Master Frank Dux Self-defense and Knife retention and defense techniques.
Evening Seminar 9/25/99


Left Grand Master Crandall Introducing Master Frank Dux at the start of the evening seminar at the Mohawk YMCA.

Sixty four black and brown belts attended this everning seminar.

The evening seminar was added as part of the seminar day even though most of the participants were instructors or staff of the school. Normally a guest speaker is brought in to the school each year to share their knowledge with the instructors and brown belts of our school. This year having the evening seminar the same day as the school Seminar Day 1999 allowed the instructors who enjoyed working with the students in the afternoon to become full students themselves in the evening. The seminar started at 7:00 p.m. and ended at 8:30 p.m. and was followed by Master Dux spending over an hour signing books for all the participants. More information about the evening seminar can by found on our website for September under the title "Master Frank Dux Self-defense and retention and defense against a knife."

Master Frank Dux is known by the world for his many successes. Whether it be the movie Bloodsport, which was about his life or his unique ninja heritage and training or his work with the CIA or maybe one of the many records he holds, such as his lunge punch through a bullet proof pane of glass, he has awed the general public and inspired martial artists everywhere. Now he has begun sharing his incredible knowledge regarding knife retention and knife defense through seminars.



The first picture is Master Allen Hillicoss grabbing Master Dux from behind (mistake number one. The second picture is Master Dux demonstrating with Nathan Morris knife-evasive techniques.



Now everyone gets to practice.



First picture practicing center kick take downs as demonstrated by Pauline Walker and Lynn Jessee while the second picture is Master Dux is demonstating knife retention moves with Ann Colasurdo.


This one-and-a-half-hour seminar was presented by the American Martial Arts Institute. The seminar was open only to the Black and Brown Belts of our school which resulted in 64 participants filling the Mohawk YMCA in Central New York to capacity. Grand Master Crandall, founder of the school and style, said that in the 10 years that he has been friends with Master Dux he has seen his skills only increase in speed and variation.


The seminar started with a warm up and stretching. The very first move involved an empty-hand defense against someone grabbing both of an individual's arms from behind as seen in this first picture. From this attack one basic escape was taught and practiced. Then eleven more variations of escape and counters were demonstrated by Master Dux and encouraged as possible options. Master Dux pointed out that free flow and staying in close to the attacker allowed for many opportunities of taking control of the situation. By the time this attack and varying techniques had been practiced, the gym was filled with energized and sweaty participants eager to learn more.



Master works with Master Jill Crandall (left) and Anne Petkovsek (right) on quick sweeps and take downs.


At this point the defense against a knife began, covering attacks to the front by lunges, swipes over head and round house hooks or hay makers. The number of options and methods seemed only limited by time itself as Master Dux demonstrated one after another on numerous black belt participants. One of the most impressive and yet simple counters was regarding an attack resulting from a grab from behind where the knife is placed up against the front of your throat. Many of the students knew of one or two ways to escape this extremely dangerous situation, but not the one shown at this seminar. With one grab by the defender's arm on the same side as the attack arm and a shift of the opposite shoulder back and past the attacker, the so-called victim could be free and place the knife in a safe place, the attacker's chest.


In an hour-and-a-half Master Dux covered over twenty scenarios of knife retention and knife defense. The seminar was educational, fun and inspiring. For over an hour after the seminar Master Dux took time to individually autograph and write something for each individual who had brought a copy of his book or the American Eagle Style Textbook with them.

Master in line autographing a copy of his book, THE SECRET MAN, for Master Allen Hillicoss.



Master Dux signing American Eagle Style Textbooks for participants of the evening seminar.