Ron Van Clief interview 2010

Q & A with The Black Dragon: Ron Van Clief by Katrina Belcher

[posted on the MMA Ratings website 18/01/10]

Master Ron Van Clief, the "Black Dragon" of karate and movie fame, is a gentle man who has worked with other incredible people, like Bruce Le, during his career that spans over 40 years.

This remarkable karateka has competed in over 900 tournaments during his time in the martial arts tournament circuit; studied boxing; and earned over 12 different black belts during his martial arts career, including black belts in karate (goju-ryu and goju-kai), jiu-jitsu, judo, kung fu, muay thai, tae kwon do, and many more. In fact, Ron Van Clief retired as a 5 time world karate/kungfu champion and 15 time all American champion.

In 1994, at the age of 51, Ron Van Clief returned to the ring to fight in UFC 4 - the oldest competitor to fight in the UFC...still. His opponent? None other than Royce Gracie! He lost, but for Master Van Clief, it was all about the experience.

Anyone who knows me will know how involved I am in promoting the proper level of training for MMA referees. Recently, Master Van Clief, who strongly supports training, educating and certification of MMA referees, went through my online MMA Referee Workshop and Training Class.

Per a recent discussion I had with him: "Katrina - this is exactly what the sport needs to standardize everything! I am recommending several of my black belts take the course. Thanks again for everything; and for your assistance and help. Without you the sport will surely become total chaos; thanks again for a course that will really help the sport that we love so much! Ron"

All things considered, with his knowledge and life-long experience in the industry, it wasn’t a hard decision to ask Master Van Clief to complete an interview with me. Who better to talk to, in order get an understanding of the business side of MMA?

Katrina Belcher: What do you think is the hardest thing for MMA fighters who want to go pro?

RVC: To get the proper coach/trainers for a complete mixed martial arts regimen. A pro-fighter is part of a team.

Katrina Belcher: What do you feel needs to change in MMA to make this sport better?

RVC: Better refereeing and an international scoring system. Better referee/judge certification.

Katrina Belcher: Do you recommend MMA fighters train just before a fight, or all the time?

RVC: Training should be all the time! Just pumped up three months before competing.

Katrina Belcher: Do you feel MMA will ever go mainstream?

RVC: I think MMA will be more popular than baseball, boxing and football, eventually.

Katrina Belcher: How is MMA in St. Thomas going? Any new news that we can report on there?

RVC: Formation of the VIMMA in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, will happen in 2010. In fact, Vendetta Fighting Championship will stage an event in St. Thomas very soon! (note from Katrina: please see “additional info” below, as exclusive information about this exciting venture has just been announced!)

Katrina Belcher: Did you get a chance to watch Aoki vs. Hirota at Dynamite!! 2009 and see that wicked arm break? What’s your take on the arm break, on Hirota not tapping, and on Aoki’s lack of sportsmanship?

RVC: The arm break was a legitimate technique; Hirota should have tapped out Aoki showed a disrespectful attitude but it is understandable due to the stress of competition. I don't agree with it - but I do understand it.

Katrina Belcher: What do you do when you’re not training – or training others?

RVC: My three and one half year old son, Kai, takes up most of my time besides my workout ethic.

Katrina Belcher: What does 2010 have in store for you next?

RVC: Lots of new stuff...Moving to Hawaii next summer. My wife, Simina, has found a Ph.D. in Hawaii (she likes Hawaii very much – in fact, so do I!)

Katrina Belcher: Any shoutouts to anyone or other information you want your fans to know about?

RVC: Finishing a new book, INSTANT SELF DEFENSE. It will be printed in China in the very near future. Looking forward to the remake of “BLACK DRAGON”, which is in pre-production. Finally, I just casted for new reality series: “I AM” as host. Pretty cool!

Katrina Belcher: By the time I got this interview ready for posting, I’d received an email from Master Van Clief with the following exciting information!

“MMA has arrived in St. Thomas at last! The Black Dragon MMA Club is officially open! Instructor, Ron Van Clief, will teach classes from 6pm to 8pm Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Montessori School in St. Thomas. Student applications will be accepted by referral only. For more info 1-347 417-3610 or 1-340-715-0557 (home.) Team Black Dragon will be participating in Vendetta Fighting Championship in the very near future.”

So if you’re in St. Thomas – you must go visit and train with The Black Dragon MMA Club. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see the MMA fighting team that comes out of Master Van Clief’s training camp!

The Black Panther Of Shaolin (1975)

1975 - The Black Panther Of Shaolin (Ophelia San Juan Productions/Lyra Ventures)

[Philippines release date 1st August 1975, original title “Mababagsik Na Anghel”; also released internationally as "Bamboo Trap"]

Director/Screenplay Ernesto Ventura Producer Ophelia San Jaun Cinematography Felipe Sacdalan, Higino J. Fallorina Music D'Amarillo

Cast Leo Fong, "Ronnie"/Ron van Clief, George Estregan, Lotis Key, Eddie Garcia, Chanda Romero, Nory Wright, Darnell Garcia, Jun Garcia, Perla Bautista, Cloyd Robinson, Rez Cortez, Abubakar Jalmaani, Joey Abad Santos, Tony Carreon [as Tony Carrion], Bien David, Juano del Gallego, Jose Garcia, Lito Hermosa, Santy Hermosa, Ruel Martinez, David de Martyn, Rene Matias, Ken Metcalfe, Larry Silva, Adoracion Soriano

The Black Dragon (1974)

1974 - The Black Dragon (Yangtze Productions Limited/Joseph Estrada Productions)

[Philippines title “Thunder Blow”, original release date 28th September 1974; released in Hong Kong as “Xia Nan Yang” and internationally as “Tough Guy”; also released in Germany as “Bruce Lee - Sein Tödliches Erbe”, in France as “Le Héros Du Kung-Fu” and in Greece as “O Avros Drakos Epistrefei”]

Director/Story/Screenplay “Tommy Loo Chung”/Tony Liu Jun-Guk [listed on the IMDB as Chin-Ku Lu] Producers Joseph E. Estrada, Yeo Ban Yee Associate Producer Antonio Go Executive Producer Emilio Ejercito Assistant Executive Producer Jesus M. Ejercito Assistant Directors? Mar D’Guzman Cruz, Diego Cagahastian Cinematography Albert Young Production Manager Philip Coo Unit Manager Fredy Conde Music L. Chow Schedule Master Jun Abarra Props/Effects Jesse Sto. Domingo? Makeup Ip Yat Hing, Remy Andrade English Translation Frankie Deocariza Assistant Camera Chang Hai, Boni Calsado Art/Layouts Ed Santos

Cast Jason Pai Piao (Tai-Lin), “Ronnie”/Ron Van Clief (black boxer), George Estregan [listed on the US poster as Jorge Estraga] (Filipino boxer), Nancy Veronica (Ching Kwei), Thompson Kao Kang (Chi-Fu-Shi), Subas Herrero ( The American's advisor), Mon Hu, Chen Liu [sometimes listed as Chan Lau], Bella Flores, Ruel Vernal (Siao-Mao), Philip Coo, Michael Boffrey, Mary Q. Dy, Cris Cruz, Avel Morado, Romy Nario, Arturo Moran, Tony Kwok Sze [sometimes listed as Tong Kwok-Si], Sauro Cotoco, Blanco Santos, Dy Tong, Mrs Go Ang Se, Renato Chan, Pamela Marsden (brothel owner) [hkmdb.com also lists Lau Hok-Nin, Tony Liu Jun-Guk and Yue Tau-Wan]

Ed Demko’s review on the Bloodtype Online website:

The second film in out exploitation double feature here is the kung fu flick “Black Dragon”. The film is about a young man named Tai-Lin who is a simple plantation worker. When his brother returns from the Phillippines after finding great wealth after being there. Tai-Lin’s then asks his brother for money so that he can go to the Phillippines to make a life for himself. After giving him the money Tai-Lin makes his way there and finds it much different than what was expected. Opium addicts roam the streets and the only place to work is on the docks and after getting a job there, Tai-Lin is promoted to being one of the guards that protect the docks after getting into a scuffle with them and kicking some serious ass. At the same time there is a group of fighters coming to the dock to fight and take over, which would have been possible until Tai-Lin was there. But why are they attacking the boats in the first place? Are they simply robbers looking for money or is does it end up that Tai-Lin finds their reasoning to be quite the cause himself? Either way it ends up a family affair that Tai-Lin has no choice to take part in and show that he’s the supreme fighter in the country.

Very much like the first film on this double feature, the title “Black Dragon” has very little to do with it. Ron Van Chief actually plays the “black boxer” character although he’s billed on the poster as the lead actor. In reality though the lead in the film is Jason Pay Pia playing the character of Tai-Lin. Although it is misleading I have to say that it doesn’t hurt the movie whatsoever. It’s a solid kung fu flick with a really good story that I think that anyone that’s a fan of kung fu flicks will enjoy.