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Dolph Lundgren
Dolph-born
Hans Lundgren 3rd November 1957, started training judo at the age of 16, while playing ice-hockey in a
small northern town in Sweden. He then switched to karate a year or so
later. Dolph started in the traditional Japanese style of
Goju-Ryu, but soon switched to Kyokushinkai, the more powerful style
developed by Japanese karate legend Mas Oyama. Dolph kept training
throughout high school and moved back to Stockholm to complete his
military service. This is when Dolph met his Sensei, and future
friend-to-be, Brian Fitkin, then a 4th Dan. At the age of 19, Dolph
started competing; in non-contact "point fighting". He lost his first
four out of five fights.
In 1979, while serving in the Swedish Marine Corps, Dolph was selected
to fight in the 2nd World Open Karate Tournament in Tokyo one of the
earliest international full-contact tournaments. Still only a green
belt, Dolph had to borrow a brown belt (one level higher) to be able to
fight. Nevertheless, Dolph knocked out his first two opponents with a "Hiza-Geri"
(knee-kick to the face) and the crowd started to take notice of the
tall, gangly Swede.
In his next fight Dolph was up against the overwhelming favourite for
the world title, Makoto Nakamura. Dolph (a green belt) weighed 93 kg
(205 lbs) against Nakamura´s 110 kg (245 lbs) . Nakamura (a 2nd degree
black belt) attacked immediately and Dolph caught him with a roundhouse
kick to the face. The crowd gasped. They sensed this Lundgren could be
more than Nakamura had bargained for. The fight went the distance; plus
two extensions and Nakamura was awarded a controversial decision. This
proved to be the eventual world champion's hardest fight.
Dolph went on to win the BKK British Open Knockdown Heavyweight title in
1980 and 1981 and also became Australian Open Champion in the individual
and team events a year later. Now a Shodan (1st degree black belt)
at the age of 23 Dolph went to Australia to study Chemical Engineering
on a scholarship for a year. He had his own karate club at Sydney
University, and made some extra money doing security for music acts
touring Sydney. That is when he met singer Grace Jones.
During his preparations for the World Tournament Dolph used to hit the
bag at the famous "Gleason´s Gym" in midtown Manhattan, where some of
the best boxers in the world used to train. A couple of the managers
took one look at the tall, well built Swede. He could move, he could
punch - he definitely looked the part.
A year later Dolph went for an audition for "some boxing movie" , he met
Sylvester Stallone and the rest is history. Dolph gave up his academic
career (he did get his Master´s degree) his martial arts career and his
Swedish small town life to move to Hollywood. In a long career, Dolph
has starred in over 30 movies. Nevertheless, Dolph has stayed
in close contact with Kyokushin karate throughout the years. He has
performed karate exhibitions at three World Tournament and on numerous
other occasions. His long-time friend and teacher, Shihan Brian Fitkin,
6th Dan has helped his old student in most of his movies with physical
conditioning and fight coordination. Dolph returned to his "home dojo"
in Stockholm for a real challenge in 1998, when he passed his 3rd Dan
promotion, suffering though a gruelling Twenty Man Kumite" (fighting 20
successive opponents one after the other without a break) as well as 3
hours of technical examination.
Dolph actively also works with the Spanish Kyokushin Federation, since
he & his wife own a home in Marbella, in Southern Spain. The couple and
their two daughters spends their time between London and Marbella.
Sensei Lundgren has since been promoted to 4th Dan with the
Shinkyokushin Association - IKO2.
