Ron van Clief: Story of the Black Dragon

'The Black Dragon' Ron van Clief is most known for his film work and being the oldest competitor in UFC history. But his storied life has had so many more chapters.
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[@xxedgy_outsiderxx9978]

his life should be a movie this in incredible

[@mizukarate]

He has that "GLOW"!!!!!!

[@PhatGirlLuvr68Comix]

Van Clief was one of my heroes growing up. Thanks for this.

[@psgary6622]

as usual, I've been a fan of Ron Van Clief before I knew his name.

[@Rando1975]

There's a documentary on Tubi called "The Hanged Man: The Ron Van Clief Story" which is excellent. Ron always comes off as a real gentleman in interviews. I love it that he tested himself in the early UFC and later trained in BJJ. A true martial artist, always learning.

[@MartialArtsFilmFreak]

That’s on Tubi? I searched so hard for that when I was making this video but it wasn’t on Tubi at the time.

[@Rando1975]

@@MartialArtsFilmFreak I watched it maybe a month ago? It may depend on your location as well. I'm in Canada.

[@powerplay4real174]

I have heard they hung Ron and left him for dead and so forth. And shortly after that when he finally healed up he was shipped off to a combat zone as a US Marine. He is one of the toughest guys without any questions. 🇺🇸

[@calvinpham5547]

Respect 🙏

[@jeancastillo1294]

Just discovered today that my Karate sensei got his 3rd dan in Goju ryu from the man himself. Fills me with pride to learn I belong to the legacy of this great master!❤

[@francismartin2427]

Mr. Ron Van Clief and Mr. Jim Kelly should have done a movie together.🎉

[@JOHNROBERTCRUZ]

The Manual of The Martial Arts...book by Ron Van Clief...is the best first book on self defense for those who are starting to train and study the subject... He is also and inspiration for anyone, regardless of race, color or creed, in the world of MA...exercise...and becoming a better person by adding those disciplines to their lives...

[@harrykashat829]

❤👏👍 Unique martial artist and actor. Applause

[@powerplay4real174]

Much respect to the Black Dragon Mr.Ron Van Clief martial arts expert & living legend. ✌️

[@ZenDragonYoutubeChannel]

Thanks for the video, interesting to learn more about Ron Van Clief... I knew only of his Hong Kong competitive fights, that he was a movie action star and his one fight in UFC, but I had no idea he was almost killed via hanging, served in Vietnam or that he eventually became a high ranking BJJ guy. A very legit martial artist and a definite role model.

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I was always impressed by Ron van Clief, but I didn’t know even half of this story. Just whoa.

[@hudsonvalleystrongdads3090]

That’s cool… I remember him from the movies when I was a kid. Didn’t realize he fought a Gracie 👍🏽 in the beginning of ufc. People like this are such icons, mentors and hero’s to many. Good to see he’s still training and learning 👏

[@arthurwoodson288]

Always someone I looked up to growing up. I remember his movies from the 70s & read about him in the Martial Arts magazines. I didn't know about his military service. We need more heros like this for young men to look up to.

[@robd1329]

Michael Jai White should do a movie playing him..he even knew Bruce Lee which would be an awesome scene to film! At 8:44..that leg sweep looked cool!...but impractical in real life since the guy is letting him do it

[@drummerguy789101]

That was really good, I love Jim Kelly but I really shoulda known about Ron. That's such an inspiring career!

[@Quantum3691]

I became a fan of Ron while watching Kung Fu films in theaters back in the 80's. He stood out among the mostly Asian actors and had his own unique style. After Bruce Lee's death, I looked forward to watching him often. I believed he was Bruce's successor.

[@veritasfan11]

wow what a great story thank you for sharing.

[@thegrumpygeordie9007]

I used to own that eddition of Black Belt Magazine. I remember buying it when I first moved to Canada. I'm ashamed to admit at the time I was critical of the contents as I had a poor instructor who thought anyone who wasn't him didn't know what they were talking about.. Rubbish of course. Glad I watched this 24 years on! I feel old now.

[@georgedavidson5789]

An unsung hero!

[@michaelneal7377]

GOD BLESS Ron Van Clief

[@MMACOLLECTOR74]

A great tribute to a great guy!! I had the privilege of meeting Ron in Harlem last fall and he’s in incredible shape for a guy approaching 80 years old!!

[@dexter8584]

This is an impressive story. A true legend.

[@michaelneal7377]

Thanks for uploading this video 😊

[@thomasleehowell7591]

I adapted 2 of Ron Van Clief's books The Black Dragon and Resilient (autobiographies) to film screenplays but never had the chance to see them as actual movies. Too bad we couldn't raise financial help or enough interest to see these as true stories.

[@walterhough5263]

Much respect sir, Ouss!!! If I understand correctly, you were an instructor of teacher. Ronald V. Austin, Habshi Jaribu System. Thank you sir Domo arigato gozaimasu, Rei!!!

[@scottyahney8565]

AMAZING STORY................GREAT DOCUMENTARY !!!

[@JoseRamos-kd9ig]

TOTAL BADASS

[@marivicgiray5983]

Great non fiction Story!

[@SpiritOfJustice]

True icon

[@briannaas7459]

That was great. Thx.

[@MartialArtsFilmFreak]

Thanks for watching!

[@suchasin]

legend

[@alanbone5512]

Great respect from england.

[@thebaneking4787]

Bruce also gave the name The Black Dragon to Jim Kelly. Sooo…there’s that.

[@Carson-pv4hr]

They done rob van bad in the ufc . Guy was 50 plus fighting in mma

[@colinsquire7020]

Brilliant work 👍

[@MartialArtsFilmFreak]

Thank you!

[@daniel-qe9cq]

You know I have heard about a youtuber named daetrix is making an animated series called Ron van clief Tao of the black dragon a

[@terencemedina6080]

Fought in the last sports karate tournament he completed in, the fighters were trying to hurt Tamka, he took second the wouldn't let him win 🙈🙉🙊🥋🥋🥊🥊🥇🥈

[@user-or3zy2ed7t]

Beautiful essay. Thank you. What is the movie where he fights the guy with the nunchuck?

[@MartialArtsFilmFreak]

Black Dragon’s Revenge I believe.

[@user-or3zy2ed7t]

@@MartialArtsFilmFreak Thank you. I got to watch that film! Really excellent video essay again, really inspiring, definitely hope you make more like these in the future

[@adamgrofik5470]

MY SHIDOSHI!!!

[@akrocuba]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏MUCH RESPECT!!!

[@shadowone01x99]

No mention about if he got married or not and whether he had any children?

[@MartialArtsFilmFreak]

My research was based on his career, not much of his personal life.

[@boogie89man]

❤❤❤❤❤🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿

[@LosTheHumbleBoxer]

The narrator said He studied Chinese karate,think the video shouldve been look over b4 recording,that's a contradiction 🤔,karate is from the Japanese and kung fu is from the chinese,both Asian but 2 different arts🤷🏾‍♂️but I love the ron van clief video

[@MartialArtsFilmFreak]

I thought the same thing. But I checked multiple sources and they all said Chinese Karate.

[@LosTheHumbleBoxer]

@MartialArtsFilmFreak yeah I feel u,I'm a boxer,but I was a martial artist 1st,I love the art of fighting,been studying for years,1st time I ever heard somebody put chinese and karate together lol

[@melvingilbertjr1815]

Goju is a Japanese Okinawan system it is not Chinese

[@MartialArtsFilmFreak]

I just went off all of the research that I could find.

[@tonyvalente]

fact check. Ron did not win no world championship, Joe lewis, Mike Stone and Chucky Norris would make jokes about him and say, who the hell is this guy. The Photoshop Pic of him and Bruce is silly Ron urban legend folklore. Bruce never gave him that name. Ron said he smoked a joint with Bruce, bruce didn't smoke.

[@arindambanerjee3326]

Ron was not a mainstream fighter,he was the first notable underground no holds barred fighter in 60s.Joe,Chuck,Mike etc are mainstream.Vic Moore fought both in legal and underground circuit.

[@tonyvalente]

@@arindambanerjee3326 Ron did a demo with Bill Wallace and every time Bill Wallace threw those flick kicks. Ron swept them on his head. Bill was ready to cry.

[@arindambanerjee3326]

@@tonyvalente You may be true.I said underground no holds barred fighter.But there is no rule an underground fighter is better than Legal circuit fighter.I tell the fact.Bill Wallace was an awesome kicker and if he did no wonder

[@RacerX1971]

Last like 1 minute against Royce Gracie

[@arindambanerjee3326]

He was a underground Kumite fighter in 60s and 70s.He fought Royce when he was 51 and Royce 28!!!If it was 70s underground no rules circuit,Royce was dead.

[@RacerX1971]

@@arindambanerjee3326 , nah...lots of so called "masters" got taken down by Gracie and tapped out. The vast majority of martial arts franchises like Ernie Reyes west coast realize the lethality of the ground game, hence they incorporated into their curriculum..how do I know this? My son got his black belt there and got to talk to the seniors black belts and they, too, agreed that the ground and pound was needed...

[@arindambanerjee3326]

@@RacerX1971 Ron Van Clief was 51 and Royce was 28.His father should have fought with Ron then we realised the so called ground game.Ground game can't be alone effective and Mirco Crocop can beat Royce badly, depends on fighters.If it was Ron from 70s and his prime,Royce can't win.In UFC 1,no top class kickboxer fought,no Peter Aerts,no Ernesto Hoost,no Andy Hug and no top K1 fighters and American top kickboxer of 80s fought,Royce won with average level fighters and they created all ruleset in their favour.Ron accepted Gracies trap.He was the fighter of Chuck Norris,Joe Lewis,Mike Stone,Vic Moore era and except Ron no other 50 plus age legend didn't respond,they knew that it is Gracie trap.Helio Gracie should fought with Ron

[@arindambanerjee3326]

@@RacerX1971 Gracie never faced top notch fighters or faced fighters who were way beyond prime.

[@RacerX1971]

@@arindambanerjee3326 , that was Ron's choice to fight, his ego got the best of him which means he's not a true master🤪🤪🤪

[@vlinderversteeg1778]

Gracie 😅

[@jerryrichards8172]

Didn't he play in inter the dragon ?

[@MartialArtsFilmFreak]

That was Jim Kelly

[@jerryrichards8172]

@@MartialArtsFilmFreak ok thanks

[@Duane-tl2zc]

"Chinese karate"? It should be Okinawan karate if it was with Tatsuo Shimabuku in Isshinryu.

[@MartialArtsFilmFreak]

I thought it was strange too. But all of my sources kept saying Chinese Karate.

[@Duane-tl2zc]

@@MartialArtsFilmFreak yeah, I know this because my uncle trained in Okinawa under Tatsuo Shimabuku around 1967. Very nice documentary video though, Thanks.

[@isechico]

Where was his purple heart and bronze star?