Count Dante's LEGACY-
Who really owns the Black Dragon Fightng Society?
By Hanzo Hattori
Paperback
$29.95
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+ $7 Priority Shipping
The American chapter of the ancient and honorable Black Dragon Fighting Society was founded in 1966 by Count Juan Raphael Dante with the sanction of Senzo Tanaka, a member of the Japanese home organization. Dante promoted America’s first full contact tournament as far back as 1967, sold his booklet "The Worlds Deadliest Fighting Secrets" with the assistance of a big, over the top advertising campaign in comics and magazines and generally tried to put himself over as “The Crown Prince of Death.” His students became famous as tournament and street fighters, legendary for their ability to break bricks with their bare hands.
In 1970 Dante led several of his crew to the Green Dragon Dojo in Chicago for a rumble. The fight only lasted a few minutes but cost the life of Jim Koncevic, a Judo Black Belt, one of Dante's instructors. The incident became known as the Dojo War and was pretty much the end of Count Dante's martial arts career. No one was charged with any crime. It was written off as street gang warfare that got out of hand. Dante claimed he exhausted his personal fortune to buy everyone out of trouble. Dante was so broke he was selling peanuts at Wrigley Field to put food on his table.
Shortly before his death in 1975, which enabled Frank Dux to take his place in the Bloodsport Kumite and become the first American Champion, Dante tried to ressurect his former glory. He was a guest at the Taunton Death Matches held by William V. Aguiar Jr. and helped him set up a school in Fall River,Massachusetts. According to reports, he was so ill he turned down several challenges. Very unusual since he was famous for brutalizing anyone who dared face him.
When Dante died, Aguiar claimed to be his successor. He essentially allowed the BDFS to founder and the membership to scatter. In a 1977 Official Karate interview Aguiar said he was no longer teaching the Dan-te system except to senior students and had returned to a traditional martial arts curriculum. When he found out Kim-Sensei was keeping the tradition and the fraternity alive without his help, he wanted to come in, “claim the throne” and tax the students. No one accepted his leadership or respected his demand for tribute.
Aguiar Jr. died in January 2005, leaving his son William Aguiar III in charge. That led to lawsuits, threats and online harassment. When Grandmaster Lawrence Day brought us all together again in the Year of the Black Dragon 2012, the year he passed away, each of us who were named to the Council of Patriarchs was given a chance to address the membership.
When my turn came I said this, “Remember always that the name of our brotherhood is fighting. One of the reasons I learned Karate was so I didn't have to put up with bullies. Win, lose, makes no difference. If you stand up for yourself, you earn respect.”
“William V. Aguiar III, You've been trying to pick a fight with me for a long time. Thirty years ago, you had a whole website that was 'dedicated to my destruction!' Well, I'm still here...and YOU are still NOTHING!"
Posted here is my $10,000 Challenge! This page has been on my website since 1995. There have been no takers. Not many people have the resources to set up such a match but, it will not be held under any other conditions. I am a professional martial artist, I have been paid to fight in the ring, legally, my hands are considered lethal weapons. That is why the Challenger must sign a waiver; in olden China when two masters fought, they signed a contract saying that if either of them were killed or crippled the other could not be held responsible. It was called a “death warrant” and was displayed on the trophy wall of the victor.
You pretend you want to “go old school” and “settle this on the mat” to see who is the real master and worthy to lead this club. Well, I'm old, and I've been to school and I'm fed up with your bullshit!
Here are my terms to get in the ring and kick your candy-ass. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Put up or shut up!
These are some of the MEN who were with Count Dante in the beginning and went on to become famous!
So, who do YOU think owns the Black Dragon Fighting Society?
The martial artists who have carried on the tradition of the thousand year old fellowship, and meet each year to honor the memory of Grandmaster Lawrence Day, one of the last original Black Dragons?
Or, a pimp who claims he inherited it?
The Black Dragon Fighting Society is a world renowned fraternity of martial artists dedicated to the fighting and health systems of Gung Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, Chuan-Fa, Kempo, Hsing-I, Pa-Kua, Shaolin Temple Boxing, Shotokan, Taekwondo, Hapkido, Isshin-Ryu, Aikido, Wu Shu, Wado-Ryu, Jeet Kune Do, American Eclectic Karate, Mixed Martial Arts, Thai Kickboxing, Ninjitsu, Jujitsu, Shorinji-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Judo and Qi Gong.
Among our membership are experts not only in the Way of the Empty Hand, but also of such weapons as the Nunchaka, Sword, Staff, Shuriken, Sai, Tonfa, Chain and Sickle, Archery, Halberd, Hanbo, Yawara, Tanto, Steel Whip, Meteor Hammer, and Retrievable Stone. Contemporary members are also skilled in the use of firearms and pyrotechnics and trained in the Art of Commando Warfare and Survival Arts.
Our Brotherhood exists as a congress of martial artists and confederation of independent agents for the purpose of preserving, practicing, studying and teaching the martial arts. To qualify an applicant must be a master of, or an expert in, one of the few acceptable Oriental Self-Defense Forms. Many world famous champions have been unable to meet the strict entrance requirements and failed to gain admission into our forbidden fraternity that teaches the most savage and terrifying fistic and grappling techniques known to man. The exact membership, training procedures and occult teachings are closely guarded secrets of the fellowship; who are sworn to a vow of silence and bound together by and initiation ceremony of blood.
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