May 2026-YEAR OF THE FIRE HORSE!

Chinese New Year 2026 marks the Year of the Fire Horse a rare and powerful combination occurring every sixty years, signaling dynamic energy, passion, innovation, and transformative change, with themes of bold action, courage, and breaking from old patterns, often seen as a year of heightened activity, risk-taking, and progress, but also potential chaos, especially with its fiery, red-hued energy symbolizing vitality and good fortune.  

2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of Count Dante's Black Dragon Fighting Society. That is why we have assembled in this place. To pay homage to those who have gone before and shown us the way. To remember those who have fallen and honor those who serve.

"We gather not just to mark the moment, but to set new benchmarks that will redefine the world's potential. We forge history that inspires, not fleeting noise."

Frank Dux

Our goal this year was to set a World Record for Continuous Martial Arts Training, and, we did! 16 hours and 37 minutes. Non-stop instruction from forty masters and grandmasters in attendance. It began at ten a.m. We formed a circle, Hanshi Frank Dux, the man behind the iconic movie Bloodsport, placed a water bottle in the center and gave it a spin, it pointed to Grandmaster Ashida Kim, first up to demonstrate.

At the Crucible of Secrets there are moments that become more than memories. They become part of the legend. One of those moments was the presence of Grandmaster Ashida Kim. As one of the most recognized and mysterious figures in the martial arts world, Grandmaster Kim brought with him a lifetime of knowledge, wisdom, experience, and old-world martial tradition. His presence alone carried the weight of history. When he stepped forward to teach, the room understood they were not simply watching a seminar. They were witnessing a living legacy. Grandmaster Kim opened the event by teaching the legendary , Kata Dante-Dance of the Deadly Hands, setting the tone for everything that would follow. It was a powerful beginning– a symbolic doorway into the deeper levels of martial arts knowledge, warrior discipline and hidden tradition. The teaching was more than movement. It was history in motion, It was mystery given form. It was wisdom passed from master to student. Through his instruction, Grandmaster Kim shared not only techniques, but principle. He gave insight into timing, intent, focus, awareness, and the deeper spirit behind the martial arts. His teaching carried the rare quality of someone who has spent a lifetime walking a path few truly understand. At the Crucible of Secrets, he gave freely of his knowledge and wisdom. He helped anchor the event tradition, power and purpose. His contribution reminded everyone present that the martial arts is not only about physical skill, but also legacy, discipline, inner strength and the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next. Grandmaster Kim did not simply attend the Crucible of Secrets, he helped define it soul.

Then the bottle spun again, each master in turn demonstrated and revealed the hidden and forbidden secrets of their arts that made them invincible well into the night, but ONLY for those who endured. ONLY for those who proved themselves worthy to have this knowledge, who would not abuse it, who would preserve the legacy, integrity and nobility of the martial arts. Five minute water breaks every two hours, energy bars and electrolyte supplement hydration were on hand. Dinner was a small "squeeze pack" of soft protein energy used by marathon runners to increase their stamina.

Because Martial Arts are not about fighting. They are about achievement and merit and honor. Martial artists are examples for the whole world. We don't pat ourselves on the back and hand out trophies paid for by the recipent. We TRAIN, we STUDY, we LEARN, we PRACTICE every day to be better and better. Sometimes the training is hard.

At The Crucible of Secrets 2026, many warriors gathered to test their spirit, sharpen their skills, and honor the old ways of martial arts training. Masters and Grandmasters from the Black Dragon Fighting Society came together in an atmosphere of intensity, discipline, and combat excellence. But one man stood out as a living example of grit, toughness, and unbreakable will. That man was Bob Judd. At just shy of 80 years old, Bob Judd set a new world record by becoming the most senior member to train shoulder to shoulder with Masters and Grandmasters of the Black Dragon Fighting Society, some of the most skilled and powerful martial arts experts in the world. For an incredible 16 hours and 37 minutes non-stop training, Bob endured continuous martial arts combat training with no scheduled break times, no meal times, and no reprieve of any kind. While others may have looked for rest, relief, or a reason to step aside, Bob remained present, focused, and determined. Hour after hour, he continued to train, absorb, respond, and push forward. This was not just a test of technique. It was a test of character. In the martial arts, true toughness is not measured only by how hard someone can strike. It is measured by how much they can endure, how deeply they can commit, and whether their spirit remains steady when the body begins to tire. Bob showed that kind of toughness. He showed the quiet strength of a man who has lived the martial way, not just studied it. Through fatigue, pressure, and the demands of relentless old-school combat training, Bob Judd proved that age does not define the warrior. Comfort does not build the warrior. Excuses do not belong to the warrior. The warrior is revealed in the crucible. At The Crucible of Secrets 2026, Bob Judd reminded everyone in attendance what true martial arts spirit looks like: discipline, endurance, humility, courage, and iron will. For that reason, Bob Judd earned the title: The Toughest Man at The Crucible of Secrets 2026.

At The Crucible of Secrets Hanshi Frank Dux was far more than a featured Grandmaster. He was the fire behind the gathering, the standard behind the challenge, and the living legacy that gave the event its soul.

As Head of Family and the Creator and Host of The Crucible of Secrets, Hanshi Dux brought together Masters, Grandmasters, warriors, teachers, and seekers from across the martial arts world. This was not simply an event. It was a proving ground, a reunion of legacy, and a rare gathering where the old ways, the hidden knowledge, and the highest ideals of martial brotherhood could stand together in one place.

For a complete report and listing of who attended, CLICK HERE: Masters and Grandmasters Registry 2026 to view the 100 page PDF Masters and Grandmasters Registry 2026

This edition may be printed out as your Permanent Record of the Event! Many of the full color pictures are high quality posters that can be printed poster size, if you desire.

There have been many Gatherings of the Black Dragon Fighting Society. But, there will never be another like this one. To all those who attended, to all those who participated, to all those who taught and learned and helped set the World Record for Continuous Martial Arts Training, THANK YOU! Next year, even bigger and better!

The Black Dragon Fighting Society is a world renowned fraternity of martial artists open to all styles and systems, dedicated to the fighting arts and health systems of Gung Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, Chuan-Fa, Kempo, Hsing-I, Pa-Kua, Shaolin Temple Boxing, Shotokan, Taekwondo, Hapkido, Isshin-Ryu, Aikido, Wu Shu, Wado-Ryu, Jeet Kune Do, American Eclectic Karate, Mixed Martial Arts, Thai Kickboxing, Ninjitsu, Jujitsu, Shorinji-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Judo, Yoga, and Qi Gong.

The Black Dragon Fighting Society exists to serve as a congress of martial artists and confederation of independent agents for the purpose of preserving, practicing, studying and teaching the martial arts.  

Ashida Kim
American Representative
DOJO-Academy of Martial Arts