John Keehan grew up in an upper-income family in South Chicago, where his father served as the president of Ashlin State Bank. A gifted student with an exceptional memory and quick learning abilities, Keehan’s life took a dramatic turn after being beaten up by two kids. This incident, where his friend Tommy Gregory came to his aid, sparked an obsession with martial arts that would define his future.
In Chicago’s tough environment of the time, where scraps were commonplace, Keehan immersed himself in various combat disciplines. He dedicated his time to bodybuilding, weightlifting, boxing, wrestling, judo, and as he put it, “anything having to do with fi ghting and training.”
After high school, Keehan joined the Marine Corps Reserve, where he claimed to further develop his martial arts skills. Despite questions about some of his military service claims, records show he served from 1958 to 1959, receiving an honorable discharge.
In 1961, Keehan’s martial arts journey reached a significant milestone when he met Robert Trias, one of America’s foremost karate pioneers. Under Trias’s personal instruction, Keehan earned his black belt within two years and opened his own dojo, where he would begin to challenge traditional martial arts norms and establish himself as a controversial figure in the martial arts world.
Breaking Barriers in the Dojo
In the early 1960s, John Keehan established his own martial arts dojo in Chicago, where he demonstrated a progressive approach that was uncommon for the era. His dojo stood out for its inclusive policies, particularly in welcoming African-American students at a time when racial segregation was still prevalent in martial arts training.
This inclusivity was notably demonstrated when Robert C. Brown, an African-American martial artist, found himself rejected from every dojo in Chicago except Keehan’s. As Brown later recalled, “Keehan didn’t care what color I was, he readily accepted me and was glad to have me.” Keehan’s commitment to equality was further evidenced when he stood firm against his landlord, who threatened eviction over his acceptance of Black students.
Keehan’s dedication to breaking racial barriers went beyond mere acceptance – he made history by awarding the first black belts to African-American practitioners in Chicago. This decision led to tension with his own instructor, Robert Trias, who demanded Keehan revoke these black belts. Keehan’s response was resolute: “no way.”
In addition to racial integration, Keehan was among the first martial arts instructors to welcome women into his dojo. This approach to inclusivity was part of his broader vision of making martial arts accessible to all, regardless of race or gender. His dojo became a symbol of inclusion in Chicago’s martial arts community, setting a precedent for future generations.
Harsh Training Methods and Unconventional Practices
Keehan’s dojo was known for its harsh and realistic training methods, including full-contact sparring on concrete floors. Unlike most karate schools of the era that focused on traditional forms and non-contact sparring, Keehan’s approach was notably hard and practical.
Training sessions combined step-by-step instruction in karate and judo techniques with full-contact sparring that stressed real-world application. Keehan regularly organized self-defense scenarios where students faced attackers wielding knives or guns, sometimes in dimly lit conditions against multiple opponents.
Perhaps most remarkably, Keehan incorporated unconventional testing methods for his black belt candidates. He would secretly arrange for outsiders to attack his students in bars, granting black belts only to those who successfully defended themselves in these real-world encounters. He frequently reminded students that “str*et fights take place in the stre*ts” and “you can’t throw a roundhouse kick in a phone booth.”
Despite the harsh training methods, Keehan maintained a supportive attitude toward his students. He encouraged their growth and development, even supporting an 18-year-old student’s ambition to open his own dojo despite not having a black belt, telling him, “You don’t need a black belt – there’s no law that you need one to open a karate school. You’ll teach people what you know.”
Count Juan Rafael Dante
In 1967, Keehan legally changed his name to Count Juan Rafael Dante, claiming it was his rightful name as a descendant of Spanish royalty. To complement his new aristocratic identity, Dante underwent a complete makeover. He began dying his naturally red hair black, styled it into an afro, and meticulously sculpted his beard, drawing comparisons to noted Satanist Anton LaVey. His wardrobe featured a Dracula-style cape and a 24-carat gold-embossed walking stick. As one of his students described, “He looked like Bruce Lee and Prince rolled into one.”
While the transformation seemed eccentric, it was initially calculated as a promotional strategy. Dante sought to create a memorable character similar to professional wrestling villains, ensuring he would stand out in the martial arts world.
The “Death Touch” and Martial Arts Infamy
In 1968, Dante launched an ambitious marketing campaign, promoting a “death touch” technique he claimed to have learned from a Shaolin monk. He advertised his “World’s Deadliest Fighting Secrets” pamphlets in comic books and martial arts magazines, calling himself “The Deadliest Man Who Ever Lived” and “The Crown Prince of Death.”
These promotional efforts, coupled with his theatrical persona, cemented Dante’s public image as a controversial martial arts master. His Black Dragon Fighting Society merchandise and extraordinary claims of combat prowess blurred the lines between reality and myth, drawing both admirers and critics.
The Infamous Dojo War
On April 23, 1970, Dante orchestrated the infamous “dojo war,” a violent clash with the Green Dragon Society. Dante and five students arrived at the Green Dragons’ dojo, sparking a fight that resulted in the death of his closest student, Jim Koncevic. The incident left Dante deeply shaken, as he later confided, “If I thought that this would have happened to Koncevic, I would have never gotten there that night.”
The aftermath saw Dante’s dojos close, and his reputation in the martial arts community plummet. The incident marked a turning point, pushing Dante further into Chicago’s underworld.
The Purolator Heist and a Mysterious Death
In 1974, Dante was suspected of masterminding the Purolator Heist, one of Chicago’s largest robberies, involving $3.8 million in cash. Although he was questioned and passed a lie detector test, Dante reportedly confessed his role to his lawyer, detailing the crime’s intricate planning.
Shortly after, Dante’s life ended under mysterious circumstances. His girlfriend found him dead, and the box of money he claimed to possess had vanished. Poison was suspected, but the truth remains a mystery. Dante’s death certificate listed him as Juan Ard Dante, with “Keehan” as an alias.
To this day, the missing money from the Purolator heist and the true cause of Dante’s death remain unsolved, leaving behind a legacy as enigmatic as the man himself.
