Shotokan head of the Japan Karate Association's Brazilian branch. Action movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme holds a 2nd "dan" black belt in Shotokan and used the style when he competed both in traditional and in full contact karate competitions in the 1970s and 1980s. Michael Jai White has a 3rd "dan" in Shotokan, although he has long practiced other karate styles such as Kyokushin and Goju Ryu. Wesley Snipes has a 5th dan black belt in Shotokan. Shotokan Funakoshi had many students at the university clubs and outside dojos, who continued to teach karate after his death in 1957. However, internal
Ryu Hayabusa Ken is slain by Malth's superior, an evil sorcerer known as the Jaquio, whom Ryu then kills. Ryu later enters into a relationship with CIA agent Irene Lew, who had refused beforehand to carry out an order to terminate him. In "" (1990), Ryu foils the Jaquio's demonic master Ashtar's attempt at world domination. In retaliation, Ashtar kidnaps Irene in order to lure Ryu to his home dimension. Ryu defeats Ashtar a second time, but before he can rescue Irene, she is then captured by the Jaquio, who now bears the Dark Sword, the antithesis to Ryu's signature "Dragon Sword"