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COUNT DANTE - A real life comic book hero.

 WORLD’S
DEADLIEST
FIGHTING
SECRETS
by Count Dante

ISBN 189730732-2

EDITOR IN CHARGE OF LAYOUT

Annette Hellingrath

FRONT COVER DESIGN

Annette Hellingrath

Originally published in 1968 by The Black Dragon Fighting Society

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES

COPY RIGHT JULY 2014

Dedicated to: The good, the bad and the ugly.

donrw@earthlink.net
www.risingsunproductions.net

3
 CONTENTS CONTENTS

Original Publisher’s Note ...................................... .......................................................................... 7

Preface .................................................................... .......................................................................... 9
The Deadliest Man Alive ........................................ .......................................................................... 11
World Karate Federation ...................................... .......................................................................... 14
Black Dragon Fighting Society ............................. .......................................................................... 15

CHAPTER ONE 17
John Keehan - Count Dante .................................. .......................................................................... 19

CHAPTER TWO 61
Shortcomings in Present Day Fighting Systems .......................................................................... 62
Vital Areas of the Body with Charts ...................... .......................................................................... 69
Dim Mak Timetable with Charts ............................ .......................................................................... 78

CHAPTER THREE 83
Poison Hand Techniques ........................................ .......................................................................... 84

CHAPTER FOUR 111

Self Defense Forms No. 1 - No. 4 .......................... .......................................................................... 112
Self Defense Form No. 1 ......................................... .......................................................................... 113
Self Defense Form No. 2 ......................................... .......................................................................... 131
Self Defense Form No. 3 ......................................... .......................................................................... 137
Self Defense Form No. 4 ......................................... .......................................................................... 145

Stunt Breaking ....................................................... .......................................................................... 148

Bibliography ........................................................... .......................................................................... 157

4 5
 ORIGINAL PUBLISHER’S NOTE

We have made available to you the deadliest book

ever written, which contains the most complete com-
pilation of secret, terror fighting techniques known
to man. Along with the most complete listing of the
shocking, human horror weapons - the Poison Hand
techniques. As well as the deadliest defense form in
the world - the Dance of Death - the ballet of killer
horror.

The forbidden Dim Mak timetable is also shown, along

with a stunt method, enabling a beginner to break a
brick or board after only minutes of training.
Bringing all these sought after secrets into the open is
none other than Count Dante - the ‘Deadliest Man
Alive’ - and an expert of all fighting arts.

It must be remembered that these techniques are a

study in an ancient art form and merit the interest
and respect accorded to any art form. Their use was
applied years ago, as a peasant’s only means of
defense against armed soldiers. Under those circum-
stances there was no such a thing as fair play and
anything went. Their study is meant for those inter-
ested in them as an art form only. The chance of their
being misused is slight, as it is not the weapon, but the
technique and the ability of the beholder that is to be
feared as this comes only through years of practice. A
person interested in harming others would turn to
the use of a knife or a gun and would be incapable of
the patience, perseverance and humility needed for
the mastery of the techniques as shown in this book.

(1968)

6 7
 PREFACE

The purpose of this book is to exhibit some of the

secret and forbidden techniques of the deadliest
Oriental fighting arts and to familiarize the reader
with such Oriental defense systems as Gung-Fu, Tai
Chi Chuan, Pa-Kua, Kempo, Hsing-Yi, Shaolin Boxing
and Chuan-Fa, which are in themselves graceful and
beautiful, but terrifying, deadly and vicious ancient
fighting arts forms. Unfortunately, little is known of
these systems due to the fact their techniques have
been closely guarded by secret Oriental societies and
often are handed down from father to son, always
staying in one family.

The content of this book will deal mostly with basic,

but horrifyingly effective defenses, which can be
used, in slight variations, against almost any attack.
The weapons applied, will be the deadly Poison Hand
techniques, which are blinding, crushing, ripping,
stomping, tapping, poking, gouging and tearing
movements.

Also, strangulation, arm locks and pinning proce-

dures will be touched on. Included in this book will be
the listing of the fatal and vital nerve centers, along
with the most sensitive and easily accessible major
blood vessels and organs, accompanied by diagrams
showing their location. The Dim Mak timetable will
give the specific time during the day when certain
areas of the body are especially vulnerable to attack.
As an added feature, a stunt breaking method will be
shown, in which the beginner can break a brick with-
in minutes.

(1968)

8 9
 THE DEADLIEST MAN ALIVE

Count Dante, an immediate descendant of European

nobility and a holder of the 8th degree Black Belt is
somewhat of a legend in the Karate world today.
Count Dante, (himself undefeated) and his students,
have amassed over 1000 trophies and awards in
international competition. A few of the titles held by
himself or his team include: World Champion 1963,
1965, and 1967. Professional World Karate
Championship Top Team 1967. International
Champion 1965, Nation’s USA Top Team 1964 and
Canada’s Top Team.

Even though the Count no longer enters teams in

competition, many of his students, or their students,
still carry away the top awards in major Karate com-
petitions.

On September 1st, 1967 the Directive Committee of

the World Federation of Fighting Arts declared Count
Dante the World’s Deadliest Fighting Master in recog-
nition of his having defeated the World’s foremost
fistic and grappling arts Masters in ‘no holds barred’
fighting matches.

10 11
Aside from his own unmatched fighting abilities he Mountains of Eastern Cuba (Oriente Province) and
individually has produced more fighting arts champi- later in Havana itself, during the military campaigns
ons than any organization or association in the world. between the forces of Fulgencio Batista and Fidel
As the director of a large wig and hairpiece firm he Castro.
has frequent opportunity to visit their factories in
India, China, Indonesia, Korea and Japan and always Aside from the fighting arts, Count Dante is a world
finds time to train in the various Oriental schools for famous hair stylist and beauty consultant and an avid
fighting arts. devotee of classical singing.

Originally trained in Karate, Count Dante has now

changed from his Okinawan and Japanese style of
Karate to the Chinese arts of Gung-Fu, Tai Chi Chuan,
Kempo and Shaolin Boxing, which he believes to be
far superior to the standard Karate system. The
Count is an expert in Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Gung-Fu, Tai Chi
Chuan, Shaolin Boxing, Kempo, Karate, Yawara,
Boxing and Wrestling, aside from holding a black belt
in Aikido and a Master’s certificate in Kibo.

Until 1962 Count Dante was the head instructor for the
United States Karate Association. The strikingly hand-
some director of the World Karate Federation, who
looks more like a movie star than a Karate Master,
has often appeared on national radio and television
programs such as ‘To Tell the Truth, CBS Sports
Special, and Midwest Sports Spectacular, along with
demonstrating at the United Nations in 1965, the
World’s Fair and motion pictures.

He has also appeared in Black Belt Magazine, in the

Bible of Karate, in its July/August 1964 issue. This
issue referred to Count Dante as one of the top
instructors in the world today. In 1957 the Count had
a chance to put his fighting ability to serious use as a
Mercenary Guerrilla officer in the Sierra Maestra

12 13
 WORLD KARATE FEDERATION THE BLACK DRAGON FIGHTING SOCIETY

The World Karate Federation is a non profit organiza- The Black Dragons Fighting Society is a world
tion designed to help in the expansion of Karate and renowned fighting arts organization dedicated to the
related Oriental fistic arts. It acts not as an associa- fighting systems of Gung-Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, Chuan-Fa,
tion, but as a United Nations or brotherhood of Kempo, Hsing-Yi, Pa-Kua and Shaolin Boxing. The
Karateists to further the arts and support fellow secret society teaches the most savage, deadly and
members. terrifying fighting arts known to man and has in its
membership the world’s top experts in the Oriental
The W.K.F. is composed of Yudanshas (black belts) and Fistic and grappling systems. To qualify, an applicant
qualified instructors from such organizations and must be a Master of, or at least a high ranking expert
styles as the Japan Karate Association, Chito-Ryu, in one of the few acceptable Oriental defense forms.
Kyokushinkai, International Kenpo Karate Many world famous champions have been unable to
Association, Goju-Ryu, Tae Kwon Do, Ju-Te, Shorin- meet the strict requirements and have failed to gain
Ryu, United States Karate Association, Isshinryu, Tai entrance or admission into the forbidden society
Chi Chuan, Shotokan and Gung-Fu. These are over 200 which is sworn to the arts of death. The exact mem-
affiliated black belts in the W.K.F.’s many registered bership and training procedures are closely guarded
dojos throughout the United States, Canada, Europe secrets of the membership who are sworn to secrecy
and the Far East. Their teams have amassed over 1000 and joined together through their initiation ceremo-
trophies and awards in international competition. ny of blood.

A few of these titles include: First Professional World (1968)

Karate Champion 1967, World Champion 1963, 1965,
1967, World’s Top Team 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967,
Nation’s (U.S.A.) Top Team 1964, Canada’s Top Team
1965, International Champion 1965.

(1968)

14 15
 CHAPTER

ONE

16 17
 JOHN KEEHAN - COUNT DANTE

Count Dante at 6’ 1” made an immediate first impres-

sion wherever he went. This was partly due to the
fact that he was a very striking man with an animated
face that your couldn’t help staring at. Tons of thick,
carefully arranged, curly brown hair, coming to a
widow’s peak, and a dark, sharply styled beard, cou-
pled with a sometimes bright red face and clear,
piercing eyes, completed his amazing look. He
appeared to be taller than he actually was, because
he carried himself very straight and upright. He also
seemed to have a natural, aristocratic air about him
and walked around with a casual, relaxed, unhurried
confidence.

Once you got closer to Count Dante you would even-

tually start to wonder if he was wearing make-up.
This in no way detracted from his looks, and if any-
thing, heightened the interest and speculation that
always seemed to swirl around him. People close to
him would tell you that he used make-up every day,
in an effort to cover his red complection, but nobody
knew for sure if this was the true reason. There was
speculation that his face had been burned when a
used car lot he owned in Chicago exploded. In his
later years his red face was attributed to high blood
pressure. Clearly Count Dante was self conscious
about the color of his face, and being a master at
make-up - he simply covered it up. It was widely
believed, that, since everything about Count Dante
eventually proved to be made up - then why not his
face as well.

To complete the picture of a confident, successful

man, Count Dante carried his head tilted back and at
an angle, which made him appear to look down on

18 19
everyone who came into his orbit. forty-three years, under Mas Tumore.

Then there was his name - Count Dante. In actuality The Marine Corps came next for John at age eighteen.
he was born John Timothy Keehan on February 2, He spent a lot of time in the Far East. After that came
1939, on the south side of Chicago. His claim to the a stint in the army, where he was stationed in
title of Count - he would tell you, was through his Vietnam and Korea. Through it all, John continued to
mother’s noble Spanish birth. His full name was study Hapkido, Tang Soo Do, Moo Duk Kwan, Tae Kwon
legally changed to Count Juan Raphael Dante. Do, Tai Boxing and Chinese Boxing.

His father was a physician and surgeon, so Dante grew Keehan never went in too much for degrees. This was
up in an upper income bracket in a good neighbor- largely due to the fact that he never stayed with one
hood. His parents, after fleeing Spain, after the school for very long and partly because he felt hin-
Spanish Revolution, lived in Nestor Falls, Ontario, dered by being labeled. He had money enough,
Canada for a while and then settled in Chicago for
good.

Nevertheless, young John Keehan, as he was then

known as, found it hard to stay out of trouble while
growing up in Chicago. He had a lot of interests,
including body building, weight lifting, Boxing,
Wrestling and Judo. Since his parents had money, he
was able to indulge all those interests. He was also
lucky enough to study Boxing with Johnny Coulant, a
World Champion, at his gym located on Sixty-third
Street.

At age thirteen Keehan took every opportunity

available to him to box at Mount Carmel High, which
he attended for three years. He eventually became
the Heavyweight Boxing Champion in his second and
third year. While in public school, he was the
Heavyweight Wrestling Champion for two years.

Keehan also found time to attend a well established

Judo club, which had been located in Chicago for

20 21
thanks to an indulgent father, to tour around the moving on to learn everything he could at different
world for a while and he found a club of one style or schools. It didn’t help either that Keehan made it
another wherever he went. He deviated from this quite clear to everybody that he wasn’t impressed
pattern only by regularly attending Robert A. Trias' with most - if not all, of his instructors. He thought
school in Phoenix, two or three times a year for most of them weren’t very good! He was convinced
months at a time. Keehan was asked to become a full that he was better than all of them - also not an opin-
time Goju Shorei student but he declined, preferring ion that went over too well with his instructors.
to study at different clubs instead and learn all the
different fighting arts. Keehan was convinced that there was a big difference
between an instructor and a teacher. He would tell
Typically Karate school owners were not impressed anyone who listened, that no one can teach you any-
by John’s habit of skipping from school to school, but thing - you only have instructors. He believed that
John was not deterred by their disapproval and kept you learn things yourself by falling down and getting

22 23
back up again. He was convinced that Boxers and would probably be capable of kicking the shit out of
professional Wrestlers were better and smoother Aaron Banks - which wouldn’t be all that impressive
fighters than martial artists. He was also under the in his opinion.
impression that martial artists were no purer than
pro Wrestlers, because they also pulled their blows. Keehan professed himself to be the greatest instruc-
Keehan also believed that a Karateist would not be tor there was!
able to stand up to a Wrestler. He personally found
that the toughest fighters he came up against were It seems almost inevitable that Keehan would meet
either pro football players or pro Wrestlers and Bruce Lee in 1962. The two men, different in many
especially Sumo Wrestlers. ways, worked out together. They met again in 1963
and once again worked out together. These meetings
Eventually, in 1957, Keehan did become somewhat came about thanks to Jimmy Lee who made all the
connected with the US Karate Association under arrangements. Keehan is on record as saying that
Robert A. Trias, whom he considered to be a good Bruce Lee was very good, but in the next breath
fighter. When he left the USKA at age twenty-three, wondered why Lee had such a high reputation, since
he was a sixth dan, the highest rank ever given to
someone that age.

Keehan received a black belt in Aikido from Morihei

Uyeshiba, in 1965 and received a black belt in Judo
from the Chicago Yudanshikai under Gene Wyker,
in1963. Keehan also studied Jiu Jitsu and received a
seventh degree black belt in Ju-Te, which is a combi-
nation of Aikido, Jiu Jitsu, Kid-Bo and Bo-Kid-Bo. This
rank was under Uyeshiba and also presented to John
in 1963. Keehan received all these rankings at
approximately the same time, because he studied full
time, and had done so since age sixteen.

Keehan was also know to read voraciously. It was

known that Keehan was not a particular fan of any-
thing Bruce Tegner wrote, but Keehan even read his
books. He grudgingly admitted that Tegner’s books
were - not bad. Keehan had to amend that statement
though, by adding that he thought that Bruce Tegner

24 25
he never won any championships, never challenged As a matter of fact, by the time he was thirty-six years
anybody, or accepted any challenges. old, Dante claimed to have killed over fifty men.
Some of these kills were partly accomplished while
Keehan also questioned if Bruce Lee had ever really he was serving in the military, which is totally believ-
contributed anything to martial arts, since he never able, but he also claimed to have killed in street
held a tournament and wasn’t a pioneer of any kind. fights, as well as in competitions. Dante points out
Keehan believed that Lee has simply lucked out being that other than for his military kills, that he didn’t use
in the movies. Keehan was convinced that if he had weapons of any kind - but killed with only his bare
had a serious backer that his career would have been hands.
different as well.
He also professed not to enjoy killing, but that he was
By now Keehan was already experiencing the painful able to psych himself up to kill, through what he said
symptoms of his developing ulcer. He blamed his was an - over secretion of the pituitary glands. He
condition on having to deal with all the politics in the believed this pumped up his adrenaline, what the
martial arts. It is not known if he sought treatment Orientals call Chi or Kid. Dante called it - plain guts.
for his ailment. He did seem to decide that it was time
to leave all the politics behind and to strike out on his He also believed that there was a certain thrill in
own and he subsequentially developed - The Dante killing, definitely a thrill in winning, something he
System. Promoted as a universal fighting system, blamed his military life on forcing him to discover.
where Keehan - now Count Dante, assured his mem- They had taught him to kill - rather than be killed.
bers that they would become one with the universal
mind and their subconscious would be in accord with Dante must have been a
the almighty. A tall order to be sure. witness to some awful
things while he was in
The religious overtones of The Dante System could be the military because he
somewhat explained by the fact that although he was accused American sol-
a violent man, and professed to be a death match diers of killing foreign
fighter, Count Dante also professed himself to be a captive prisoners like the
Catholic. To the extent that he at one time wanted to Japanese and the
become a priest. He was rejected, possibly because of Germans soldiers did. He
his many unorthodox ideas. It would seem that Count considered the killing of
Dante did have a vague ambition to do some good for prisoners to be just
his fellow man, despite his participation in many another part of war.
death matches. When discussing this fact
he felt the need to point

26 27
out that he never felt any type of sexual, spiritual, He was surprised to lose this fight though because it
physical or psychological thrill while making these was against a neighbor boy he knew. He even chased
kills. his adversary for four blocks, going in for a rematch
each time, and each time he was dropped by the kid.
Some of his students offered up the fact that Dante’s Dante waited a few years and then caught up to his
training curriculum included teaching them to kill, if neighbor and dropped him.
they were in a position where they had no other
choice. He taught his students to have the attitude to The second fight he lost was to a crime syndicate
kill if necessary. hoodlum, who was both a Boxer and a Wrestler.
Dante was still in high school at the time. One night
Dante also admitted to having maimed about twenty- while home alone, he heard a noise in the basement.
five people, by either blinding them or actually taking His father stored all his outboard motors for his boats
an eye or two out. He was also fond of aiming for his
opponent’s testicles, ripping them off with his bare
hands, or using a groin slap and twisting and tearing
them - under very adverse conditions only - of
course.

He admitted to losing two out of all his fights. The first

fight Dante lost was when he was a really young boy.

28 29
in the basement, so fearing a robbery in progress, imately 700 spectators. There were twelve competi-
young Keehan went into the basement to take care of tors from all the different fighting arts in attendance,
the thieves. He found a couple of Sicilians busy steal- most were Chinese Kenpo men. Dante’s first fight
ing his father’s possessions. was with a Kenpo stylist. He was a very strong man
for his age. He was old, but it was hard to tell just how
Dante, stripped to the waist, and ready for a fight, old. Dante killed this man with a closed hand tech-
rushed in to the basement and was promptly kicked in nique - a strike to the head.
the balls. This was a new experienced for him and he
found himself squirming on the ground. The thieves After the Canton match, Dante fought outdoors in
were kind enough to ask him if he had had enough Bangkok at another death match, this time before
and Dante said - yes. He ended up kicking his attack- 3000 spectators. There were over seventy competi-
er’s ass about two years later at a chance encounter. tors and Dante ended up fighting for the title of the
Heavy Weight Champion of Bangkok.
This may have been when Dante first decided that to
be an effective fighter, you needed to go out and get To win his matches Dante used his famous throat grab.
your ass kicked to know what if felt like.

During his travels, Dante’s first death match took

place in an outlying district in Canton. Some of his
other death matches where held in Bangkok, Thailand
(against Thai Boxers), as well as Korean, Japanese,
Okinawan and Chinese Gung-Fu fighters.

Dante insists that he didn’t travel to the Orient for the

express purpose of fighting in death matches, that the
first time he heard about them was by chance, when
he was in Thailand. He just happened to overhear a
conversation about a Canton death match about to
take place, while walking around sight seeing. Dante
at first, was like a lot of other people and didn’t
believe that events like this occurred and decided to
see for himself.

Once he arrived outside of Canton, Dante located the

death match in a building already filled with approx-

30 31
He would grip the throat of his opponent, and twist martial arts and didn’t really do anything else, so it is
and pull. The trick was not to aim for the larynx - too possible that he was more than capable of holding his
much room for error. Dante would burrow his hand own in these matches. It is also possible that Dante
all the way in on either side of the throat. He likened had connections, or paid many bribes along the way
it to an alligator getting a hold of a chunk of meat and to get admission.
using his tail for leverage - one hand goes one way,
and the other hand goes the other way. Of course legitimate martial artists in the Chicago
area, who all eventually ended up despising Dante,
Much of Dante’s legend rests upon his participation in claimed that he couldn’t possibly have been in the
death matches. Official sources in the government of Orient when he said he was. They had proof of atten-
Thailand and the People’s Republic of China will tell dance records that Dante was working for them at
you that no such events exist today - nor that they the time, although no paperwork was ever produced
ever did exist. by anyone to back up the statement.

There are a few credible martial artists who know the It was also widely believed by most martial artists
Orient and who will tell you that death matches have,
in fact, been held in secret. These matches are con-
ducted as a matter of honor, but that to be chosen to
participate in one, that you have to be highly regard-
ed by your Sensei.

Assuming that death matches did exist in the Far East

when Dante travelled there, the chances that John
Keehan, alias Count Dante, was able to enter such a
match seems to be very unlikely. An American would
not have been welcomed with open arms into the
secret, elite circles of those who organized these
death matches and he did not have a Sensei in the
area who would have entered him. Dante said that he
won admission to death matches on the basis of his
kata and fighting skills.

Considering that Dante had his father’s money at his

disposal, he would have been able to buy his way into
these matches if he had to. He was devoted to the

32 33
that Count Dante was a coward. They knew of a fight tournament that Dante had arranged for him.
Dante and his best friend were involved in where
Dante let his friend die. Count Dante it seemed was all This incident was bad news for Dante, but it got worse
smoke and mirrors, a charlatan, a mediocre martial years later, when on April 24, 1970 Dante and some of
artist, who relied only on his charismatic personality his students went to a rival dojo - the Green Dragon
and good looks to get through life. The majority Society's Black Cobra Hall, and claimed to be police
thought that Dante had been a promising Karateka at officers. They then proceeded to attack the rival
one time, but ended up believing his own press clip- dojo's students. The brief battle resulted in the death
pings, and made lying a way of life. of one of Dante's friends and a fellow Sensei, Jim
Concevic.
We do know for sure that in the sixties, when Dante
was the top Karate personality in the American mid- Former mob lawyer Robert Cooley stated in his auto-
west, that he established the first contact Karate biography, ‘When Corruption was King’ that he rep-
tournament. Eventually, ten years later, this became resented Count Dante during the trial, following the
a popular concept everywhere, but was hotly con- 1970 Dojo War incident. Cooley recalls that Dante was
tested at the time. Then there were Dante’s alleged
involvements with the Chicago Mafia Family, his
lucrative mail order Karate business, and the trans-
formation of John Keehan into Count Dante. If that
wasn’t enough to peak anyone’s interest, there was
the famous bombing incident Dante was involved in,
as well as the ensuing dojo war which led to the
death of Karate star Jim Concevic.

The bombing attempt was widely reported and Dante

was charged with attempted arson on July 22, 1965.
He and an accomplice, Douglas Dwyer, (the second
deadliest man alive), were arrested when they were
caught taping dynamite caps to the window of a rival
Chicago dojo. Both men claimed to be under the
influence of alcohol at the time and told the officers
that - they were just kidding around. Dante would
explain much later that the bombing attempt was the
result of a disagreement he had had earlier with the
dojo's owner over payment never received for a

34 35
ultimately acquitted, but not before both sides were The deadliest man alive was dead!
given a stern lecture by the judge, who cited every-
one at fault. Robert A. Trias, one of America’s pioneers in Karate,
remembered Dante well, having been his friend for
Cooley also suggests in his book that Dante was the years. Together the two men had established the
mastermind in the notorious 1974 Chicago Purolator United States Karate Association (USKA), which still
vault robbery, in which 4.3 million dollars was stolen. endures today. Dante left the organization in 1964.
While he was not named as one of the suspects, Dante But before that, young John Keehan had been a pop-
was allegedly questioned by the Illinois grand jury ular, hard working instructor and one of the driving
and ultimately passed their lie detec-
tor test. Dante died shortly before
the trial was completed. The trial
resulted in the conviction of all but
one person involved.

Count Juan Raphael Dante aka John

Timothy Keehan died in his sleep on
May 25, 1975. He was 36 years old.

At the time of his death Dante had

been on the verge of a comeback. He
had overcome most of the struggles
he had had to deal with, after the
death of his friend Jim Concevic in
1970, and seemed to be in a better
frame of mind.

His death was probably not the way

the flamboyant Count Dante would
have planned it. He would never
have wanted his beautiful young wife
to find him one morning, lying stiff in
his bed. He had quietly succumbed to
a bleeding stomach ulcer, possibly
brought on by his life choices.

36 37
forces in promoting Karate in the midwest. having stood up for his black students, that they did-
n’t leave with him but chose to stay with Trias.
Sensei Trias liked him quite a bit when he first met
John, because he was conscientious and a good stu- One of his fellow Karateka during this time was
dent. Remember Keehan travelled to his school in Algene Caraulia, although Keehan always claimed
Phoenix every year and trained with him for three or Algene Caraulia to be his student. Caraulia denies this
four months at a time. Eventually young Keehan
became the USKA representative for the Chicago
area, thanks to Trias’ confidence in his ability to han-
dle the responsibility.

Unfortunately this would prove to be a bad idea,

because at age twenty-two Keehan found himself
with too much power on his hands and he lost control
quickly. His lies became more and more fantastic and
eventually in 1964, John was dismissed from the USKA.
He had not only lied verbally but also in printed sto-
ries. One of the more fantastic stories he told was
about having served as a guerrilla, under Raul Castro,
during the Sierra Maestre campaign in Cuba.

The unbelievable stories he told over the years

proved to be Keehan’s downfall. This was unfortu-
nate, because he had good technique, he was strong
and consumed with everything to do with Karate, and
very proficient. During his time with Sensei Trias he
had been very well liked. It is possible that he got
involved with the wrong people. Nobody ever dis-
puted that he did a lot of good for the organization
when he was a member.

Keehan insisted that he was expelled from the USKA

for promoting black students to Shodan, something
he says was forbidden in the organization. Trias
denied this accusation. Keehan was surprised when,

38 39
claim, saying that Keehan was only on the promo- and a salesman. He was always impressed how Dante
tional board which gave him his black belt and that was able to pull in thousands of people to watch
they worked together at Gene Wyka’s Judo and Karate tournaments, at a time when there was a dis-
Karate centers. tinct lack of interest in the martial arts.

Carulia remembers that initially he didn’t didn’t cor- Keeney also admits that Concevic was definitely
rect Keehan on not being his student because he liked Dante’s student and that there were a lot of people in
him and they had become friends. Carulia admits that the midwest who studied with John. He also concedes
Dante was as good as any Shodan he’d ever seen. that at one time Dante ‘was Karate’ in the midwest.
This was most evident when they had the first World
Carulia and Keehan spent a lot of time together out- Championships and there were three men they called
side of the dojo as well and he got to know him better - Jhoon Rhee, John Keehan and Robert Trias.
than most. They had a lot of good times together
although Carulia was somewhat confused by all the Kenny Knudsen had yet another opinion, and
obvious lies Keehan told. Carulia thought Keehan had remembers Dante as a demented, all show, no fight
a 'lotta balls’ telling lies about beating up three guys and mentally ill man. Keep in mind that Jim Concevic
in a street fight or lying about being able to stick his had been a close friend of Knudsen’s and that he
fingers into someone’s rib cage or being capable of blamed Concevic’s death on Dante - and only Dante.
ripping out someone’s throat with his bare hands.

He recalled that much later, Dante also claimed to

have fostered many leading black belts in the mid-
west, including Bill Wallace.

They separated as friends when Carulia wouldn’t join

Keehan in his World Karate Federation. Carulia sim-
ply refused to go along with all the bull and never
thought of Keehan as his superior.

Glenn Keeney on the other hand, remembers seeing

Dante spar and didn’t think he was really all that good
- just an average black belt who never won anything,
is how he thought of him.

Keeney does admit that Dante was a top promoter

40 41
Dante’s rather controversial influence on the martial It is obvious that Dante did much for Karate during
arts in Chicago had ruffled a lot of feathers in the the time he taught in Chicago and that he was
martial arts community - yet the public found him responsible for filling tournament halls with average
fascinating. The martial arts were still very mysteri- citizens, which he had made hungry for Karate. He
ous then and Dante kept the mystery alive. At one also taught many black belts who went on to establish
point, he announced publicly that he would duplicate their own dojos and turned out nationally respected
the classic feat of killing a bull with a single Shuto. students.
This was not to be though, thanks to a well placed call
to the SPCA. Some people claimed that Dante himself However much good Keehan/Dante did in his short
had made the call, because he only wanted the pub- life, he will always be remembered for his death
licity for himself and had never actually intended on matches, and he would probably have been
following through with his advertised bull killing impressed with that. How many martial artists are
stunt. there who can claim to have being accused of bomb-
ing a competitor’s dojo? Dante always explained that
this incident came about because he had a falling out
with the owner, Gene Wyka, who was a Judoka. So
naturally, he and Doug Dwyer, a black belt, had to do
something. The best plan they came up with was to
get drunk and blast away at Wyka’s dojo.

They came prepared for the job with cases of dyna-

mite which the police never found. All they found
were the blasting caps the two men had on them.
Dante claims that they were so drunk that they were
not even able to light the dynamite caps. They tried
three or four times, while carrying on a loud conver-
sation, accompanied with much laughter, which is
what eventually got them noticed by the police.

The attempted bombing received a lot of publicity

because at the time the Chicago police were looking
for a crime syndicate, which was bombing businesses
all over the city. Pressured to make a quick arrest,
the police were out in full force looking for the mad
bomber. Unfortunately Doug just happened to fit the

42 43
description on record. That night of blood and terror, which ended with
Concevic on a slab in the morgue, was at the time, the
Much as this incident stayed in the forefront with ugliest moment in the history of American Karate.
many martial artists, and did not help Dante’s reputa- Dante’s version of the event was quite different from
tion, this incident faded into the background with the others who were there, and who all agree that his
death of Jim Concevic. This was the beginning of the account was a lie.
end of Count Dante and would totally prevent him
from becoming an accepted Master of the arts. Dante’s version is that members of the Green Dragon
Gung-Fu Group had threatened him with death sev-
eral times. He finally decided to
face down his challengers at the
Green Dragon’s Black Cobra
training hall in Chicago. He
brought along two of his disci-
ples, Mike Felcoff and Jim
Concevic, as well as three of
Concevic’s students. After they
entered the hall, a group of
some seventeen or so Green
Dragons, all armed with various
weapons, locked the door after
them and then charged at them.
The three Concevic students ran
for the door. Concevic was
stabbed during the skirmish,
while Dante was busy gouging
the eyes out of one Green
Dragon and then disposed of the
others one by one.

The account, as told by some of

the Green Dragons, is quite dif-
ferent. First, nobody was sure as
to what brought this fight on.
One theory is that Dante had

44 45
been extorting the Green Dragon owners for money. According to Dante, when questioned about that
Threats were made to smash their dojo to bits and night, he says that once the doors were locked after
that challenge was accepted. Another version them, that they were attacked by men bearing
brought forth was that a Green Dragon instructor had Chinese weapons, mace, spears, swords and knives.
been dating one of Dante’s girlfriends. Whatever the Dante and Concevic were both maced right away.
reason, on the night of April 23, 1970, Dante tele-
phoned various friends and students and asked them In the silence that ensued after the first attack, the
to join him in a confrontation at the Green Dragon two groups sized each other up. At this point the
hall. accounts diverge again. According to one story,
Dante and Felcoff are led into a back office to talk with
Ken Knudsen remembers that Jim Concevic called him the manager of the school. Concevic and his men
that night and told him that - Crazy John wanted him agree to stay behind. In this version Dante is not in
to go to the Green Dragons Hall with him. Knudsen the room when Concevic is attacked.
begged Concevic not to go. Concevic said that he
wasn’t expecting any trouble, but wanted to be there In another version someone throws the first blow and
to back up John in case someone tried to stab him or all hell breaks loose. Concevic throws one Green
something. Dragon to the floor with an Osoto-Gari, turns from
the prostrate form and throws himself into the fight.
Others who were there said it all started with a phone The men stay together in a group, fighting off the
call from Concevic to join him for some food and a armed herd of men and head towards the locked
beer, after a quick pit stop at the Green Dragon Hall, door. Knives flash!
to help out John. It was obvious to everyone that Concevic bears the
Concevic was not expecting any trouble that night. brunt of the attack.
They described him as very calm. He tries to fend off
the slashing blades,
Jane Orr, Concevic’s girlfriend believes otherwise. his hands and arms
She was convinced that Jim was prepared for a fight slashed to ribbons.
that night because when she went to pick up his car
later, Jim’s glasses and his daily reminder notebook Then from some-
were in the front seat of his car, along with his shirt where in the crowd
and sports coat. To her that meant that he didn't want of men, a sword
his clothes or his glasses damaged in a fight. She blade is thrusts
admits that Jim liked a little street brawl once in a deep into
while. Concevic’s left side.
It is a severe

46 47
wound. Another sword blade right after, intended for heavy spear and lets it fly.
his throat, misses, but rips open a wound under his
chin. The spear catches Concevic in the side of the neck.
Concevic manages to get hold of the staff that is pro-
A gravely wounded Concevic still manages to yell for truding from his neck and jerks it out. A thick, pulsing
everyone to - ‘Get the f--k outa here!’ The three stu- stream of blood quickly pools on the ground. The
dents with him manage to kick the door off its hinges Karate champion’s carotid artery has been severed.
and they run into the street. One of them, realizes Concevic manages to head through the door and falls
that Concevic did not follow after them and is still in to the sidewalk. He is dead! Blood no longer spurts
the building. He turns and runs back into the Green from his many wounds. His heart has stopped.
Dragon Hall to rescue his Sensei.
Sirens can be heard in the background, heading in
He is in time to witness his instructor’s death at the their direction. One of Concevic’s students was able
hands of a Green Dragon. Concevic, dazed and badly to make his way to a nearby firehouse and called the
hurt is never the less trying to make a run for the police. Everyone starts to run away from the build-
door. He slams in to a wall instead. The man he threw ing, some, including Dante, are caught and taken to
to the floor at the beginning of the fight raises a police headquarters and charged. Later, Jim
Concevic’s body is found to have thirty-six slash and
stab wounds and a hole in his throat.

According to Dante he was there, fighting for his life,

pulling out eyeballs.

Some accounts have Dante hiding under a desk in a

Green Dragon office, where the police apparently
found him.

There was also a theory thrown around that Dante

had been the target for the sword and spear, that
because he and Concevic looked a lot alike, same
hair, beard and body size, that Jim’s death was a case
of mistaken identity.

Dante, in his account swears that he was charged with

taking both eyes out of an opponent, and that in fact

48 49
he had done so. But according to some eye witness- One thing that stayed consistent in his life was his
es the only other casualty that night was a Green carefully attended appearance and his make-up
Dragon who suffered an eye injury alright, but that it skills. One intimate friend hinted that Dante made
was due to a nunchaku hit. himself up every morning. He confided that John
could have made the cover of GQ but that the only
Surprisingly the trial came to nothing. The witness cover he really wanted was that of Rolling Stone
who saw the fatal spear being hurled at Concevic was magazine.
able to identify the perpetrator. Even so the case was
ultimately thrown out of court. It was largely By the time he died at 36, the once pure martial artist
believed that this was because the suspected killer’s had evolved into a figure of infamy, who craved pub-
father bought some people off. Dante insisted that it licity, who lied about everything he did, and had ever
was he who bought everyone’s way out, leaving his done, and was now involved with organized crime.
Karate empire cash strapped and in shambles. After
Concevic’s death he was reduced to peddling peanuts At the time Count Dante died, all who knew him pro-
in a Chicago baseball stadium. claimed him to be one of the wealthiest men in the
martial arts. By some accounts, he had made more
Jim Concevic’s death made a profound impact on from his book than Bruce Tegner ever did, and more
what was left of Dante’s life. Jim Concevic had been from his catalogue than anybody but Bruce Lee and
his best friend and possibly, except for Bill Aguiar - his Mito Uyehara ever amassed.
only friend. Dante never quite recovered from that
night. Dante’s book, more a booklet, was titled The World’s
Deadliest Fighting Arts and featured a few hand tech-
The deadliest man in the world was now selling niques, basic Kung Fu punches and some ripping and
peanuts and he didn’t care. Apparently he got the job gouging tactics, as well as ‘The Dance of Death’ an
through someone who was part of the Chicago Mafia overkill technique that involved either crushing or
Family. This was Dante’s entry into the world of tearing away almost every vital organ in the body.
organized crime and his ultimate downfall. His students could never quite perform this ‘dance’
but Dante could make you picture it happening on a
At this point Dante had gone through several careers. barroom floor when he did it. Dante’s graceful man-
He would never again teach full time in the martial nerisms carried over into his kata and self defense
arts. His attempt to set up a string of hair salons had forms, which unfortunately didn’t translate well in
also failed. He had managed to secure a spectacular print.
front page article in the National Informer tabloid
though. It proclaimed that Dante, the world’s dead- The book was written between 1966 and 1967 and
liest fighter was now a hairdresser. published at his own expense. It sold millions of

50 51
copies and made him a fortune. It was mainly adver- in a chain of pornographic bookstores. Dante denied
tised in men’s magazines and in comic books. being the owner of any of the stores, but that he was
only a ‘sort of’ manager. People who knew some-
Dante thought of himself as the most famous martial thing about this situation agreed that he was involved
artist who ever lived, known world wide, and on par with these bookstores and that he grossed $9,000 a
with Bruce Lee. week.

Bill Aguiar tried to help Dante make his style more It was widely known that Dante was also into drugs,
saleable to potential students, but Dante insisted on but nobody was ever really sure as to just how deep
not changing a thing and on calling his hand based that involvement went. He admitted to using
style Dan-Te. cannabis and that he only participated in dealing in
narcotics. It was thought that he had been thrown
His combat philosophy consisted of the fact that feet out of the army because of his drug use, but that was
are not used until an opponent is on the ground, that not something that Dante ever admitted to.
legs are a means of transportation and not weapons.
He felt that close-in training had advantages, that it In the last years of his life, Dante was into drugs and
psyched out an opponent accustomed to fighting with getting drunk on a regular basis, almost like he had a
Boxing or Karate techniques at a set distance. Show premonition that the end was near. He started telling
me how to throw a sidekick in a phone booth, he’d people that a doctor had diagnosed him as suffering
say, or how to do a Uchimata in a phone booth. from pernicious anemia and feared it would develop
into leukemia. It is not known if this was actually the
Dante trained his students to fight in bar situations. At case, but Dante definitely talked about not caring if he
least two sequences of the Dant-Te system involved died from then on.
techniques that don’t work on anybody who isn’t sit-
ting on a bar stool. He had a habit of supplying his Even a sick Dante inspired real fear, as an enforcer for
black belts with bottles of Budweiser beer in- the Chicago Syndicate. His students liked to play that
between workouts. His logic was that fights happen up. So, on rare occasions, did he, bragging to have
more often than not in bars and he therefore set the killed for a local gangster, an alleged godfather of the
scene for his students. New England Mafia.

Dante himself preferred to drink malts and spirits and Even with all his different commitments, Dante found
after Concevic’s murder, chain smoked Kools. time to run a mail order martial arts business, which
eventually ended up going to his wife, as part of their
It is also known that Dante dabbled in pornography. divorce settlement.
The Chicago police were aware that he was involved

52 53
Krista Dante was perhaps the only person Dante ever Paul Kwan asked one of his students if Dante was still
loved more than himself. He also professed to love his blowing up dojos.
stepson, from Krista’s previous relationship. They all
continued to live together, even after the divorce. Dante believed that all Orientals were not capable of
This was due in part so that Dante could look after fighting, especially not the Chinese. He believed that
them because by now he was constantly worried all they had was their mystical garbage, that they
about their safety, as well as his own, because of his didn’t win matches, and that they were sneaky. He
involvement with the Mob. The fact that he had been was convinced that the Chinese were trying to take
associated with the famous Chicago Purolator bur- over the country in every possible way, complete
glary also continued to hang over his head. This had with their own well established crime syndicates.
been the biggest American heist since the Brinks job,
and if Dante had lived, it is possible that he would Surprisingly, considering his racist attitude, Dante
have been charged with this crime. Eventually Dante had an extensive black following. He would quip that
became somewhat of a recluse, sitting in his condo he was their blue eyed soul brother. He claimed to
worrying and waiting to be shot. He started to keep a have taught the Blackstone Rangers, a feared black
shotgun nearby. He was also considering moving to street gang. Most of his schools boasted a large
Lebanon to get as far away as possible. attendance of black students. He counted nationally
known black Karateka such as Karriem Allah Fred
At this time Dante found out that Luigi DiFonzo, a fig- Hamilton and Russell Brown among his staunchest
ure in the Purolator heist, believed to have been the supporters.
one who laundered the stolen money, was publishing
a book about the heist. Dante had been questioned As mentioned before, Dante pioneered full contact
and threatened with a subpoena and considered him- tournaments open to all styles in America. Many
self to be more on the inside of the theft than DiFonzo. martial artists were against this concept, including
Jhoon Rhee, whose introduction of safety equipment
Everyone who knew Dante, knew that he was preju- a few years later, would fling wide the door to full
diced against all Orientals. A few months before his contact Karate in America and make him a fortune.
death, Dante challenged Paul Kwan to a death match
and told him that all Orientals should be put into Dante counted the sponsorship of the World Karate
ovens. This came about after Kwan wondered how a Championships from 1962 through 1965, the First
Caucasian could claim to hold a tenth degree in Kung World Professional Karate Championship in 1967 and
Fu and that comment eventually came to Dante’s the First World Fighting Arts Championship in 1968 as
attention. some of his main accomplishments.

Dante of course tells it differently. He claimed that His own tournament career was not especially distin-

54 55
guished. The biggest name competitor he ever give a shit anymore!’ was a common phrase he used
fought while on the circuit was Gary Alexander. a lot. ‘I’m going to be dead in six months anyway.’
Dante was disqualified after disabling Alexander with was another one.
a groin grab. Alexander decked Dante in the first
moments of the round, and both of them were dis- After Dante died in his sleep the conspiracy theories
qualified in the scuffle which followed. abounded unchecked. The main ones were that he
had been poisoned by ‘Family’ hit men, or been the
Embittered by the experience of being shunned by victim of a death touch applied by an envious Kung Fu
the Karate establishment, Dante left tournament practitioner.
promotion and didn’t surface again until the contro-
versial Taunton Death Matches, which bore his trade- Chicago residents especially pondered the fact that
marked approach of sensationalism. He had report- the Mafia might have been involved in Dante’s death.
edly challenged Joe Lewis to fight him for a $70,000 At one point there was even a request to exhume
purse. Told of the rumor, Lewis’ manager Mike Dante’s body and analyze it for traces of poison. It
Anderson was greatly amused. was never done.

This was somewhat reminiscent of the bull incident, After Dante’s death Frank Ryan was touted as the new
Dante was totally aware that Lewis was in top form deadliest man alive. Apparently Ryan was the leading
and he really didn’t want to fight him, as usual he just surviving disciple, although there is no record that he
wanted the hype and the publicity. was ever a student of Dante’s.

At the Taunton event, Dante was challenged to a fight His actual hand picked successor was William Aguiar
by two individuals. A gum chewing Dante sat calmly of Fall River, Massachusetts. Dante had bequeathed
at the judges’ table, barely raised an eyebrow at the his Black Dragon Fighting Society, his World Dragon
challenges and said nothing. He had no intention of Fighting Society his World Karate Federation and his
going anywhere near the ring. He was two months Dan-Te system to Aguiar.
away from dying and must have known himself to be
a very sick man. Even at his peak, he probably would Unfortunately, shortly after Dante’s sudden death, in
have ignored these challenges - because he only April of 1975, a pregnant Krista Dante lost their baby.
started challenges.
It is said that those closest to Dante accept his death
Dante had been ill for a long time, suffering from high as natural and all evidence indicates that this is prob-
blood pressure, internal bleeding and towards the ably the case.
end was experiencing drastic weight loss. He seemed
to constantly be depressed and negative. ‘I don’t Dante not only discussed death often in the months

56 57
before he died, but he also spoke about coming back, have killed many men, yet he was gifted, brilliant,
because he believed in reincarnation. personable and even compelling. He was often
described in two words - charismatic and psychotic.
Dante was a real person, but the extent of his reality His criticisms of traditional martial arts, as applied to
is a matter of debate. He was to a certain extent as American street fighting proved to be valid and was
mysterious as the Oriental fighting arts were at the eventually widely recognized as such.
time. This man loved the martial arts, yet he despised
Orientals. We will never know just how much of the legend of
Count Dante which he created for himself was real
He began his life as John Keehan, a promising young and how much of it was a lie. The death matches are
Karate prodigy, who lived and breathed the martial in question but his organized crime connections were
arts. He devoted himself to learning every style he certainly real. The tragic death of Jim Concevic’s
could and set out to bring the martial arts into the death was also very real.
limelight.
Whatever the case, Count Dante was an amazing
He was undoubtedly a very unique individual and had human being and if he had lived to a ripe old age
an unusual way of thinking and doing, pretty much would have continued to entertain us.
everything. Especially his way of looking at the mar-
tial arts. For example he thought that the legendary He was without a doubt the first American mytholog-
samurai Miyamoto Musashi, considered to be the ical character.
hero of Japan, was nothing but a man who murdered
innocent men, women and children for money. Dante written by Annette Hellingrath
was convinced that he would also be remembered in
a similar fashion after his own death.

This is not to say that Dante had any illusions about

how he was perceived by most people. He was well
aware people referred to him as being an asshole -
even if they never said it to his face.

Was Count Dante really just an asshole, or was he the

deadliest man alive?

There were elements of both in this strange man and

he, ironically, was the first to admit it. He professed to

58 59
 CHAPTER

TWO

60 61
 SHORTCOMINGS IN PRESENT DAY DEFENSE SYSTEMS

It is unfortunate that today’s Karate and even the your opponent off balance.
more intricate Chinese arts of Gung-Fu and Tai Chi
Chuan are lacking in such important areas of defense (F) Utilizing your opponent’s attack against him (the
as: attack which you should have controlled).

(A) The ability to control your opponent’s moves and (G) Using striking techniques such as the pulled back
attacks. This is much more evident in Judo than in strike, follow through strike, circular return strike,
Karate. and the block and counter in one movement strike,
instead of the common, but also effective thrusting
(B) Timing - When to attack, counter or apply gener- strike, using either the rigidly extended arm or the
al techniques, as in immediately moving inside of a various degrees of the bent elbow strike from either
strike or attack (to its source) to suffocate or smoth- the center focused or side launched position. (All
er it, before it gets to its peak and is most formidable strikes utilizing the proper application of snap, twist,
(the tip of a flame is the hottest, as the final portion of or whiplash if desired.)
an attack is the most dangerous). Timing and timing
exercises are poorly developed in the Karate field. (H) Developing the senses to automatically respond
to the attack with a counter or dodging technique
(C) Patterns of attack and defense - used also to con- without actually seeing your attacker.
trol an opponent’s movements.
(I) Using definite footwork and foot patterns (circu-
(D) Ducking, bobbing, weaving, to give one the use of lar, linear and combinations thereof) to attack,
both hands and feet to counter, also rolling with the retreat, and general movement aside from the com-
blow to dissipate the full impact of the strike. The mon shuffle, slide and cross stepping - prevalent in
effectiveness of these are quite obvious in profes- Karate. This also includes working on the balls of the
sional Boxing. feet, like a Boxer, instead of always using the flat-
footed shuffle. Along with this the body level can be
(E) Throwing, tipping, sweeping, pinning, pushing, constant, dipping, swooping or raising with or with-
pulling, gripping, grabbing, holding, turning, twisting, out a twisting or turning motion or position.
grappling and choking techniques, along with arm
bars, arm locks, mat work and defensive and offensive (J) Developing the body to withstand heavy punish-
groundwork, used very little in Karate, but very ment and to eliminate fear of being hit. As in any con-
effective, especially to complete a counter. The tact sport, such as football, you can never truly get far
falling techniques of Judo, as well as the rolling tech- in defense arts unless you enjoy body contact.
niques of Aikido should be stressed along with off bal-
ancing techniques and the ability to control and keep (K) Utilizing definite and specific hand and foot com-

62 63
binations of attack, defense and counter, using circu- and Okinawan styles.
lar techniques as well as straight line. Many hand,
foot, body development and movement techniques (P) Development of the body’s inner strength. The
can be especially effective if initiated with a fast and human body has at its disposal latent power, dormant
jerky, but form controlled movement along with the in most, making one capable of almost superhuman
use of proper and definite erratic, constant and com- feats of strength and endurance. In Chinese Boxing
bination rhythm of technique and control well devel- the strength is called Chi, in Aikido it is known as Kid.
oped in Kenpo Karate. The presence of this inner strength is acknowledged
by many, but the ability to awaken, control and build
(L) Use of fainting, deflecting, parrying, leading and on this gift has been accomplished by few.
misleading maneuvers. Many styles are too strictly
systematized and in sequence. Thus predictable with If necessary you should be able to avoid any attack or
little or no room for individual improvisation, sur- use your opponent’s strength or flow of attack to
prise or unorthodox techniques. your advantage, not just by trying to block or stop
him head on, but by going along with him and con-
(M) Development of proper breath control to sup- trolling the trip, throw if best at that time, roll with
port all strikes and applications of techniques. With the strike or duck and counter if necessary, in one
this goes the proper use and timing of kiai as in Kia- single continuous motion rather than the too com-
Jitsu. mon staccato 1-2 motion. Every move you make has
a counter for any attack he may launch. You can
(N) Familiarization with the major and lesser known develop the ability to direct and control any present
nerve centers, pressure points, blood vessels and and future movements and attack by specific pat-
vital organs of the body - their exact location and at terns.
what time of the day they are most vulnerable to
attack. You should be 'unhittable' if desired, and if hit by
chance you should have the ability to withstand
(O) Proper application of short, immediate block and severe physical abuse by punishment conditioning
counter techniques, using one hand to block and the training, if unable to roll with the strike and minimize
other to counter. In one staccato motion, or using the effect of the blow. With training you should be
the same hand to block and or deflect and counter in able to move inside of, or out of the way of any blow,
the same motion, or the longer continuous and duck, dodge, avoid or roll with or away from any
simultaneous flowing block and counter moves of the attack by foot patterns, body deployment, etc. A
Chinese arts, using one hand to block and the other to skilled expert in the ancient fistic arts should move
counter in the same motion, rather than the block with extra sensory perception so as to avoid, move
now and hit later defenses of the Japanese, Korean around or under, with or against any single or multi-

64 65
ple attack. He will use fast staccato and continuous to help develop the body to withstand strike punish-
charges or defensive and offensive moves, never let- ment and actually hinders the students when they are
ting up the pressing drive until his opponent is inca- forced to use it on the street.
pacitated.
The Black Dragon Fighting Society places their mem-
Each and every move you make in the application of bers in occupations or positions where they can get a
an offensive or defensive technique should be fast, wide variety of actual street experience, often as
automatic, and spontaneous, utilizing the more wide- special police, guards, union organizers, strike
ly practiced methods of the fighting arts, along with breakers, and in night club security. Here a man can
the above mentioned techniques which are sadly legally get a world of assorted fighting experiences
lacking in present day systems. It must be remem- which the average fighting arts student would not see
bered that no defense system has all of the answers, in several lifetimes.
or the best defense for every situation. A thorough
and expert knowledge of the grappling arts (Aikido, Remember, the only true test of a fighting man is
Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling, etc.) plus a similar knowl- what he can do and no more. Form practice, spar-
edge of the fistic arts (Boxing , Savate, Karate, Gung ring, self-defense practice and brick breaking are
Gui, etc.) will enable the beholder to react to a cer- meaningless if the man cannot withstand the burden
tain attack with whatever particular defense style is of the ‘real thing.’
most applicable at the time.

Special Note:

Proper emphasis on courage, aggressiveness and

actual training hall and street applications of effec-
tive fighting techniques is the most seriously lacking
segment in modern day Karate and Gung-Fu schools.
Many Chinese systems consider courage more impor-
tant than technique, strength or speed, as without it
all else fails, and courage can sometimes succeed
alone. Most Karate schools place little emphasis on
courage or guts, fighting and aggressiveness and
usually even frown on it. They also do not permit
body contact in their self-defense and sparring prac-
tice. This makes for a safe training hall, but does little

66 67
 VITAL AREAS OF THE BODY

A thorough knowledge of the human anatomy is an

important factor in the study of the fighting arts. The
vital areas are: pressure points, nerve centers, major
blood vessels and accessible organs are especially
vulnerable to attack. The following charts clearly
illustrate the location of the major vital areas of the
body which are to be attacked by the body’s natural
weapons (hands, feet, knees, elbows, forearms, head,
etc.) and are especially prime targets for the tapping,
poking or striking techniques of Poison Hand shown
in the following pages.

In most Chinese Karate, the hands, rather than the

feet are the preferred weapons. The few kicks used in
Chinese Karate are generally always thrown low,
below the belt line. As most news media coverage of
Karate, Gung-Fu, etc., deal with the common kicks or
flying techniques, we have restricted our text to the
more deadly and lesser known open and closed hand
weapons known as Poison Hand.

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 CHART A CHART A
UPPER BODY FROM THE NECK UP
1. Crown
2. Frontal bone
3. Temple
4. Above the eye
5. Above nasal bone
6. Eyeball
7. Nasal bone
8. Beneath eye
9. Philtrum
10. Cheek bone
11. Ear
12. Beneath lower Lip
13. Maxillary hinge (facial nerve)
14. Chin
15. Angle of jawbone
16. Adams apple
17. Carotid artery and jugular vein
18. Trachea (wind pipe)
19. Base of cerebellum
20. Mastoid process
21. Base of skull
22. Second cervical vertebra
23. Side of neck

70 71
 CHART B CHART B
MIDDLE SECTION OF THE BODY (FRONT VIEW)
1. Head of humerus
2. Ulnar nerve
3. Elbow joint
4. Crazy bone
5. Biceps
6. Median cubitral brachial
7. Collar bone
8. Lower armpit
9. Upper, middle, lower sternum
10. Middle rib cage
11. Heart
12. Lower rib cage
13. Solar plexus
14. Floating ribs
15. Inch under navel
16. Lower abdomen
17. Crest of hip bone
18. Testicles

72 73
 CHART C CHART C
Middle section of the body (back view)
1. Seventh cervical vertebra
2. Muscles on both sides of vertebra
3. First thoracic vertebra
4. Fifth thoracic vertebra
5. Seventh thoracic vertebra
6. First lumbar
7. Liver
8. Kidneys
9. Fourth lumbar
10. Tailbone
11. Upper and lower brachioradialis
12. Median nerve

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 CHART D CHART D
Lower body from legs down
1. Inside knee
2. Base of calf
3. Achilles tendon
4. Sciatic nerve
5. Lower outer thigh
6. Upper inner thigh
7. Knee cap
8. Inner knee
9. Shin bone
10. Instep

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 DIM MAK CHART E-F
Dim Mak, in regards to the fighting arts, is a highly
specialized Chinese art of striking in which ‘Poison
1. 4 a.m. 6 a.m.
Hand’ techniques are used as weapons with the prop-
2. 8 a.m. 10 a.m.
er co-ordination and concentration of mind and body
3. 2 a.m. 4 a.m.
forces, augmented by the proper method of striking,
4. 12 a.m. 2 a.m.
breath support, Chi (inner strength), technique and a
5. 6 a.m. 8 a.m. underneath jaw bone
thorough knowledge of the body’s fatal and vital
6. 5 p.m. 6 p.m.
points along with the knowledge of the Dim Mak
7. 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Timetable.
8. 11 p.m. 12 a.m.
9. 9 p.m. 10 p.m.
DIM MAK TIMETABLE
10. 11 a.m. 12 p.m.
At specific times of the day certain vital areas of the
11. 4 p.m. 6 p.m.
body are especially vulnerable to attack. If one of
12. 12 p.m. 2 p.m. where pulse is taken
these spots is stuck in this period of time the damage
13. 1 a.m. 2 a.m.
incurred will be many times greater than ordinarily
14. 10 a.m. 12 p.m. above nipple
possible. The following charts illustrate the major
15. 9 a.m. 10 a.m.
vulnerable areas and the time in which they are most
16. 7 a.m. 8 a.m.
sensitive.
17. 5 a.m. 6 a.m.
18. 3 a.m. 4 a.m.
19. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. inner thigh
20. 1 p.m. 2 p.m. bottom of sole
21. 6 p.m. 8 p.m.
22. 10 p.m. 12 a.m.
23. 3 p.m. 4 p.m.
24. 8 p.m. 10 p.m. between thigh behind scrotum

78 79
 CHART E CHART F
Front view - Dim Mak Timetable Rear view - Dim Mak Timetable

80 81
 CHAPTER
THREE

82 83
 POISON HAND POISON HAND

The human body has many natural weapons which Photo 1A

can be used to attack (by strike, touch or pressure) - Shows the same hand attack, but to the face.
the nerve centers, pressure points, major blood ves-
sels and vital organs of the body. The fingers, hand,
elbows, forearms, knee, foot, head, etc., are all easily
adapted to these uses. In most Chinese Karate the
hands, rather than the feet, are the prevalent
weapons. The few kicks used in Chinese Karate are
generally always thrown low (below the belt line). As
most new media coverage of Karate, Gung-Fu, etc.,
deal with the common kicks or ‘flying techniques’ we
have restricted our text to the most deadly and less-
er known open hand and closed hand weapons known
as ‘Poison Hand.’

Photo 1 - EYE LACERATION Photo 2 - NOSE CRUSHING DOUBLE EYE GOUGE

The hand in this position is used to take the eye in an Nose Crushing Double Eye Gouge, can be used, as
attempt to lacerate the eyeball. It is slashed across shown here, to crush and tear the nose in an upward
the eyes in either a clockwise or counterclockwise motion while thrusting the fore and ring fingers into
movement, or back and fourth. From here the fin- the eyes.
gers can be scooped above, through or beneath the
eyeballs into the eye socket cav-
ity.

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 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 3 - CROSS TEAR Photo 5 - CROSSED THUMBS TEAR

Cross Tear. Cross the wrists and tear forward and out. The Crossed Thumbs are thrust into the mouth and
The fingers can be slipped in to the mouth, tearing the with a side and forward motion the lips and cheeks
cheeks and mouth backward to the the ears. are shredded ear to ear. This technique can also be
performed with the thumbs uncrossed.

Photo 4 - CROSS EYE GOUGE WITH REAR TEAR Photo 6 - GROIN SLAP
Cross Eye Gouge with Rear Tear. The thumbs are Groin Slap or grab and tear off, (often called monkeys
thrust into the eye sockets, when buried the ears are stealing a peach). The slap method is preferred over
grabbed and with a fast withdrawal, the ears and the the straight grab because of its stunning effect and
side of the face are peeled off. This technique can be the chance for a more complete grip. The removal
executed as shown or with the wrists uncrossed. can be done with a straight tearing or twisting snap
motion.

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 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 7 - THRUSTING POKE Photo 8 - SUN FIST PUNCH

The fore and middle fingers are used here as a thrust- Sun Fist Punch. (a) The Okinawan version of the upper
ing poke to the underside of the jaw. Another appli- cut ‘Sun Fist.’ The striking hand begins at the side of
cation can be seen in the next photo. Here the ‘mir- the hip, palm up, with a 1/4 twist or 90 degree turn
ror hand’ is slapped down on to the eye, after reach- motion, the fist is punched out, striking as shown, with
ing the bottom of the eye socket. The fingers can be the flesh side of the hand parallel to the ground.
re-thrust into the eyeball or scooped behind it, Notice that in this application the thumb is pressed on
pulling it out on the withdrawal of the hand. In most the side of the index finger and not behind it. (b)
Poison Hand techniques, the hand position should be Either method is acceptable. (c) In close quarters the
exact and firm. An example of an exception would be fist at the hip can be just thrust punched straight out
when the fore and middle fingers are snapped out at without any turn or twist. (d) In the next photo a
the eyes in a whipping or jabbing motion. In this case slightly different 3/4 turn application is illustrated.
the hand and wrist can be firm, semi-loose, or loose.
The fore, middle and small fingers can be used as
weapons, individually in a half closed hand position,
(as shown), or with the rest of the fingers curled in a
complete fist. For a slightly different approach, the
first digit of the fore finger can be used to strike, with
the middle finger bent at, and pressed against, the
fore finger’s first joint for support. The middle finger
can be used in the same manner with the bent finger
acting as a brace.

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 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 9 - BACK FIST STRIKE Photo 10 - DRAGON TAIL STRIKE

(a) Here we are striking the temple with the back side Dragon Tail Strike to the throat and the underside of
of the fist two knuckles. Notice that the fore finger is the jaw. This is a popular blocking technique also. In
not tucked under as the other fingers are. This strike this strike the head is raised and the hand can contin-
can be performed with (b) all fingers tucked under, as ue until over the eyes, then a spread finger strike as
in Photo 8, or (c) with the fore and middle fingers shown in Photo 36 can be used to attack the eyes.
untucked. (d) The outside corner of the large third
joint (knuckle) of the fore finger can also be used as
the striking area. (e) The flat of the back hand can
also be used if desired. (f) The inside (shown facing
us) of the closed fist in Photo 9, is an effective weapon
especially for head attacks.

Photo 11 - CHICKEN HEAD STRIKE

Here the Chicken Head Strike is used to attack the side
of the neck. The striking area extends from the upper
side of the hand between the second thumb joint and
the wrist. This is also a popular blocking technique
and is usually followed up with a fingertip attack with
the same hand.

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 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 12 - BEAR CLAW STRIKE Photo 14 - EAGLE BEAK STRIKE

This strike began with a Bear or Tiger Claw, where the The Eagle Beak Strike is shown here attacking the
open hand has (a) the four fingers tucked under (Bear eye. It can be used either to poke, thrust, tear or
Claw) as in Photo 42, or (b) with the fingers half curled gouge out the eye. It differs from the Snake Head
as in a Tiger Claw. After the initial impact, the side of Strike in that the fingers and thumb are all pressed
the face or stuck area is grabbed onto and either together.
raked (clawed) or peeled off. Photo 34 shows a Tiger
Claw type tear. The hand position illustrated here
shows the side of the face
being grabbed in preparation
for tearing the cheek off. The
Tiger and Bear Claw positions
are either for slapping or tear-
ing or in combination.

Photo 13 - SNAKE HEAD STRIKE Photo 15 -FLAMING EYE STRIKE

Here we see the Snake Head Strike to the throat. The The Flaming Eye Strike (fore fingers, second knuckle)
throat is grabbed on one side with the thumb and by strike to the temple.
the four fingers on the other side. After grabbing
firmly, trying to make the fingers meet, the throat is
dislodged from the neck. The hand position for this
strike is similar to the strike illustrated in Photo 14,
except the thumb is dropped rather than being
pressed together with the other fingers. The cupped
four fingers can also be used
as separate weapons, without
the thumb, in a thrusting or a
cupping motion.

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 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 16 -THE BUFFALO HORN STRIKE Photo 18 - THUMB THRUST

The Buffalo Horn Strike, (middle finger, second (a) Thumb Thrust to the side of the neck. This can be
knuckle) to the nose. It, as the Flamingo Eye Strike, performed with the (b) open, or (c) half opened hand
can be especially effective in striking the nerve cen- also, but is stronger when used with a closed fist.
ters and doing penetration damage, such as to the
kidneys, solar plexus, etc.

Photo 17 - OPEN HAND HOOK Photo 19 - DRAGON HEAD STRIKE

Open Hand Hook to the throat can be performed with Dragon Head Strike, shown here in application to the
(a) thumb and fore finger alone, with (b) the thumb, temple. Instead of the flat fist (large knuckles) the
fore and middle fingers (shown) or, (c) with the whole index and middle fingers are extended for penetrat-
open hand used in the grab. In this application it has ing damage. The thumb is placed under the first joint
been thrust or buried into the throat and with a tight of the two extended knuckles. The ring finger can
grip and twisting motion the throat is to be dislodged overlap the thumb for further
from the neck. If an effective support, if desired. The strik-
grip has been executed, a ing area is the second joint of
straight line withdrawal can both the middle and forefin-
be used. gers. A tightly closed fist is to
be used.

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 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 20 - NOSE STRIKE Photo 21 - HIDDEN TECHNIQUE

A cross between the hand position of Photo 42 and The Hidden Technique. Here the left hand conceals or
Photo 19. Here we are striking under the nose with covers the Poison Hand from the view of the oppo-
the extended second knuckles of the middle and fore nent. The covering hand, at the attack, will come out
fingers. The thumb can brace against the side of the in a circular, counter clockwise movement, first
fore finger or it can be positioned under the two blocking any left handed attack, then raking the
extended fingers. attacker’s eyes with extended fingertips, then com-
ing across to block any right handed attack thrown
while the hidden hand seeks out its target, with an
appropriate Poison Hand attack. This technique,
actually quite simple, but difficult at first to the
untrained, is performed at close quarters with your
body slightly turned away from your attacker so as to
control the area of his attack.

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 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 22 - PALM HEEL STRIKE Photo 24 - AUGMENTED FINGER STRIKE

Palm Heel Strike to the side of the face. This attack is Augmented Finger Strike. In this technique the mid-
especially effective when used to strike the nose in a dle finger is pressed (a) atop the fore finger or, (b)
forward and upward motion. When the Palm Heel is crossed over it to strengthen it. This is especially
used to strike the attacker’s chin, in an uppercut effective in the application of the Dim Mak attacks to
motion, with the palm up and the fingers down and pressure points or nerve centers. (c) A variation of
tilted slightly forward, the hand can be turned in an this is to press the fore and middle fingers slightly
inward half circle so that the together, either straight or slightly bent. This tech-
fingertips can lacerate the nique can also be performed
eyes as seen in Photo 1. with the whip like motion men-
tioned in Technique 7. The
thumb can be extended, as
shown, for a hook attack or it
can be curled under the palm or
curled with the ring and little
fingers as a fist.

Photo 23 -CORKSCREW PUNCH Photo 25 - FINGER STRIKE WITH THUMB

Corkscrew or Twisting Punch to the heart. The punch Similar to the last technique except that the middle
begins at the side of the hip (palm up). From here it is finger is separated from the fore finger and is either
thrust out with a twisting motion. The angle of the (a) on top, or (b) slightly to the side of it. (c) A thumb
strike is preferably downward. The striking areas are hook has been added and after the fingers have
the large knuckles of the fore and middle fingers. The thrust into the eye, upon their removal, the thumb
exact type of fist position used may differ depending will slash the lips and cheek open to the ear, (to the
on the desired effect. (Refer to the Sun Fist Photo 8 right).
and the Back Fist Strike Photo
9, for examples of two differ-
ent fist positions.)

98 99
 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 26 - EYE HOOK Photo 28 - NOSE CRUSHING EYE GOUGE

Here the fore and ring fingers are used to hook into Nose Crushing Eye Gouge. The fore finger and little
the eyes. The fingers can be either straight or slight- finger attack the eyes while the middle and ring fin-
ly hooked. It will take a while before you can manip- ger knuckles crush the nose upward. The two fingers
ulate your hands into this position, but the fore finger can either hook as shown, or be thrust straight in.
can be used with any of the other three fingers for This attack can be used (a) with or (b) without the
fingertip attacks and their various combined uses nose crush. The thumb has been dropped for this pic-
should be practiced. ture to avoid obstructing the
view of the two curled finger
positions. In application it
would be tucked under as in a
fist.

Photo 27 - SCOOPING HOOK Photo 29 - EAGLE TALON ATTACK

(a) The middle finger can be hooked into the mouth The Eagle Talon attack to the face. The fore finger and
while the fore finger is hooking the eyeball. From middle finger on the top with the thumb at the bot-
here, in a scooping motion remove the eye and lac- tom, also very effective for an attack to the throat.
erate the cheek. (b) Either finger hook can be
worked also as a separate attack.

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 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 30 - THUMB HOOK Photo 32 - OX JAW STRIKE

Thumb Hook. The thumb is brought across the face An Ox Jaw Strike to the temple. The bone at the base
into the mouth (teeth need not be separated) and the of the edge of the hand, when properly developed,
cheek is laid open in a forward motion to the ear. This will protrude and is an effective weapon. A trained
hook can be used either with an (a) open, (b) half man can easily crack the skull open with this strike.
closed, or (c) closed hand position.

Photo 31 - HAMMER FIST STRIKE Photo 33 - BACK HAND STRIKE

(a) A Hammer Fist Strike to the side of the face. This (a) Back Hand Strike. This attack has a stunning effect
strike utilizes the bottom of the closed fist. (b) The when striking the face, side of the head or groin. (b)
inside edge (facing us), can also be used as a weapon, The inside, (facing us), palm can also be used for a
especially to the groin, throat and head. stunning, slapping weapon.

102 103
 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 34 - REVERSE TIGER CLAW Photo 36 - WHITE SNAKE HEAD ATTACK

Here we see a Reverse Tiger Claw or rake from White Snake Head Attack to the eyes. (a) The fingers
behind. In this picture it will be used to rip the nose are separated as shown. Another variation is to (b)
up from the face, then attack the eyes. If dropped pull together the fore finger and middle fingers,
lower and under the upper lip, when raked upwards it leaving a space between the connected ring and little
will peel the upper lip from the face and leave the finger. The Chinese usually prefer to leave the thumb
hand in the position shown outstretched (as shown) for better finger and hand
here to continue upwards dexterity and the possibility of
attacking the nose, then the a thumb hook attack or grab.
eyes. The Japanese, Koreans and
Okinawa's usually tuck the
thumb closer to the hand.

Photo 35 - FACE SLAPS Photo 37- THUMB PUNCH

Face Slaps. Bring both hands forward and in with two Thumb Punch. (a) Here the thumb is braced against
face slaps, from here garb the sides of the face and the second joint of the fore finger and the first joint of
with a slapping, slashing motion tear the sides, or the supported thumb is used to attack the under side
face, inward and off. The hands can also be slapped of the nose. (b) An open hand variation, using the
inward in a roundhouse type motion. The hands or second thumb joint again in which the thumb is
wrists would not be crossed in this application. deeply embedded in the center of the palm with the
fingers extended and joined, is especially effective
when used against the groin or throat.

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 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 38 - THUMB EDGE STRIKE Photo 40 - TIGER MOUTH STRIKE

The Thumb Edge Strike, similar to Photo 37, except The Tiger Mouth Strike is upwards to the throat. The
that the edge of the braced thumb between the first striking surface is the bony area on the inside of the
and second joints is the striking area now, shown third joint, (knuckle) of the forefinger. This strike, as
attacking the underside of the nose. The second joint many can be, is used to block or deflect also. If for
can also be used as a striking area. example, it is used to block in an upward motion,
(with fingers pointing at the attacker) the split or
connected fore finger and
middle fingers can be used to
counter attack to the attack-
er’s eyes with a whiplash, snap
or pull back motion or combi-
nation thereof.

Photo 39 - FINGERTIP STRIKE Photo 41 - THUMB HOOK

Fingertip Strike (closed fingers) to the throat. The (a) Here the split fore finger and middle fingers (Twin
Japanese generally (a) draw the fingers towards the Dragon) are used to attack the eyes. The hook or
wrist, thus bending them slightly (shown) and keep- curved version is also an effective weapon. (b) For
ing the tips of the first three fingers even. (b) The the curved version the little and ring fingers and the
Chinese, as a rule, push the fingers forward, thus cre- thumb are curled under as in a fist. The thumb can be
ating the natural, uneven line of the fingers. Both extended, as shown, in preparation for a thumb hook
ways have certain usages in which they are more to the mouth, or it can be tucked under the third joint
appropriate. As mentioned (knuckle) of the fore finger.
before the thumb can be sepa-
rated or close to the hand,
whichever is best suited for its
immediate need.

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 POISON HAND POISON HAND

Photo 42 - KARATE HAND STRIKE Photo 44 - HAND SCISSORS

(a) A Karate Hand Strike to the throat, striking with Hand Scissors to the throat. Similar to the Hand Hook
the second joints of the fingers. (b) The inside palm (see Photo 17), except that the second, third and
area of this hand position (Bear Claw) is very useful as fourth fingers are tucked under, as in a fist, while the
a slapping or tearing weapon. From this same hand thumb and fore finger are open as shown. The pres-
position the (c) edge shown facing can be used to sure is put on the throat between the thumb and the
chop or strike as can the (d) front of the first joint of the
backhand or (e) outside (fac- tucked middle finger used for
ing the wall) edge. a choke or for the removal of
Note: When the inside of this the throat.
position is used for a Bear Claw
slap or claw, the fingers can be
either tucked, (as shown) or
slightly separated from the
palm.

Photo 43 - THOUSAND HAND CHOP These forty-four Poison Hand techniques, along with
(a) The Thousand Hand or Hand Sword used for a chop the additional variations (33 plus) mentioned can be
against the throat. (b) The Reverse Hand Sword used in any number of combinations, and are to be
(shown facing), but with the thumb tucked more used with the utmost speed possible, without
toward the palm, uses the striking area between the detracting from the effectiveness of the strike.
base of the fore finger and the base of the thumb and Included in these highly systematized and specialized
is an especially effective weapon against the groin of hand techniques, in the ancient Oriental fighting sys-
throat. tems, were additional attacks such as using the mouth
as a weapon to bite or tear off the throat, jugular
vein, carotid artery, etc., or to suck out an attackers
eyeball, when the use of the hand or extremities as
weapons was impossible.

Note: Any of these techniques can be used for offen-

sive as well as defensive attacks. Often it is best to
attack the assailant before he attacks you.

108 109
 CHAPTER
FOUR

110 111
 SELF DEFENSE FORMS NO. 1 - NO. 4 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1

These techniques are to be used in fast, fluid and con- Self Defense Form No. 1 ‘Dance of Death’
tinuous movements and are not to be individually (Effective execution time - 5 seconds.)
jerky or crude. Each of these defenses should be
effectively performed in a matter of seconds. In the Photo 45
punch attacks the same defenses can be used against Here we see the attacker in position to throw a right
the hook, roundhouse or the cross and with slight hand punch while the defender is at the ready.
variation - the jab. For each of the four defense forms
and their effective execution, time is quoted. The
complete form, as shown, should be effectively per-
formed in no less time than started. It can be execut-
ed in less time, but a minimum time is given.

The first defense form is Count Dante’s deadly ‘Dance

of Death’ and is in itself the most deadly defense form
possible. Each move is smooth, flexible and it flows
from one technique to another. Keep in mind the
speed and flow of movement in the performance of
all four forms.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1

Photo 46 Photo 47
The attacker has stepped in with his punch. The After completing the upward motion the defender
defender immediately moves inside of the attack, brings his fingertips and nails down across the eyelids,
catching it at its beginning. His left, open hand tearing them open and clawing the eye itself (a tear-
deflects and checks the strike at the same time that ing or slashing movement will do much more damage
his right hand effects the counter. Note the strong than an individual poke).
definite stance of the defender. The defender’s right
hand performs a series of damages in its first motion.
The palm heel strikes the bottom lip, splitting it, and in
an upward and forward motion pushes in the lower,
then the upper teeth, also splitting the upper lip.
From here in continuous motion, the hand goes up
crushing the nasal cartilage and bone upwards while
tearing the nose upwards also and away from the
face. This combination of block and counter strike is
performed in one strong continuous motion.

114 115
 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1

Photo 48 Photo 49
Immediately following the right hand attack to the The same strike as in Photo 48, but using the right
eyes, you throw a left hand open palm slap to the side hand. The beginning of the grab tear is shown here.
of the face. After impact, but in the same circular
inward motion, you grab onto the side of the face,
Tiger Claw and snap, or tear it off.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1

Photo 50 Photo 51
Retract the right hand from the face and throw a Completing the tear and still in a downward circular
short, thrusting and forceful open hand hook to the motion, continue this circle up and under the groin
throat. Hit as hard as you can and drive the hand for- with an open hand slap to the testicles. After the slap,
ward as far as it will go into the throat. While doing grab and de-groin in an upward and backward,
this, your arm slides behind his right arm, batting it (towards you), move. Note how the left hand locks
and pushing him slightly forward to support the the attacker’s arm and helps maintain control over
throat strike. After completing the thrust, grab onto him.
the throat and in a downward, circular motion, tear it
free from the neck. The last step is to be performed in
two fast continuous moves.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1

Photo 52 Photo 53
After the right hand de-groining technique your At this point use your left hand, (arm lock) to twist
closed right hand should be at your right side. From him forward and down into a right knee to the face
here we throw a right elbow, striking the arm lock to and a right elbow to the base of the skull, always
push him into the strike. maintaining control over him with your arm lock.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO.1 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1

Photo 54 Photo 55
Form here, using the attacker’s arm to pivot, turn In this photo, your left hand breaks his arm at the
clock wise 189 degrees, bringing him along, control- elbow as you hit him with a Hammer Fist Strike, (the
ling his movement by your motion and the arm lock. side of the closed hand) to either the top of the spine,
This throw should be quickly executed and is simple, or it can be used to break the neck.
as we are slamming him to the ground in a circular
motion along his weak lines of balance. As you turn,
drop to your left knee, and the right leg, which was
used for the knee strike, will come down with a circu-
lar motion on its sole, with the knee bent. As the
attacker hits the ground, the force of impact, along
with pressure from your controlling left hand and
arm, is used to break his arm at the shoulder joint as
shown. The attacker is pinned on the ground by con-
trol of his arm.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1

Photo 56 Photo 57
After the break and strike, let loose of the assailant From here, neck down and while lifting the head and
and leap up, coming down with both feet on your tearing the face to the rear, snap the head to the side,
attacker. Your right foot should land on his head or breaking the neck. After the break, smash the face,
neck while your left foot lands on his tailbone or or the side of the head to the floor, putting all of your
lower spine to shatter it. This is to be performed in a weight and strength into it.
swift, smooth and strong movement. Due to the
extreme danger of these stomp crushes we have
stepped to the side of the body.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1

Photo 58 Photo 59
Now with your left hand, grab his left side and pull After completing the turn, leap up, come down with a
with a circular clockwise motion, at the same time crushing stomp again, see Photo 56. The right foot
pushing down his right side with the palm of your should land on the face or throat, while the left foot
right hand, stepping to the left with your left foot and lands on the groin or lower abdomen. For the sake of
roll him over. safety, we have side stepped again. After the double
stomp, reach down and with a two handed forward
and outward cross tear, rip the mouth and lips open
as far back as the ears.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1

Photo 60 Photo 61
After completing the cross tear, grab the ears and With a quick raise and drop with your right knee,
remaining flesh and with a reverse and inward cross using your full weight, crush the head to the floor.
tear, grab everything to you. Note the left hand is in a blocking or defensive posi-
tion, just in case there is any fight left in him.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 1 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 2

Photo 62 Photo 63
After the knee drop, cross your right leg over his The attacker is in position to throw a left hand punch
body to a cross legged stance, always keeping the while the defender is at the ready.
hands in a defensive position and move away.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORMS NO. 2 SELF DEFENSE FORMS NO. 2

Photo 64 Photo 65
As the attacker steps in with his strike, the defender After the block, lash out with the right hand, using
moves forward with his right foot into the Cat Stance, Poison Hand Technique 2, which crushes the nose and
blocking the strike with the forearm of his right hand. sends the fingertips scratching and gouging across
His open right hand is ready for another punch, if the eyes. The forward foot can now be dropped from
thrown, or a fast open hand counter to the face and its raised position, or it can be left up in preparation
neck. for the quick knee attack which is soon to be used.
The Cat Stance is used in case a quick kick is needed
from the forward leg. It can also utilize the knee to
block or deflect a groin attack.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 2 SELF DEFENSE FORMS NO. 2

Photo 66 Photo 67
After this opening counter attack, slap both hands, Bringing the hands together place the thumbs inside
Tiger Claw, to the side of the ears, rupturing the the mouth and snap/push the lips and mouth forward,
eardrums. After the slap, claw, tear the face inward ripping to the ears.
and to the center, removing the flesh from the side of
the face.

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Photo 68 Photo 69
From here, grab the ears or the back of the head and The right hand attack position is assumed by the
pull the attacker down into a forward foot, right, attacker.
knee as you tear the flesh to you. From here you can
throw and finish the counter if necessary.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 3 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 3

Photo 70 Photo 71
As he steps forward with his strike, the defender steps The attacker throws his second punch, a left hand
forward and deflects the blow with a downward fore- strike, while the defender swings his blocking right
arm block, at the same time turning his body out of hand into another inside forearm block, at the same
the way of the strike. Note the strong exact stance time he throws a left hand round house punch to the
and block positioning. Before effecting the forearm temple of the attacker. In the motion between the
block, the defender can strike the attacker with his two right hand forearm blocks, the defender can per-
blocking arm as it is in its blocking path. The strike form a right hand backfist temple strike with the back
can land to the eyes, neck, or temple, left side, of the portion of his two large knuckles before he executes
attacker. his second inside forearm block.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 3 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 3

Photo 72 Photo 73
After the right swinging block and temple strike, With both hands to the left side, throw two punches,
swing the upper body to the left, hitting with the the left to the face in a downward motion and the
elbow to the neck or face. From here both hands right in an upward motion to the groin, lower
should be brought to the left side. abdomen or solar plexus.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 3 SELF DEFENSE FORMS NO. 3

Photo 74 Photo 75
Bring the hands together using a cross tearing tech- Reverse the direction with a twisting, grabbing
nique to the face, (see Poison Hand photo 3), ripping motion and snap the flesh the opposite way, bringing
out as far as you can. both hands to your side. From here you can throw
and complete the defense if necessary.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORMS SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 4

Count Dante the deadliest man who ever lived. Photo 76

The attacker grabs the front. This counter may be
used if he grabs high or low and if his arms are in close
or extended.

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 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 4 SELF DEFENSE FORM NO. 4

Photo 77 Photo 78
The defender steps in immediately upon being After burying the thumbs to the hilt in the eye sock-
grabbed, burying his thumbs into the eye sockets, ets, grab the ears and with a tearing motion, rip the
while scratching the eyeballs with his thumbnails. ears and the side of the face inward towards yourself.
This technique may be followed up with a throwing
technique if desired.

146 147
STUNT BREAKING STUNT BREAKING

Representing three nations the world’s top Karate team.

148 149
 STUNT BREAKING STUNT BREAKING

The breaking of hard objects with the hands, feet, Photo 79

etc., is a show aspect of the fistic arts. A great deal of The brick is held flat on a concrete block. It is being
skill is required to accomplish the more difficult feats held, supposedly to firmly keep it down, but in actual-
of breaking. Illustrated is a stunt method of accom- ity it is to raise the brick. As pictured here, the
plishing what appears to be authentic breaking. 'unholed' side of the brick is to be raised. In practice,
Almost anyone of normal size and strength can per- either side can be raised. Any time a brick is held at
form stunt breaking. A sense of timing, more than the time of breaking, chances are the lift or stunt
power or striking technique, is required. In the method is being used.
beginning it is best to practice on the longer and
thinner bricks, progressing to the common size vari-
ety. Pictured here is a face brick with three holes in
it. The face brick is in actuality a much harder brick
than the common house brick. It is easier to break
using the stunt method, due to much more crushing
pressure than a common house brick, but will crack
easier if hit with a hard object - due to its before
mentioned brittle nature.

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 STUNT BREAKING STUNT BREAKING

Photo 80 Photo 81
Here we see the brick at full lift. The striking hand Here we see the brick cracked in half. In actuality, the
should be raised much higher than shown, but the brick and the cement block were hammered togeth-
brick can be broken from the illustrated height. The er, and the brick was broken.
brick is kept flat until just before it is hit. This is where
the timing comes in. This is most important! No one In the photographing of this stunt, the block used in
will notice the lift if it is executed just as the brick is Photo 79 and Photo 80 was broken rather than the
being hit, as all eyes will be on the striking hand and brick, thus accounting for the different block. A
the untrained eye can not pick up too quick a move. heavy steel barbell plate or an anvil are especially
suited for this trick, as it is the same as hitting the
block with a steel hammer.

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 STUNT BREAKING STUNT BREAKING

The Count seen here crushing two common house The ultimate paradox. The same hands that crushed
bricks with a Thousand Hand Knife Edge Strike. The the bricks on the preceding page designed this natu-
Count is the only man alive who can crush two bricks ral, but seductive look in the coiffure and make-up of
- any type, while they are lying flat, without any lift or this top Chicago model and Playboy Club Bunny.
stunt method.

154 155
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Front Cover
Count Dante in one of his deadliest fighting postures -
photo courtesy of Floyd Webb.

Page 1
Dante and students demonstrating a clawing tech-
nique.

Page 6
The Count laid back, demonstrating an air of arro-
gance.

Page 8
John Keehan corrects one of his female students.

Page 10
Two portraits of Count Dante.

Page 13
Count Dante on the cover of Black Belt Magazine.

Page 16
A young John Keehan.

Page 18
A professional portrait of Count Dante.

Page 22 & 23
Robert Trias’ School International - photo courtesy
of Emil Farkas.

Photo 25
Robert Trias, was the owner of the first martial arts
school in the USA, which opened in 1948 - courtesy of
Emil Farkas.

156 157
 BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY

Page 29
Count Dane with legendary Chicago fighter Jimmy
Jones - photo courtesy of Floyd Webb

Page 35
Dante does his version of a flying front kick while
sparring.

Page 31
Dante on a poster for one of his tournaments - photo
courtesy of Bob Wall.

Page 39
Dante on Karate poster

Page 41
Defense against a gun.

Page 44
A young John Keehan in class.

Page 156
Dante’s famous advert which was in nearly every
martial arts magazine in America - photo courtesy of
Emil Farkas.

Page 159 top

Another of Count Dante’s book ads - photo courtesy
of Emil Farkas.

Page 159 top

Bruce Tegner and two opponents.

158 159
 BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY

Page 160 Page 162

Front cover of Count Dante’s million dollar selling The one and only Count Dante.
book - World’s Deadliest Secrets - photo courtesy of
Don Warrener.

160 161
BIBLIOGRAPHY

162 163
164 165
166
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