BDFS & IFAA History

HISTORY

Contrary to wild claims made by rabid opportunists, self appointed authorities and the myth surrounding John Keehan AKA Count Dante, the name “Black Dragon Fighting Society” in martial arts is thousands of years old.
In as much as, in China, the Taoist Woo Dong Temple was made infamous by its Black Dragon Fighting Society destroying the Buddhist temples of the Shaolin.
Becoming a Black Dragon Fighting Society member is a title bestowed upon those linked to no-holds-barred mixed martial arts fights, initially, sponsored by Korean Do-jangs and Japanese Black Dragon Society (Kyūjitai; 黑龍會; Shinjitai: 黒龍会 kokuryūkai?) which was a prominent paramilitary, ultra-nationalist right-wing group in Japan. The culmination of both western and eastern cultural fight promoters working together in Korea, Manchuria, China, in 1900’s, gave rise to an unofficial union dubbed the “International Fighting Art Association.”
The 2006 Jet Li motion picture Fearless is based on the life experiences of a famous early 20th century Chinese martial artist Hou Yuanjia (seated right) who challenged foreign fighters in these highly publicized no-hold barred mixed martial art events, in the late 1890’s, restoring pride and nationalism to China at a time when Western and Japanese imperialism were eroding the country.
The true to life 1988 released film, Bloodsport, portraying the true life exploits of BDFS original member Frank Dux depicts how the Kokuryukai Black Dragons were sponsoring these events along with the existence of its past champion Senzo Tanaka, who is referenced in Fearless. Tanaka is made renown throughout the inner circle of martial arts for putting an end to the Hou Yuanjia fighting dynasty whereby the event name is transformed from “San Soo” to “The Kumite.” Its prior historical origins can be traced back to Mongolian nomadic tribes of Genghis Khan then known as “Bandizo” and before that to the ancient Greeks, then known as Pancrantium, exported to Asia through the conquests of the Macedonian King, “Alexander The Great.” Tanaka’s victory secured a language change that gave rise to the notion to be “Black Dragon Fighting Society” member means entrance into an exclusive fraternal order that denotes being “the best of the best” in martial arts.

The Japanese Black Dragon Fighting Society Kokuryūkai was founded in 1901 by Uchida Ryohei (left) who was descended from the Genyōsha. Uchida was a student of Jigaro Kano (founder of Judo) and follower of the criminal organization Genyōsha (founded by Mitsuru Toyama.) According to How Russia Shaped the Modern World: From Art to Anti-Semitism, Ballet to Bolshevism, Steven G. Marks, 2002; Uchida had been a student in St. Petersburg, knew Russian, and was in contact with Russian revolutionaries in Nagasaki, whose violent politics he admired. Although his society's aim was to encourage Japanese domination of Manchuria and the entire Far East, in 1917 he called for an anti-Western alliance of Japan, Russia, and China, which he considered superior Asian civilizations. The assassination of moderate politicians was also a specialty of the organization whose leaders were disillusioned with the existing parliamentary order and opposed the government's domestic authority just as much as they urged its military expansion abroad
The Japanese Black Dragon Society name is derived from the Amur River, called Heilongjiang or "Black Dragon River" in Chinese (黑龍江?), read as Kokuryū-kō in Japanese. Its stated public goal was to support efforts to drive the Russian Empire out of East Asia, south of the Amur River.
The Kokuryūkai initially appeared to distance itself from the criminal elements of its predecessor, the Genyōsha, given its membership included Cabinet Ministers and high-ranking military officers as well as professional secret agents. However, as time passed, it still made use of criminals and their activities to be a convenient 'means to an end' for many of its operations.
The Society published a journal and operated an espionage training school, from which it dispatched agents to gather intelligence on Russian activities in Russia, Manchuria, Korea and China. It also pressured Japanese politicians to adopt a strong foreign policy. The Kokuryukai also supported Pan-Asianism, and lent financial support to revolutionaries such as Sun Yat-sen, and Emilio Aguinaldo.
During the Russo-Japanese War, annexation of Korea and Siberian Intervention, the Imperial Japanese Army made use of the Kokuryūkai network for espionage, sabotage and assassination. They organized Manchurian guerrillas against the Russians from the Chinese warlords and bandit chieftains in the region, the most important being Marshal Chang Tso-lin. The Black Dragons waged a very successful psychological warfare campaign in conjunction with the Japanese military, spreading disinformation and propaganda throughout the region. They also acted as interpreters for the Japanese army.
The Kokuryūkai assisted the Japanese spy, Colonel Motojiro Akashi. Akashi, who was not directly a member of the Black Dragons, ran successful operations in China, Manchuria, Siberia and established contacts throughout the Muslim world. These contacts in Central Asia were maintained through World War II. The Black Dragons also formed close contact and even alliances with Buddhist sects throughout Asia.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the Kokuryūkai evolved into more of a mainstream political organization, and publicly attacked liberal and leftist thought. Although it never had more than several dozen members at any one time during this period, the close ties of its membership to leading members of the government, military and powerful business leaders gave it a power and influence far greater than most other ultranationalist groups.
Initially directed only against Russia, in the 1930s, the Kokuryūkai expanded its activities around the world, and stationed agents in such diverse places as Ethiopia, Turkey, Morocco, throughout southeast Asia and South America, as well as Europe and the United States.
The Kokuryukai, Japanese Black Dragon Society murdered its way across the globe and established its 1st presence in Chicago and Los Angeles in the 1930’s. They viewed racial inequality and strife as a vulnerability they could exploit to benefit their intelligence and criminal organization loyal to imperial Japan. Thus, they began aligning themselves with the mafia and by exploiting civil rights movement as the Black Dragon’s viewed their role as being the voice of non-whites. Secretly teaching Judo/Jujitsu to minorities after hours by explaining to a white society their students when seen entering and leaving buildings after working hours, were janitors.
Like they did in Russia and Manchuria the Black Dragon Society sponsored Kumite mixed style matches and formed Judo clubs on military installations. This activity continued until the Kokuryukai plans were discovered and several members, jailed. On 27 March 1942, FBI agents arrested members of the Black Dragon Society in the San Joaquin Valley of California.[2]
One 1940’s arrestee is Chicago resident, Satokata Takahashi, who was a retired major of the Imperial Japanese Army and member of the Black Dragon Society. According to FBI reports he was the instigator behind the Pacific Movement of the Eastern World, working through Ashima Takis. (re: Ernest Allen Jr. (FALL 1995). "Waiting for Tojo: The Pro-Japan Vigil of Black Missourians, 1932-1943).
The organization was mentioned as an influence on the black-nationalist organizations which were convicted of sedition in 1942, most notably Mittie Maud Lena Gordon's Peace Movement for Ethiopia. The other two organizations said to be influenced were the Brotherhood of Liberty for the Black People of America and the Nation of Islam.[1]
The Kokuryūkai was officially disbanded by order of the American Occupation authorities in 1946. According to Brian Daizen Victoria's book, Zen War Stories, the Black Dragon Society was reconstituted in 1961 as the Black Dragon Club (Kokuryū-Kurabu.) The Club never had more than 150 members to succeed in the goals of the former Black Dragon Society.[3]
The Black Dragon Society appeared as villains in two Sam Katzman 1942 Monogram Pictures releases Black Dragons and Let's Get Tough! as well as a Republic Pictures film serial G-Men vs the Black Dragon that was turned into a Century 66 made for TV movie The Black Dragon of Manzanar. The Black Dragons also appeared as villains in 1942 American comic books. In Max Brooks' book The Zombie Survival Guide (published in 2003 by Three Rivers Press) the Black Dragons are portrayed as a unit of the WWII Japanese military. He asserts that this group was responsible for attempting to create zombie warriors in an operation known as Cherry Blossom. They also appear as henchmen to the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond novel You Only Live Twice. The Black Dragon Society appears in the Thomas Pynchon novel Against the Day. In the fictional Battletech universe the Black Dragon Society comes out as a Draconis Combine extremist group.
In Chicago 1969, there emerged the American spin off Black Dragon Fighting Society, as founded by John Keehan (AKA Count Rafael Dante) who was co-founder and mid-west director of the United States Karate Association (USKA) until 1962.
John Keehan allegedly resigned from the USKA organization in 1964 due to civil rights issues with the USKA patronizing “whites only” facilities in conducting its tournaments as well as refusal to promote minorities other than Asians to rank of Black Belt. To this end, Keehan broke ranks and formed with Doug Dwyer the first USA racially integrated martial art association - The World Karate Federation (NOTE: In 1990 a new World Karate Federation unassociated with Keehan's was formed).
In Chicago, allegedly under the auspices of former Black Dragon Society members, like Takahashi, John Keehan, who had participated in Kokuryukai style full contact Kumite returned from Asia to promote the first open to the public full-contact Kumite Bloodsport style mixed martial arts tournament held at the University of Chicago, on July 28, 1963. Many other such tournaments were hosted by him during the 1960s, pairing practitioners of different styles against one another in these bare-knuckle full contact events.
In doing so, Keehan joins a select group of promoters unofficially known as the International Fighting Arts Association formed in cooperation with former members of the Black Dragon Society (“BDS”), who sponsored these events, since 1905, in Manchuria, China and abroad. The BDS, in the 1930’s & 1940’s defied prejudice of the time by having taught oppressed minorities martial arts in the United States, Europe and in South Africa.
In South Africa, under the guidance of Ben Mangels the Black Dragon Clubs/Black Dragon Fighting Society INTERNATIONAL is rooted as part of an anti-apartheid movement.
Presently, the South African Black Dragon Fighting Society remains dedicated to fighting elitism and corruption in the martial arts as well as preserve the Kumite style event just as depicted in 1988 film, Bloodsport. South Africa serves as the domain of the world headquarters for the privately held International Fighting Arts Association. It is administered by BDFS original member Professr, Stoffel Van Vuuren
Black Belt magazine, November 1980, John Stewart, Kumite: A Learning Experience, points out “while not a publicity seeking organization the IFAA is far from being a secret organization,” as romanticized.
To spoof the rabid pomp and elitism prevalent on the part of martial art community with their oppressing minorities other than Asian, in 1967, Keehan legally changed his name to Count Juan Raphael Danté. DONE AS A JOKE… mocking the invented pasts and historical lineages of many of his so called peers who then made everyone refer to them as “Grandmasters.” Wanting others to focus on the attainment of skill versus a belt, Keehan would frequent Karate tournaments selling anyone a blackbelt for $15.
John Keehan sarcastically explained the name change to Count Dante occurred because his parents fled Spain during the Spanish Civil War. They changed their names and obscured their noble heritage in order to effectively hide in America. All the while, knowing the surname Dante is in fact of Italian origin. Keehan having taken the name (Count) Dantès from the protagonist of Dumas' 1844 The Count of Monte Cristo, as Keehan saw his role as avenging the wrongs being committed against him and minorities at the height of the civil rights movement.
In 1969, according to original BDFS founding member Grandmaster, Lawrence Day when Keehan broke from the WKF to form the Black Dragon Fighting Society, he chose as his symbol a running dragon looking back on itself as a “Homeage” to his no-holds-barred Kumite fighting roots and his Black Dragon Society ties and instructors, namely, Kajukenbo Master, Dr. Robert Rapue and Senzo Tanaka (who was known to insiders by a different name often seen in the company of Black Dragon Society member, Takahashi.

Keehan further mocked traditional martial arts lock out of minorities by promoting his alter ego Count Dante via comic book ads as the Deadliest Man Alive. One had only to mail order for his instructional booklet World's Deadliest Fighting Secrets (in which he outlined the "Dance of Death") and they also received a free Black Dragon Fighting Society membership card because all are welcome to study and feel they had a right to belong. These comic book ads account for much of Count Dante's lasting notoriety in pop culture. They read:
Yes, this is the DEADLIEST and most TERRIFYING fighting art known to man—and WITHOUT EQUAL. Its MAIMING, MUTILATING, DISFIGURING, PARALYZING and CRIPPLING techniques are known by only a few people in the world. An expert at DIM MAK could easily kill many Judo, Karate, Kung Fu, Aikido, and Gung Fu experts at one time with only finger-tip pressure using his murderous POISON HAND WEAPONS. Instructing you step by step thru each move in this manual is none other than COUNT DANTE—“THE DEADLIEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED” (THE CROWN PRINCE OF DEATH).
According to legend the death touch/Tibetan Iron Palm strike was allegedly administered to John Keehan for his flamboyant transgressions and associations with the mafia. Nonetheless, with his death a young protégé Frank Dux competed in Keehan’s place in the coveted and legendary Kokuryukai, Black Dragon Society Kumite events that forms the basis of the 1988 classic film based on true events in the life of (BDFS original member) Frank Dux - Bloodsport.
Emerging with Keehan’s death is the Black Dragon Fighting Society of Fall River, Massachusetts. This is not acknowledged as a legitimate faction by the Chicago original membership of the BDFS nor is it affiliated in any way with the IFAA/Official Black Dragon Fighting Society.
A common myth promoted on glorified and unreliable message boards like Wikipedia and internet is the Black Dragon Fighting Society as founded by John Keehan AKA Count Dante is currently under the sole directorship of a personally chosen protégé and successor to Keehan, William V. Aguiar.
Aguiar died in January, 2005. The fact is according to Chicago BDFS original members, due to the obstacle of distance between them, William V. Aguiar received minimal training. However, he was granted use of the BDFS name and key to Keehan’s office in order to co-host seminars and tournaments, in the 1970’s. Appearing with John Keehan in Black Belt magazine but the title “Supreme Grandmaster” as claimed by his son Bill Aguiar III is invented after Keehan’s death. Notwithstanding, the name Black Dragon Society was trademarked by Bill Aguiar III in the USA, in 2008, as it pertains to operating schools and providing other instructional services.
Bill Aguiar III was not born when the initial Chicago/Keehan BDFS was created. No evidence exists that demonstrates he has ever been ranked or recognized as a certified teacher of The Black Dragon Fighting Society (even by his own father, now deceased) says BDFS original members, Grandmasters, Lawrence Day, Ashida Kim, Ernie Reynolds, Michael Felkoff, Doug Dwyer, etc. which has erupted into a rift.
It is erroneously stated in Wikipedia, Aguiar III and his Fall River Mass hosts the Official Black Dragon Fighting Society website, as well. In spite of the fact as can be determined by visitation THE OFFICIAL BLACK DRAGON FIGHTING SOCIETY WEBSITE EXISTS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ORIGINAL BLACK DRAGON FIGHTING SOCIETY MEMBERS, AS STATED ON THE HOMEPAGE.
The International Fighting Arts Association Official Black Dragon Fighting Society is a fraternal organization based out of South Africa. The IFAA is host to the legendary Kumite as depicted in the 1988 film, Bloodsport. The symbolism of the dragon, name and roots are thousands of years old and is transformed.
The International Fighting Arts Association Official Black Dragon Fighting Society is a “fraternal order.” Its mission statement states it is a circle composed of intersecting martial arts lineages and legacies that’s centerpiece dragon symbolizes not just being acknowledged as being amongst the “best of the best” but represents the unified and international commitment to oppose and fight the symbolic black dragon – that which symbolizes within one a lack of humility, elitism and indifference to the weak & poor, in our corner of the world. That is what is meant by denoting oneself as the Official Black Dragon Fighting Society - one officially fights the battle within one as well as without through camaraderie.