Martial Arts Master Finds His Missing Piece of Perfection in Dux Ninjitsu

(a series of articles)

By

John M. Guerriero

Freelance Writer

                Everyone who is a fan of action films especially martial arts action films may be familiar with the martial arts style called Dux Ninjitsu.  Named after its creator and martial arts legend Frank W. Dux of “Bloodsport” fame due to it being based on a period in his life, I recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk to one of Hanshi Dux personal students Master Kevin Cain of Richmond, VA.  This is what he had to say. 

Q.  How did you first hear about Hanshi Frank Dux?

Like most young martial artists I was fascinated by the movie “Bloodsport” and real life hero Frank Dux.  Me and my brother used to dream about fighting in the Kumite and wanted nothing more than to be just like Frank Dux.  Back then I would have never dreamed that someday I would be his student and friend.

Q.  Well I have to ask you after studying so many different martial arts styles and earning black belts in them what made you decide to train in Dux Ninjitsu?

In 1996, I was in a brutal street fight that left me questioning my martial arts skills.  The training worked but it was more animal killer instinct that enabled me to win the fight, not the hundreds of techniques I knew.  I started searching for the real deal.  I bar bounced, I fought in street fights, and I also fought in No Holds Barred Fights, Judo fights, even sport karate fights.  Yet none of them were right.  Something was missing.

Q.  So even though you had all these years of training you still felt you were missing something in the science of fighting?

Yes, and that search led me to forming Cain Family Martial Science.  CFMS was missing a vital ingredient. A true empirical science it was not until I began studying with Hanshi Dux that I realized what the missing ingredient was.  The technology of Dux Ryu, like Musashi, Hanshi Dux is a combat genius.  His high concepts are without a doubt the most complete form of warriorship I have ever studied.

Q.  So being a “living” legend in the world of martial arts and your personal idol how were you able to contact Hanshi Dux?

I was able to get in contact with Hanshi through his email address that was passed on to me through one of his former students.  After much searching I found someone who knew how to contact him.  I emailed him and he responded and without hesitation gave me his phone number.  I immediately called him.  I was so nervous talking to him he must have thought I was some punk kid who was just a fan of “Bloodsport”.

Q.  So how did you go about asking him to train you?

To tell you the truth I was very shy with him and politely asked if I could learn Dux Ninjitsu.          That’s when he brought up FASST and suggested that I should train with him.

Q.  So how did your training commence?

To my surprise we hit off famously.  Next thing I knew he offered to fly to Virginia to teach me FASST and Dux Ryu.  I was stunned; here is my hero who I had always looked up to offering to come to my house.  It was a dream comes true.  I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.  He then offered to come live with me and for me to be an apprentice of his.

Q.  So what was the training like?

Hanshi was always teaching me no matter if it was how to make an escape route or preparations for an event.  Everything that comes out of his mouth is a lesson.  The problem was I did not understand that at the time.  Reflecting back on some of those lessons makes me realize how lucky I am to have been given the opportunity to work with a true genius.

Q.  So this training was very different from all the other styles you knew?

Yes, the training at my house lasted quite sometime, the training methods were unbelievable to me, in fact most of the concepts he taught me I did not understand until years later.

Q.  Now you say most of the concepts you didn’t understand until years later is that because Dux Ninjitsu isn’t your typical traditional martial art?

Yes, very much so.  Dux Ninjitsu is truly meant for combat and real life situations and is by my knowledge the best there is in the world at achieving success in both of those scenarios. 

Q.  So would you say Dux Ninjitsu is much more about the science of fighting rather than sport and the belt system used in Dux Ninjitsu is different as well? 

Yes absolutely, anyone can pass a commercial black belt test with a little sweat and a few hours.  But try a week long test that attacks your mind as well as your body.  After a few days without sleep your mind starts playing tricks on you.  Try sleeping standing up, try performing self defense, and try anything effectively under these conditions.  A rites of passage is pain.  It is a life changing event.

Q.  You mentioned a rites of passage, what exactly do you mean by that?

All my black belts have been through the rites of passage.  A hard core all day test until they almost break, then they are pushed to the breaking point and then totally off the cliff.  When are done with the test you realize that you can accomplish anything.

Q.  Sounds like Hanshi Dux is an incredibly creative teacher and mentor?

Yes he is.  I needed a mentor.  I needed Dux.  When it comes to earning belts and titles in martial arts that a 3rd degree in Dux Ryu is like being a Green Beret of the martial arts world.  Not many people can survive hell week and few martial artists have been through a rites of passage.  Although it is my lowest rank it is my greatest achievement as a martial artist.  I would go further to say that a 1st degree in Dux Ryu is like a 5th degree in other arts.

As a final comment for this part of the series Master Cain stated “I would like to say that if I had the wisdom to take Hanshi Dux’s lessons to heart years ago I would not have made some of the mistakes that I have made.  Now that I am older I realize how much he taught me”.

This is the first in a series of articles that will be written featuring Master Cain and his unique journey in in learning and training under Hanshi Frank Dux and Master Sky Benson.  More to follow.