Ron van Clief facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ron van Clief |
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|---|---|
| Born | January 25, 1943 Brooklyn, New York City, United States |
| Other names | Black Dragon |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Fighting out of | New York City, U.S. |
| Teacher(s) | Moses Powell, George Coffield |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 1 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Losses | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
Ron Van Clief (born January 25, 1943) is an American martial artist and actor. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City. He is famous for his roles in 1970s blaxploitation and kung fu films. Ron Van Clief also created his own martial arts style called "Chinese Goju System" in 1973.
Early Life
Ronald Van Clief was born in Brooklyn, New York City on January 25, 1943. He joined the United States Marine Corps when he was young. He served in places like Okinawa and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He received awards for his service, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.
Martial Arts Journey
Ron van Clief started his martial arts journey by competing in karate tournaments. He won many national and world championships. He learned from several masters in different styles. These included Gōjū-ryū, Wing Chun, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He also trained in Jiu Jitsu with Moses Powell and Shotokan Karate.
UFC and Retirement
In 1994, Ron Van Clief fought in the 4th Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He was 51 years old, making him the oldest fighter at that time. He fought Royce Gracie, a famous Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert. Ron lost the match, but he later became the commissioner of the UFC. He stopped competing in 2002 after winning another championship at age 60.
Ron Van Clief competed in over 900 tournaments during his 40-year career. He retired as a 5-time world karate/kungfu champion. He was also a 15-time All-American champion. He still competes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments today. Ron has also written books and made videos to teach martial arts. Some of his famous students include Taimak, who starred in the movie The Last Dragon.
Awards and Honors
- Black Belt Magazine, 2002 Instructor of the Year
- International Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2022.
Film Career
Ron Van Clief's first acting role was in a 1974 Hong Kong film called The Black Dragon. He became known for starring in "blaxploitation" films. These movies featured African-American heroes, often martial artists. This was a new and exciting trend at the time.
His film roles earned him the nickname "The Black Dragon." This name was even used in the titles of his movies, like The Black Dragon's Revenge. He also worked with other famous actors like Lee Van Cleef. Later, in the 1980s, Ron Van Clief helped create the fight scenes for the movie The Last Dragon. He also did voice-over work for a TV show called Kung Faux. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild for over 30 years.
