Author: Bret Gordon
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Author: Bret Gordon I have to admit that this latest post from Dale Dugas has me scratching my head. He asserts that I create fake rank certificates for a living, among other things. My first question is what fake rank certificates does he think I am creating, and more importantly, what living does he think I'm making off it? The only types of certificates I have issued have been:
Author: Bret Gordon Once and for all, we have proven that there are no limits to the obsession, hypocrisy, and bias of our detractors. Over the course of the last 5 years, Steven Hatfield and I have been scrutinized under the most powerful of microscopes. The events of this last week provide further confirmation that this is nothing more than a personal vendetta, flamed by the fact that we wouldn't lie down and take it. The loudest complaint against Hatfield sensei and I is that we are martial arts frauds with unverifiable training backgrounds. I detailed my training history in a recent two-part article (click here for part 1), providing copies of my certifications (some of which will also be posted below as they are relevant to this article) and how I obtained them, and I wrote an article sharing many of Hatfield sensei's certifications (click here). So immediately on the face, if fraud is the misrepresentation of our credentials, sharing proof of those credentials is proof that we are not lying about having them. One of the caveats, however, is that we didn't have the "right" credentials for what we are claiming, that our certifications were from "low level" or independent organizations, and therefore not universally recognized. While it is my personal opinion that certifications only matter as much as the respect you have for the person signing it, and that the measure of one's martial prowess is their performance and knowledge, maybe they were right? Author: Bret Gordon Since the beginning of the internet assault against Steven Hatfield and myself in 2019, both friends and acquaintances have repeatedly told us to just ignore them. Having both kept up with and responded to their vitriol, and letting it go for various lengths of time, I can categorically say the latter does nothing to fix the problem. Over the years, Dale Dugas, Barron Shepherd, Randy Engle, Don Roley, Cayce Lancaster, Ed Mathna and Charles Brown have done everything in their power to destroy our credibility in the martial arts community. Every time we make a new connection, they rush to their keyboards and inundate the organization with enough emails to nearly crash the server in an effort to "enlighten" the organization to the type of people we are. Yet, not a single one can actually pinpoint a wrongdoing or lie we have told in the course of all this. For those unfamiliar with what we've been dealing with, there are 3 primary accusations against us and I will address each one below: In Part 1 (click here to read), I detailed my personal training history, my credentials, and my teachers. Now let's address the next area of contention, my lineage, and specifically that of my current teacher, Steven Hatfield. It is often pointed out that in the last decade, we have made adjustments to the history sections of our websites detailing where the arts of American Yoshinkan Aiki Jujutsu and American Jidokwan Tang Soo Do come from. On both sites, there is a disclaimer that states: "DISCLAIMER: The information contained above has been compiled from years of research and training. It is accurate to the best of our knowledge and verification, however as many of the events listed above pre-date the current administration's involvement in the organization we can make no guarantees as to its completeness. As we continue our study into the history of our art, new information regularly becomes available. Whenever new information becomes available, we will make it public so as to present the most accurate and complete account of our history as possible." Put into plain terms, I began studying with Hatfield in 2012, long after these systems were established. So firstly, I can only go by what he tells me and if you know him at all, information is earned. To my knowledge, he has never deliberately lied or mislead me, but it has also taken years of dedicated study to get the entire picture. Second is that his instructors were the same way, and considering both passed away while he was still relatively young, there are a lot of holes he himself simply doesn't know and needed to research.
Thanks to the efforts of my personal press corps, I have unfortunately become quite a public figure in the martial arts. Naturally, the question regarding my legitimacy remains the topic of discussion and while I feel I am not responsible for continually justifying myself, I thought it best to catalog my claims, my credentials, and my viewpoints in a single article that I can simply reference in the future when the topic inevitably comes up.
First, let's define what it means to be a fraud...
Quite simply in a martial arts context, a fraud is someone who misrepresents themselves by lying about their credentials and training. Is that something I have done? I don't think so, but let's really get into it. Let me apologize, because this won't be a short article.
Author: Steven Hatfield Oh my Dear Sheppy, Ah, what a delight it is to receive such fervent declarations of your undying fascination with the illustrious figures of myself and Bret Gordon. Your unwavering dedication to daydreams and nocturnal musings about our captivating personas has, undoubtedly, reached the pinnacle of peculiar admiration. However, it pains me to inform you, dear devotee, that your passionate overtures for communication find no reciprocal sentiments in our hearts. While your eccentric expressions of love are entertained, they shall remain unrequited. You are more than welcome to continue basking in the warmth of your oddly profound adoration, but let it be known – we shan't be partaking in this peculiar connection you so desperately seek. As for your conspicuous efforts to beckon my attention, today, in a moment of unparalleled magnanimity, I offer you this one and only response. It appears you've struggled to locate me or Bret, a feat that seems perplexing for someone of your purported god-like status. Perhaps a visit to Bret's educational establishment or a sojourn to the fine state of Ohio would have served as a more direct approach to proving your divine prowess. Alas, your silence during my recent visit speaks volumes, and I leave you to your spirited conversations with the walls. Fare thee well, oh ardent admirer, until our paths cross in the realm of happenstance. In the unlikely event that you summon the courage to pursue your most profound desires and meet us face to face in a suitable environment, the outcome shall dictate the terms of our engagement. Should fortune favor our endeavors and victory grace our judo prowess, you graciously commit to the expunction of all statements ever made about Bret and me, accompanied by a public apology acknowledging our triumph. Conversely, in the regrettable scenario where either Bret or I succumb to your evidently godlike judo skills, we willingly and publicly concede, acknowledging your superiority while humbly admitting that our own judo acumen pales in comparison. May the judo gods guide you in your endeavors, and should you choose the path of actualization, let the outcomes dictate the course of our future engagements. In a recent twist of irony, I found myself in the sunny embrace of Florida, a mere 45 minutes away from your purported domain. Alas, despite the geographic proximity, your unwavering commitment to the judo community failed to materialize into action. Not a whisper nor a shadow of your judo policing presence graced my endeavors or those of Bret. Allow me, in my judicious wisdom, to draw a parallel. Much like the judo police diligently pursue wrongdoers, you, my dear challenger, seem hesitant to apprehend your alleged perp. The analogy falters, for in true judo policing fashion, one ought to pursue justice with zeal. However, your actions, or lack thereof, suggest a narrative less about community guardianship and more about the frailty of your ego – a fragility that extends to matters of stance and mobility, of course. In the spirit of judicious inquiry, if policing the judo realm were your true pursuit, one would expect you to fervently pursue your alleged wrongdoers. Yet, here we are, the judo criminals left to roam free, and your stance and mobility seemingly compromised. As the curtain falls on this theatric discourse, I leave you with a parting jest: May your ego find the strength to endure the judo trials, just as your stance and mobility may find reprieve in the shadow of self-reflection. Regards, Your Wandering Judo Enthusiast Steven Hatfield
A question for the ages... Gerald Greysmith is one of the longest running pseudonyms used by the martial arts trolling community, but who is the man behind the mask?
Admittedly, it was extremely hard to pin down who the latest troll to don the moniker is. From the outset, it was put forth that Gerald Greysmith is not a person, but an idea, and that no less than 4 individuals have operated using the name and account. This will be a very brief and direct statement. I have no association, affiliation, connection, or relationship with Frank Dux, Dallas Wittgenfeld, Adam McKinley, Bodhi Sanders, David Richardson, or anyone else belonging to their group. Period.
Since the beginning of mine and Steven Hatfield's defamation suit against Dale Dugas, the above-named individuals and countless others have tried to ride our coattails, show their support, and even act as if they were assisting us. They hung on every motion filed, and were quick to spread the word when the Court made its ruling. Whatever their personal vendetta against the former heads of BSMA may be, this is absolutely false. I cannot stop them from pretending that our vindication by the Court finding Dugas liable for damages and placing him in Judicial Default is also theirs, but they have nothing to do with it and we have nothing to do with them.
I knew after we won our defamation suit, our trolls and haters would come back with a vengeance. When the truth isn't on their side, the only strategy left is to flood the search engines in order to bury it. I'll admit that I was a little shocked at who's leading the charge, but let's dive in...
The majority of the attacks against us came after I wrote an article in 2020 on Barron Shepherd, a local judo instructor and the first troll dumb enough to use their real name to lie about us. It didn't take long to uncover gapping holes in his background, including claiming USJA rank and credentials but not appearing on their database when the article was first written (he is now listed as a 3rd Dan by both USJA and USA Judo). As of this article, Barron has written no less than 7 blogs about me in the last 2 months, so I probably should thank him for letting me live in his head rent free all this time, as I can honestly say he hasn't crossed my mind at all. Of course, none of these articles present anything unique and certainly aren't the "smoking gun" he thinks they are. However, since he's been begging for my attention, let's play along. |
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