite fighting event of the Kumite; an event we all know well due to Jean Claude Van Damme’s performance in the movie based on Frank’s experiences in the Kumite, “Bloodsport.”
I was most eager to ask Frank about the mounting speculation being spread throughout the internet about him being a fraud in the martial arts. “There are a lot of people who engage in what’s called traded libel, and they want to have everybody in the world feeling like they are the only legitimate martial artists. Theses types of speculations have gone on for centuries-- one master saying they are the last and only master of a certain style, when it’s just not true at all.”
The attempts to defraud Frank as a legitimate martial artist started in the 1980’s. One good example concerns a reporter from the L.A. Times, John Johnson. Mr. Johnson literally ran out of an interview, taking the tape recorder, after Frank informed him that he’d learned that prior to the interview, John’s photographer had taken photos of Frank and posted them around with claims that Frank was a Vietnam vet and Medal of Honor recipient, as well as posting photos that were to be used in the article with the caption, ‘Why train with the rest when you can train with the best?’. Frank, however, had never made these claims or statements. John Johnson subsequently wrote in the paper that Frank was a fake when it came to the Kumite and his training. Unfortunately for Frank at the time, it’s quite possible Mr. Johnson had a personal vendetta against his interviewee as he was allegedly having an affair with Frank’s wife while they were in divorce proceedings, and may have obtained his job at the L.A. Times through her family connections (the ex-wife and Mr. Johnson are currently married).
With his attorney, Frank was forced to visit the editor of the L.A. Times to clear his name in connection to the erroneous claims. They took with them fight footage that had been shot from an 16mm camera as well as witnesses willing to make sworn statements regarding Frank’s credentials. The editor refused to hear any of their statements about Frank or see the footage they had brought in due to outside influences. “The editor pulled me aside and said, ‘I believe you. I know you’re telling the truth, but I can’t do anything about it. It’s out of my hands.’”
I’ve been fortunate enough to see for myself documentation of private investigation notes made by outside sources that are independent to the martial arts world who’ve discovered that certain internet sites have profited financially by claiming to hold true documentation about Frank W. Dux. This supposed true documentation has never been produced for others to view or critique. As well, the investigation by the private investigators also discovered that these same internet sources have profited large amounts of money by agreeing to keep factual documentation regarding Frank Dux off of various sites. When the L.A. Times reprinted their original 1988 article about Frank, the newspaper made millions of dollars in sales. The slanderous websites profited from their help to continue the ruse regarding Frank Dux.
The July 18th 2008 edition of the Artesia Daily newspaper featured an article about other wrong doings within this area of traded liable action.
“The Wikipedia editor, Niteshift36, disregards and disallows any contributor the right to cite as the verifying source,”-- Artesia Daily newspaper, July 18, 2008 edition, author Kathy Kolt. “This goes against Wikipedia rules…as according to the representations made by Mr. Godwin it is not Nightshift36 right to censor a published article – only to cite it. Likewise, Koga Ryu Ninjutsu blog administrator Barron Sheppard, Sky Benson, Thomas Howard, this books researcher and a long list of others stated they attempted to contribute factual information and provide links that end up removed. Such as, links to Sheppard’s Koga Ryu Ninjutsu blog used and cited as a source on Ronald Duncan’s Wikipedia page.
The same links allowed and appears on other Wikipedia articles are arbitrarily excluded from use on Frank Dux Wikipedia article. Complaints filed with Wikipedia foundation seemingly only worsen the situation as Frank Dux states after he had a conversation with Mr. Walsh he was asked to put up the correct information and that Walsh would watch the site but no sooner than Dux posts the information (like PamelaLee33, Avianraptor, etc.) he too is banned, locked out.
The assurances made by Walsh appear to Frank Dux to be a ruse by which to watch the page and from that identify Frank Dux IP and thus prevent him from correcting the information not only on Wikipedia but coincidentally, other incestuous sites promoting the same falsehoods. Internet addresses he is inexplicably not allowed to log on.”
The Artesia Daily newspaper, July 18, 2008 edition warns:
“Of course, if you’re famous, there’s always going to be the attacks by the “keyboard warriors.” Some will point you in the direction of sources that contest his accomplishments while deceptively failing to mention the material fact, that most of these same sources were exposed in a court of law to be guilty of making or repeating unsubstantiated allegations and presenting fabricated physical evidence. Wikipedia refuses to allow excerpts from Dux’s book “The Secret Man” HarperCollins, 1996, citing it is self published when in actuality it was vetted (substantiated and independently verified) by HarperCollins’ prestigious law firm, Slade and Metcalf. But allow unsubstantiated blogs that generate controversy and drives traffic (over a million hits) to another cite they own from which they benefit.”
As annotated by Kathy Kolt, The Untold Story of Actor Frank Dux, Hanshi Artesia Daily, July 18, 2008, “With regard to a false portrayal of Frank Dux, the sources exposed in a court of law guilty of making or repeating unsubstantiated allegations and presenting fabricated physical evidence, are none other than: B.G. Burkett & Glenna Whitley - Stolen Valor, John Johnson - NINJA: Hero or Master Fake? Others Kick Holes in Fabled Past of Woodland Hills Martial Arts Teacher, Los Angeles Times. May 1, 1988, Full Mental Jacket (August 1996) and Stolen Valor: Profiles of a Phony-Hunter (November 1998) Soldier of Fortune - Clyde Gentry III, No Holds Barred: Ultimate Fighting and the Martial Arts Revolution, Milo Books, 2003, Paperback Edition - Ralph Keys, The Post-Truth Era: Dishonesty and Deception in Contemporary Life, St. Martin’s Press (2004).
What remains on Frank Dux Wikipedia article page is a skeleton of misleading and false information. The administrators lend credibility to sources that were shown to be unreliable in both court proceedings and in the discussion section – evidence of their operating willfully in violation of Wikipedia rules and policy, intentionally libeling Dux.”
Researching for this story led me to think about the ninja craze days back in the 80’s. It was easy to get caught up in the whole thing with the TV show The Master and movies like American Ninja and Return of the Ninja sparking the interests of many a viewer. I was curious about the ninjutsu part of Dux Ryu as well. “I took the name ninjitsu because it implemented all the things I put into my system, stealth moving, survival, espionage techniques (hiding and disguising), distraction techniques, all of that.”
At that time there was a definite issue for those that were students of ninjutsu. In the US there was only one man or “westerner” recognized and deemed as being Ninja, Stephan Hayes.
“I had a big run-in with Black Belt magazine. They were going to say that I was one of the first American ninjas, like in the movie, before Stephan Hayes. Hayes wasn’t even around when I was doing what I was doing. I did not go along with him. If you really want to talk about the first, then you should be talking about Ronald Duncan.”
Frank led me to an article written by Nigel Clark in the Amsterdam News in New York titled, “Racism in Martial Arts.” The article was an excellent resource in explaining what happened regarding Ronald Duncan and why he was never given credit for being the first American to teach ninjutsu in the US. It was obvious, due to certain prejudices, the 80’s were not a time of fair treatment for people like Ronald Duncan or Frank Dux. Gordon Richiusa, a contributing writer with Black Belt magazine, was told that he could not publish a story about Frank Dux because of their professional relationship with Hayes. “We have a contract with Stephan Hayes that says we can’t publish anything about any Ninjas except for him,” –Amsterdam News, “Racism in Martial Arts,” Nigel Clark. That was when Black Belt magazine was under the ownership of a man who was very prejudice against people like Ronald Duncan because he was black and against Frank Dux because he was Jewish.
However, Black Belt magazine did approach Frank to publish articles about him regarding bare knuckle fights in the 80’s. In 1980 Black Belt Magazine featured Dux in their September, October, and November issues. In the November issue, Black Belt editor, John Stewart, wrote the article, Kumite: A Learning Experience. Contrary to popular belief, their article proves Black Belt magazine did indeed regard Frank as someone who partook in the Kumite. “Black Belt came to me, not the other way around. They heard about me and my records, which I didn’t even know of, but were kept by the IFAA.”
The following excerpt taken from Black Belt magazine proved their belief in his credentials in the Kumite. “From time to time, BLACK BELT learns of unusual events or occurrences in the martial arts; events that either because of their nature or because they occurred in the distant past – cannot be easily verified. Because we don’t want our readers to be misinformed, BLACK BELT has a policy of strict verification of all facts pertaining to any article. In the case several members of the staff have invested considerable amounts of time and energy checking the details of the following article, which was the product of a series of four interviews conducted over a period of three months. Although there is no convenient way to verify each and every detail connected with this story, the editors have verified enough of the basic facts to feel confident in publishing it.” – John Stewart Black Belt magazine Nov. 1980.
Also in 1980, Rainbow Publication’s Black Belt Magazine editor, John Stewart wrote in a letter, “Dux is a fully knowledgeable consultant on the details of such subjects as full contact fighting, weapons techniques, and anti-terrorism. Dux has had military experience of a unique nature.”
More third party accreditation for Hanshi Dux within the things he has done, and still contributes to, can be seen in many others publications including the Artesia Daily newspaper. The Artesia Daily newspaper, July 18, 2008 edition reads:
“In 1996, he was with HIDTA, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area at the Criminal Justice Center. He designed strategies and tactics and evaluated their existing training program. In 1997, he received awards from the Multi Jurisdictional Counter Drug Task Force to teach NEOA, Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association, covert activities. He is an adjunct faculty member of the Saint Petersburg, Florida Criminal Justice Institute. He was knighted in the ORDER OF SAINT MICHAEL, KNIGHT CHEVALIER, by the Police Hall of Fame, Miami, Florida. He was a source contributor to the US NAVY SEAL SPECWAR MANUAL. Impressive to me is the fact that he was a recipient of the
There are so many third party accreditations to validate Hanshi Dux’s achievements and abilities that it’s hard to believe so many are still fooled into believing the falsified and erroneous claims easily found on the internet. According to Gary Swanhart, Coordinator of the MCTFT, Multi Jurisdictional Counter Drug Task Force Training, with over 25 years of law enforcement experience, “Dux has been utilized as a guest speaker of the NEOA. Dux has also been utilized as an adjunct instructor for the Criminal Justice Institute in St. Petersburg, FL, from which he has received a certificate of appreciation.”
If that’s not enough, Detective John Krupinskey, Danbury Police Department, member of the Board of Directors of the Narcotics Enforcement Officer’s Association, and member of the department’s S.W.A.T. team is quoted, “In 1995, Dux’s experience was put to the test by the Danbury Police Departments S.W.A.T. Team both as a participant in various training scenarios and by solving highly technical and hazardous tactical problems that were indigenous to the area.
In 1996, because of Frank’s unique experience and expertise in conducting covert operations, Frank was invited to be the keynote speaker/instructor at our annual Criminal Investigations School then in Springfield,
Frank Dux is also named as one of the source contributors to the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Combat Fighting Course (NSW CFC) Hand book (K-431-0097), prepared by The Naval Special Warfare Center in San Diego, CA. Frank’s involvement as one of the contributors of the Naval Special Warfare Combat Fighting Course Manual is further collaborated in a court declaration by Shan Ludwig, who from 1985 to 1996 was a member of the Naval Special Warfare community. Ludwig was a S.E.A.L. instructor, Basic and Advanced, and had operational experience being deployed as a S.E.A.L. In the court prepared document, Ludwig states, “Beginning in 1995, Frank Dux trained me at the Naval Special Warfare Center and participated in our development of the Naval Special Warfare Combat Fighting Course for which he is named a contributor [of the] NSW CFC manual K-431-0097, intended for Special Forces personnel only.”
To elaborate on Frank’s military intelligence career, according to Lt. Commander Alexander Martian--USN Retired, in 1985 Frank was in Honduras working as an intelligence operative. Lt. Martin testified before the Kerry committee and every single investigating committee in Congress from 1987 until 1990 on the Iran-contra Affair and is the author of the book, The Conspirators: Secrets of an Iran-Contra Insider.
Martin detailed Frank’s work as an intelligence operative in court documents and under penalty of perjury, “Mr. Dux and I met in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in the summer of 1985, where I was being briefed by Dux and other intelligence operatives on military targets within Nicaragua.”
Even with the insurmountable and substantial documentation, third party views, and federal court statements people continue to believe what’s said by those who don’t know Frank Dux at all. Hearsay and lies are what you’ll most easily find if you conduct your own research on the true experiences and talents of Frank Dux. Being surrounded by false allegations took its toll not only on Frank’s morale, but on his student base as well. Many of his students left his schools due to the overwhelming slander.
There is a shining light, however, for Frank Dux, and that’s through the people who know him best. In my own research to find all of the truth I could, I was able to interview several individuals that could testify to having seen Frank do what many declare was impossible for anyone to achieve.
“I knew Frank Dux back when he was just a crazy young guy that liked to fight all the time,” Dr. Lawrence Day said to me during our phone conversation. Dr. Day also gave me some insider perspective to the Kumite days of Frank Dux.
Having witnessed Frank fight many times in the Kumite, Dr. Day stated if he’d been able to bet, he would have put his money on Frank every time.
Dr. Day explained that while in Nashville: “Frank had to rip a phonebook in half and do a 1 inch punch through a slab of concrete. And he did it all.” He went on further to say, “Frank does know the Burning Palm technique and he’s 1 of 5 people who truly know it.” My wonderfully enlightening conversation with Dr. Day ended on the note, “Frank’s a good friend of mine, and I’ll stand up for him anytime.”
That was only one friend I was able to speak to during my research. He’s inspired and helped many people within his time, one of which is a longtime friend and student of Frank’s, Shihan Sky Benson. Sky is currently the lead instructor in the Seattle based school, Seattle Ninjitsu / FASST™ Club. Having witnessed for himself what he claims to be about 90% of what’s been reported as some of the achievements of Frank Dux, Sky commented, “He’s still setting world records. He just did another one on May 25th [of this year]. Frank did a human tug-o-war. Frank stood on one foot on one end while 100 men pulled on the other and he did that for 10 seconds.” Sharing other witnessed accounts with me, Sky told of another incredible feat of Franks, “We measured it out with a tape measure, and from 10ft away Frank used to be able to snatch a coin from your hand before you closed it, and he replaced it with another. He can still do it from 5ft away now.”
Sky also witnessed Frank fight many times. He commented on Franks fighting style: “Frank is a clumsy fighter; unorthodox and effective, but clumsy.”
Sky believes Frank’s clumsy fighting appearance is due to his unorthodox fighting style, and that this is the reason he’s been victorious in so many fights. Sky shared with me the first time he’d visited a Dux Ryu class. “I was 15 years old. I was already a red sash in 5 Animal Form Kung Fu, and I was on top of the point sparring tournament world. No one could touch me. And since I was only 15 at the time, I wasn’t able to compete with people like Chuck Norris or Joe Lewis and all of them because they were doing full contact and I wasn’t old enough yet. One day we drove by a school that said “Ninja” on the front sign and I was excited I said, ‘Mom I want to go there! I want to be a ninja!’ and on Thursday there was open sparring night; back then all the schools had open sparring on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I went in to check things out. I was tough as nails and no one had been able to touch me. I got my butt kicked! It was so bad that I had to literally crawl out the front door of the school to get home.” Sky admitted this experience took a toll on him mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Fact remained that no matter who you were, Frank was setting a bench mark for more people than just me. Shihan Benson backs Frank Dux 100%. He too has seen and experienced what Frank Dux can really do.
Frank has done a great deal for many of his students, one of which was Kevin Cain. Kevin teaches primarily Dux Ryu material out of his
Frank has shown his integrity time and time again with the people who know him and have ever talked to him; Kevin is no different. Since Kevin was teaching mainly Dux Ryu material he decided he wanted to affiliate himself with Frank once again, “When other masters or schools would have said too bad to me when I came back, Frank just welcomed me back with open arms as if nothing had happened. He’s extremely generous, and he has incredible integrity. You just know when you’re around a master, and when Frank walks in, you just know.”
As a martial artist, researcher and author I feel incredibly privileged to have had the opportunity to speak to Frank myself. He and I have talked many times about pretty much everything. Experience and knowledge in great amounts will create a person not to be underestimated or under-respected; Frank Dux is one of those people. In one of our many talks, Frank shared with me details about one of his fights. It’s possible you’ve seen it dramatized on “Lion Heart” when the main character was taken to a location where he had to fight in a swimming pool. “That scene really happened. I was going there to fight the favorite fighter there, who was this Latino heartthrob who all the ladies loved. He had long hair and a handsome face, and here I was a young Jewish kid who wants to fight. I was taken aside by some of these guys there who offered me $25K to throw the fight. I told them sure I’d throw the fight. I thought I was being smart. When I started to think about it I decided I wasn’t going to throw the fight after all, but if I lost I’d get $25K. It sounded like the smart thing to do. I went into that fight and I just destroyed him. After the fight those guys came up and stuck a .45 to the back of my head. They said, ‘Do you know who you’re screwing with?’
Luckily I was being watched, and the guy who was taking care of me there came with his guys and walked up and hit me in the back of my head with his pistol saying, ‘What do you think you’re doing? You have no idea who you’re dealing with here. You can’t just say you’re going to do something with these people and not do it. They’ll kill you.’ I was fighting in front of cocaine dealers; I didn’t know the difference. I learned a lesson that day on how to be honest with yourself and to only do what you say you’re going to do.”
With the considerable number of no-holds-barred type fights Frank has taken part in, I had to ask him what he thought about the world of MMA and cage fighting. “It’s not martial arts. It’s an illusion of what real fighting is about. It’s a good training point, but it’s a sport now; not actually testing the skills you developed, which is what the Kumite was really for-- to test your skills and see what worked and what didn’t. In the Kumite it was truly no-holds-barred. Anything was legal; head-butts, shots to the throat, and strikes to the joints. I’ve seen men die right there on the platform.”
Frank Dux has experienced true fighting at its worst, a military career that is undeniable with valid documentations of his accomplishments and contributions, and has befriended many people who will, and can, vouch for his impeccable abilities. Despite the facts, Frank has been ridiculed and slandered for many years, even enduring the abuse at a time when he was in a coma due to brain tumors and physically incapable of defending himself. Each person has the choice to believe what they will, but actual investigation has pulled up many irrefutable facts in his defense.
Writing this story was a truly enlightening experience for me. One of my hopes is that it will show others the importance of looking for the truth rather than simply relying on what you read on the internet. It’s pertinent to remember hearsay isn’t fact. The 80’s craze of the ninja introduced to the world the amazing abilities and gifts possessed by many in the world of martial arts. Hanshi Frank Dux was then, and is now, a man we’ve all been privileged to have witnessed. Don’t allow the spitefulness of a few to ruin the integrity of the one and only Frank W. Dux in your mind and heart either. I advise you to checkout the information and documentation offered on www.frankwdux.com, and meet for yourself the REAL Master Dux
In my opinion By Kevin Cain It is my opinion without having ever met the man, Rick Tew is a modern day snake oil salesman, a common charlatan otherwise he wouldn't be so bold as to be calling others with credentials and verifiable history frauds, said in order to hawk his DVD's and services in magazines, online and anywhere he can make a buck... especially, when he has no legitimate teaching credentials to speak of that I am aware of.
Here is the truth of the matter and what generally goes unsaid. Rick Tew lashes out against Frank Dux because he turned down Tew's bribe of $50,000 to sell Tew an instructor certificate promoting himself above all others. Tew has no instructor certificate in Dux ryu where I earned mine through hard work! His jealousy I was picked over him to enter an instructor course is why he lashes out against me.
That bad behavior and other unethical acts resulted in RICK TEW being thrown out of our system in disgrace and that is why his name doesn't appear in our online registry. He is persona non gratis.
But that doesn't stop TEW from profiting himself by stealing and teaching Frank Dux curriculum, taking credit for hanshi Dux proprietary teachings. Tew claiming a water down version of them as his own. In my opinion, given what I saw in Black belt and Tews DVD's, the teachings are executed with a very poor understanding which is understandable as he failed to complete his training.
If you are parent like me then you recognize lashing out is what anyone can expect from a spoiled child who feels entitled, who doesn't get their way. Well Rick Tew has shown himself to be that kind of child in terms of Martial Arts, while an adult in age in terms of martial arts maturity anyone speaking ill of others as he does is juvenile. It does not reflect the actions of a true Martial Art master, and I might ad that are truly hard to come by. Which Rick claims he is but is not... since humility and respect for others is what true martial art teachers teach AND LEAD OTHERS BY EXAMPLE... Rick Tew talks of this but does he live it... NO... because he really doesn't understand what he is teaching because he never completed his training in Dux ryu,
It is common knowledge for the right price most anyone can buy a black belt and certificate online and teach. If you have the money to advertise you can even manage to get featured in Black Belt magazine... its why you don't see most of the great masters in that rag, except on a rare occasion, since most want nothing to do with the commercialization of martial arts and of course, lend credibility to and support Black Belt magazines racism… Thats right they are selective in who they feature. This was made known by the Amsterdam News, in 2010. Just do a google image search and ask yourself how come there doesn't exist a single Black Man or Woman on the cover after what ...the magazine being fifty years in business.
In my opinion and many others really familiar with ongoing corruption in martial arts this why you wont see articles on people like Hanshi Frank Dux or myself for the same reasons I mentioned.
Think about it, Hanshi Dux sets 16 world records, retires undefeated and has a movie made on his life that is 20 years later still being shown on TV, a cult classic, Bloodsport, that motivates millions to try martial arts but not a single mention appears of him after 1980 with his winning the Kumite, NOT a positive word after the magazine decided to back his business competitor who claims to be solely legitimate when a simple fact check reveals those claims are fraudulent. Fraudulent claims Black belt uses to sell their stars books/DVDS that are contrary to historical fact and the government authorities that can confirm or deny the claims. Consumer fraud that is taking place facilitated by the magazine and people like Tew calling legitimate competitors to them frauds and denying the accused equal opportunity to respond.
My best guess we can expect to see more of TEW of being promoted as some kind of expert…with the sales of more of his DVD's profiting Black Belts owners whether through sales or ads. A magazine the Amsterdam News dare expose as corrupt, whose owners publish the magazine stars DVD's, Books, etc, under different publishing names to conceal their magazines conflict of interest. Again I am no attorney but this what some of us might call a racket or consumer fraud.
Don't look to the federal trade commission to straighten this mess out they don't have the budget or inclination I am told… so its buyer beware and up to us as martial artists to pass the word along. Who knows it might shame them into changing their ways if enough of us stop buying the magazine or DVDs and books of those engaging in trade libel, like Rick Tew.
TEW and others falsely accuse Frank Dux of getting rich off his claims. Here are the real facts you dont hear about!
To learn Dux Ryu you cant go out and buy a DVD you have to prove your character and worthiness, first... just like it was with the Shaolin Temple before communism, who didn't just take anyone... like with the ancient Shaolin this is the same reason why there are so few of us but the whole martial art world knows our name... Dux Ryu... and it certainly isn't from being featured in magazines like Black Belt.
Our name is made known by having real world accomplishments... like Frank Dux teachings becoming a cornerstone in military and police tactics... named a contributing author for US Navy SEAL Specwar manual K431-0097 as listed in US Navy College library as google search reveals and is also made available online as part of court proceedings in the libel and slander case of frank dux vs soldier of fortune magazine. SOF magazine and their swift boat pals from the pownetwork.org, another scam, these valor vultures as they are called by ripoffreport and scamsham, libeled and slandered Frank Dux when Dux was their business competitor and just like Rick TEW does me.
But when you can't compete fairly with others what choice is left him must be his thinking, otherwise he wouldn't be spreading lies and inventing things that didn't happen, with Hanshi Dux or me.
The trade libel TEW carries out against Frank Dux and myself betrays these are the acts of a desperate person who doesn't have the real stuff to back up their claims. Certainly, not when compared to Frank Dux or myself...
In my opinion Rick Tew did this because he is a coward, made confident by the fact he knows from being around Hanshi Dux, Tew knows he doesn't believe in talking ill of others even in his own defense and we follow his example. We who are Dux Ryu have traditionally turned the other cheek and that is why we have kept silent for so long.
But in light of new developments we will no longer be silent. Brought to Hanshi Dux attention a person actually lost their life due to allegedly being mis-trained and misled by RICK TEW... A LIFE LOST!
Think about that... is that reason good enough for us to come forward to answer the false allegations... call Rick Tew out on the carpet as a fraud and intellectually property thief? I happen to think so... and we know you do too, as every martial art teacher has experienced a bad apple who when held accountable doesn't correct the wrong but lashes out and dishonors their teacher trying to sprout seeds that will bare rotten fruit... if it bares fruit at all.
So who is the real Fraud here... not Dux, Not me, but Rick Tew who tried to bribe his way to be properly credentialed?
The reason I believe this is true is because I personal saw the emails Rick Tew sent Hanshi Frank Dux and Hanshi Dux response and was changed by it. Here he is, Hanshi Dux turned $50,000 bribe down to fly across the country and live on my couch in a trailer that had no heat and he asked nothing in return knowing I had nothing to give but my eagerness and hard work, a young man living in a trailer and a baby on the way.
Frank Dux is not some independently wealthy man but he is richer than anyone I met in his martial spirit. Someone who risked our relationship to show me right from wrong, who put me on the path to having a self-fulfilled, loving happy life. Giving of himself, always selflessly, so that I and others may have a skillful livelihood and legacy we can be proud of. A legacy people like Rick Tew would like to tarnish out of spite and jealousy.
I witnessed firsthand Frank Dux is a man of actions not words... it is why I feel inspired to act now to speak out... so please, pass my message along as it is made in the spirit and study of true martial arts, righting injustices that includes erasing harmful lies invented by others trying to climb over others to get ahead, like Rick Tew.
Thank You, This is Kevin Cain.
