Fencing master and graduate of the Military Institute of Physical Education and Fencing (Belgium), he was responsible for bringing style and technique to the duels in Hollywood films. Born of French parents, Cavens had started in a military school at the age of seven and by the time he was 15 had decided to take up the sword. He graduated from the Institute at 18 and was a fencing master at 21. Soon after his marriage, to a danseuse in a Belgian opera company, he emigrated to the US. His son Albert Cavens was his associate in the teaching and performing fencing stunts in Hollywood movies.