READ MORE HERE INFO : World's Famous Martial Art in History : BLOODSPORT...(More)

READ MORE HERE INFO : World's Famous Martial Art in History : BLOODSPORT (1988) WITH Jean-Claude Van Damme The movie 1988 "Bloodsport" remains one of the best entertaining martial arts movies of it's time and is considered a cult classic. This movie introduced Jean-Claude Van Damme and made him both a star and an International icon to a world-wide audience. The movie showcased Van Damme's amazing athletic abilities, and his genuine martial art skills. At age ten, Jean-Claude Van Damme of Brussels (real name Van Varenberg) took Shotokon karate lessons. At age 16 he won his first tournament in 46 seconds. He won his black belt at age 18 and won the European Professional Karate Association's middleweight championship at age 19. He had a fight record of 16 knock-outs to l loss. As a kickboxer, Van Damme also studied Taekwondo and Mauy Thai. Additionally, an impressive array of international martial artists and their captivating and — at times spectacular fighting styles, ranging from Kung Fu to Jeet Kune Do and Muay Thai are displayed. Part of the mystique of Bloodsport is it is said to be based on the 1975-180 real life experiences of Frank Dux an American from California. Dux a skilled martial artist claimed to be first Westerner to win the secret, underground Martial Arts Competition known as the Kumite. In reality, Dux maintains he fought and "won" his Kumite tournament in Jamaica; the movie Bloodsport, nonetheless, takes place in Hong Kong. Dux choreographed the fight scenes for the film and provided the basic script for Bloodsport. The fight scenes are the main attractions of the movie; plot and acting take a back seat. As the "strong and silent type" Van Damme handles his star role well enough, but he - like Bruce Lee had only marginal English skills. "Bloodsport" tells the story of Frank W. Dux (Jean Claude Van Damme), trained from youth in Ninjutsu by a Japanese master, Senzo Tanaka (Roy Chiao). To honor his mentor, Dux leaves for Hong Kong to participate in the Kumite —where the world's best martial artists are secretly and invited every five years. The movie unfolds showing the intense preparations for the Kumite by a number of different skilled fighters (climbing trees, smashing coconuts or breaking large ice blocks and strong boards). Dux's past training is highlighted. The film skips to Dux's present workout in a military gym, where his participation in the Kumite is in doubt when officially prohibited from attending. Feigning need for a shower, Dux escapes the base and makes his way to Hong Kong meeting fellow American contestant, Ray Jackson (Donald Gibb) and a female American journalist, Janice Kent (Leah Ayres), who is attempting to write about the clandestine, illegal event. The tournament begins, Dux beats all of his opponents, including a Syrian fighter (Bernard Mariano), a Muay Thai kickboxer (Paulo Tocha), and a formidable Sumo wrestler (David Ho) advancing to the third and final day of the tournament to face defending Kumite champion, Chong Li (Bolo Yeung who incredibly was 49 year old at time of filming but looking like 30). Li is the callous villain and when discovering Dux to be the better fighter, stoops to throwing salt to blind Dux during the match. Unable to see, Dux relies on his keen sense to fend off Li and then to resoundingly win. The film closes with Dux returning to the United States and screen shows statistics detailing the real-life achievements Frank W. Dux's such as having the fastest recorded knock out record. The soundtrack, composed by Paul Hertzog uses synthesized sounds and classical Asian instrumentation featuring: Fight to Survive, On My Own-Alone and Steal the Night. Van Damme and the 1988 "Bloodsport" motivated a resurgent interest in the martial arts not seen since the untimely death of Bruce Lee some 15 years earlier in 1973. __________________ *** Special Note to Youtbubers: I would be pleased if (1) you would be interested to read Van Damme's Biography that I co-wrote as it appears on www.fandamme.net and/or (2) watched me starring in my own video demonstrating a high energy martial art fight: Interrogation Room. http://youtube.com/watch?v=rFl1YJzUZWg Thank you! Louis-Philippe Simard of Studio LPS Montreal, Canada http://youtube.com/studiolps .(Less)