Frank Dux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is determined to fight in the three-day Kumite to honor his teacher. Unfortunately, the military has determined that they would rather not risk their investment in Dux and send two somewhat bumbling military policemen after him (one of these is Forest Whitaker).
While the story is based on the events of the life of Frank Dux, there is some disagreement if these events actually took place or not in the first place. Nonetheless, the age-old story of a man beating the odds is one that most people can get behind, and when he takes on "the man" in the process, it's generally fun to watch. This movie is no exception. Just because there is no evidence of an actual event called the Kumite doesn't mean that there can't be one in the movies. So let's move on.
From somewhere, Frank receives an invitation to participate in this full contact event, and so he, along with a number of other fighters from around the world, arrive in Hong Kong, to fight for three days to become the ultimate fighter.
Through a series of flashbacks, we find that a young Frank was caught trying to steal items from the house of Senzo Tanaka (Roy Chiao). When young Frank does not flinch when a sword is swung towards him - an odd thing to do, to be sure - Tanaka suggests to Frank's parents that Frank be allowed to train alongside his own son.,
Unfortunately, Tanaka's own son died at a young age, and now the knowledge will not be able to be passed on, from father to son. So Frank suggests that he can act as son, even though he is not Japanese. After convincing Tanaka this is the case, he wants to fight in the Kumite as the crowning achievement to honor his "father", and somehow gets the invitation.
When Frank arrives in Hong Kong, he meets fellow American Ray Jackson (Donald Gibb), and the two go on to become fast friends in the battle to unseat the mighty Chong Li (Bolo Yeung - allegedly 50 years old when he played this role).
The battle rages on, and Jackson is knocked out viciously by Chong Li, setting up a dramatic finale between Dux and Chong Li, but of course you know how things will turn out. There isn't any surprise here. It's just a fun ride to get there.
Rated R for intense action and language.
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