Synopsis for
Bloodsport (1988) More at IMDbPro »

Comments by Actor / Writer Roy C. Peterson

This movie is the true story of an American fighter, Frank Dux, the first westerner ever to win the Kumite. The tournament is illegal because opponents can be killed, but it's held in secret periodically anyway. Dux developed his own fighting style based on the principles of Focus, Action, Skill, Strategy, Tactics. He is played by Jean-Claude Van Damme, amazing because of his unusual combination of great strength with the agility to jump very high in the air. His main opponent played by Bolo Yeung has similar qualities and is magnificent and scary as Chong Li.

Towards the end, Van Damme reenacts Dux winning even after being blinded by cocaine which was thrown into his eyes. This actually happened. In April 2008, I talked with a television production supervisor who has worked with Frank Dux. He told me an amazing story about Dux being able to function blindfolded just as though he were not. Knowing which of four men is hiding a coin in his clenched fist and being able to get this right time after time. Probably intrinsic extra sensory perception developed by martial training.

Without a doubt one of the finest martial arts movies ever made. Very good story, all the more so for being true. Well acted. Well fought.