Mc Dojo 'watchdog' thread

After al8's experience of illigetimate schools i'd thought i'd start a name and shame list of less than reputable classes.

Also, a reputable authority on the subject is bullshido.net.

Feel free to add.


EDIT: Please note this thread is intended for ENTRIES ONLY! If you want to debate or contest any entries please let your grievances be known in the appropriate thread which i have stickied.

Thanks for your co-operation.

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GKR Karate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GKR_Karate


Origins
The club was founded in Adelaide (Australia), in 1984 by Robert Sullivan, known to the members originally as 'Shihan' (a self-awarded title roughly translated as master) but now known as 'Kancho' (Founder of the Organisation).[1] He was later joined in 1991 by Stacy Karetsian, who previously attained Black Belt status in Shotokan. He was later given the title of 'Shihan' (Master) by Sullivan in 2000.[2]
Since its inception, GKR has grown significantly and currently has over 50,000+ students, 1500+ instructors and 400+ full time personnel. Classes take place on a daily basis in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the USA.[3]

Controversies
Kenshukai Karate - The former managing director of the organisation, Adrian Sclanders, unsuccessfully attempted to wrest the organisation from Sullivan's control. He was subsequently dismissed from the organisation, starting up his own school called Kenshukai, which has since split up into smaller groups.
Sensei Training - GKR senseis are not required to be blackbelts, unlike most clubs in the wider karate community, resulting in claims that GKR Senseis are less qualified than their counterparts in other clubs (some instructors have only achieved orage belt status). Often Senseis from GKR in black and white belts are mistaken for blackbelts.
Recruitment - A significant proportion of GKR's member base is from its door-to-door recruitment system[citation needed]. This system of student recruitment was taught to Robert Sullivan by Matsugi Tanaka, who was at that time the Senior Instructor of GoKan Ryu at the Adelaide Headquarters, this was during 1984/85. Matsugi Tanaka had joined GoKan Ryu already a Sandan in Shotokan and significantly contributed to the manner in which Robert Sullivan viewed the potential of Karate as a business. It is often children who are signed into this system by parents, although a lot of adults have also been recruited in this way. The method of door-to-door recruitment is unpopular with sections of the martial arts community and many styles have criticised GKR for its "commercial" or Amway approach to martial arts and for not caring about their members. GKR shrugs off such accusations, alleging that there is a strong "family" feel amongst its students and senseis.
Locations - GKR usually use school halls or community centres, rather than full time dojos. These dojos, not being purpose built for karate and other sports with similar needs are sometimes said to have a higher being risk of injury than full time "properly" floored locations.


website

http://www.gkrkarate.com/

Black dragon fighting society (led by 'grandmaster' ashida kim)


http://www.wikitruth.info/index.php?...red:Ashida_Kim

Ashida Kim is the pseudonym used by Radford W. Davis (born July, 1948), a controversial Florida-based American martial arts teacher and author best known for his books on 'ninjitsu' [sic] training published during the 1970s and 1980s. [1] Ashida Kim claims that he has also worked as an extra in a number of movies, such as Armageddon, Waterboy, Instinct, and Angel's Dance.
Kim is not known to be recognized by any official Japanese martial arts scholar or organization. Kim claims to practice and teach supernatural and magical abilities such as invisibility, telepathic mind control, and death touches; he defends these as natural abilities that give similar effects to fictional magical ones. For example, Kim claims that throwing sand in an opponent's eyes makes one invisible to him; calming one's mind and making the appropriate face discourages an opponent and that placing one's palm on the opponent's chest brings death to duality.

Black Dragon Fighting Society conflict

Kim promotes himself as the leader of the Black Dragon Society form of Koga Ryu ninjitsu, a name of no apparent association with the historical nationalist paramilitary Black Dragon Society of wartime Japan; or the similarly named American martial arts group founded by Count Dante: The Black Dragon Fighting Society; which has since Dante's death , after Dante's death, was under the directorship of William Aguiar. Aguiar passed away in January, 2005. The Black Dragon Fighting Society is now led by his son, Bill Aguiar III who is co-founder of his own online forum and hosts the Official Black Dragon Fighting Society website.
Ashida Kim's websites were suspended on or about October 5, 2005 when a cease and desist order alleging illegal use of the BDFS trademarks and copyrights was sent to his Internet service provider by Aguiar's lawyer. While he disputes the merit of the claims, which were never tried in court, Ashida removed the offending material from his site as part of a deal with his service provider to reactivate the site, and has explained his side of the story on a "Dojo Politics" page there. Aguiar's group is currently headquartered in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Black Belt program

It has been alleged in an article on Bullshido.net that Kim offers mail-order black belt programs in a belt factory fashion.
Ashida Kim states that he is offering a program for those who wish to have their skills verified. After a martial artist has demonstrated their skills and paid the appropriate fees, he will confer an official document verifying this skill level.
His booklet, Mugei Mumei No Jutsu, translated as "No Name, No Art," includes a black belt certification as well as a "Mandamus" threatening vengeance from "occult guards" and "Astral Spies" if the information in the booklet is compromised.
.

Ashida Kim.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashida_Kim

Ashida Kim is the pseudonym of a controversial martial artist who has authored a series of books on ninjitsu training. His writings and statements have made him a controversial figure in the martial arts community, and have led parties to scrutinize his background. According to The Believer, he may be a man named Chris Hunter living in Florida.


"Shit List"
In response to controversy and critics, Kim maintained a “Shit List” on his website which included Wikipedia and its founder Jimmy Wales, Bullshido.net and owner Neal “Phrost” Fletcher, Paladin Press, Citadel Press, Amazon.com, and others whom Kim considers antagonistic.In the case of Wales and Fletcher, Kim has included personal information such as home addresses and phone numbers, and stated:
"This information will remain up until Wikipedia and Bullshido.com take down their trash and bash entries on Ashida Kim altogether and remove all references to him from every page of their websites."
The list has since been been removed, however the Wikipedia article and the two articles on Bullshido.net still exist. The "Shit List" has been replaced with a general essay on enemies, which states that "we let go our vengeance. We do not forgive, nor forget. We seek only to better ourselves by following the Way."

$10,000 Challenge
In order to "defend himself from ..unwarranted attacks," Kim established rules for a “$10,000 Challenge” for those wishing to test his skill. Challengers are required to pay a $10,000 appearance fee to Kim, as well as post a $25,000 bond and cover all expenses of the event


Ashida 'escapes' from a finger trap. Check out the pre-broken pencil.

+ YouTube Video

Websites

http://www.ashidakim.com/

Keichu-Do

http://www.bullshido.org/Karl_Marx

Karl William Marx is an American martial artist and creator of a martial art called "Keichu-Do."
The following is an article written by samurai_steve (Judah Maccabee) detailing the results of a lengthy investigation into Marx, Keichu-Do, and other associated areas. This article was originally published in February 2007.

Introduction

Who is Karl William Marx?

Karl W. Marx is not the famous historical figure who wrote "The Communist Manifesto." That's Karl H. Marx.

Karl W. Marx is a martial arts instructor from Louisiana who makes bold claims about himself and his martial art "Keichu-Do" (aka "Cajun Karate") including that he is the "Father of American Karate." In fact, Marx asserts that his Keichu-Do method of fighting is the first American martial art ever invented, and that he crafted it without any Oriental/Asian influences.

Marx takes great pride not only in his self-created martial art, but also in his academic and publishing credentials. He repeatedly mentions his three published books, his college and graduate degrees, and a number of articles written about him and Keichu-do. On various Keichu-Do sites, Marx and his senior students write that Keichu-Do is the official martial art of Louisiana, and that there was once a "Keichu-Do Day" in Louisiana on July 30th, 1997.

Within Marx's three published works ("Martial Arts Therapy", "If I Can Do It, Anyone Can", and "Martial Arts Spirit"), Marx also makes a number of claims that are almost too good to be true. He speaks of healing abilities through touch that resemble Christlike capabilities (though he never actually uses that analogy). He discusses how he became a pimp in several Louisiana towns, and describes various fist-fights he got into while acting as a bouncer or while he was in the Navy.

This article and investigation seeks to look at the merit of Marx's claims and accomplishments, particularly those revolving around his accomplishments in the martial arts.


Executive Summary

Karl W. Marx is a martial arts instructor, evangelical Christian minister, and author who is responsible for creating the martial art "Keichu-Do (KD)," a Christian-oriented art that is also known as Cajun Karate. Born August 10th, 1936, Marx and his students claim that KD was first formally taught in 1960. Marx also claims that he is the "True Father of American Karate" because he created KD without prior experience in any Karate method. On other occasions, Marx, his students, or writers that interviewed them have stated that KD was the official martial art of Louisiana and implied that there was an official "Keichu Day" holiday in 1997. Marx claims a 10th-Dan rank in KD and assumed the title of "Soke" (headmaster) before passing it on to his son, V. V. Marx.

In his three published works, Marx has made a number of claims ranging from the prosaic to the outrageous. In one book, Marx claims that he was a nationally famous bouncer that had only one loss out of 57 years of fighting, all while holding an IQ of 185 and being a former member of the "Cajun mob." In another book, Marx says that diseases like mononucleosis and Multiple Sclerosis have psychosomatic origins, such as "prolonged seething and resentment," rather than a biological/viral/genetic origin. Marx has also claimed to have healed hundreds of people by touch.

Based on testimony from parties such as Louisiana state government employees, Marx's claims of official state recognition for KD are conclusively false, while claims of a criminal background can be called into question. Marx is also shown to have repeatedly plagiarized his own works and published them in other places without indicating their prior publication. Further, two of Marx's three books are works written in the late 1970's and published in 2004-2005 with little to no revision or update, showing that Marx is trying to profit off of out-of-date works of dubious authority.


Keichu-do website

'Jiu Jitsu'

http://www.bullshido.org/S.C._Ray

Stephen Curtis Ray

.C. Ray is a martial arts instructor based out of the St. Louis suburb of Florissant, MO. He has owned several schools in the past, but at this moment only runs the one school in the city of Florissant.

Although information is scarce, S.C. Ray's own site claims that he started practicing martial arts at the age of 7.
S.C. Ray himself has provided two different documents pertaining to his martial skill. He has a 6th Dan ranking in Sun Do Sul, a hybrid martial art created by Y.S. Choi of Colorado. Choi has certified this rank firsthand. Ray has self-promoted himself to a 6th Dan in Tae Kwon Do, as well, even though he is apparently Kukkiwon certified as a 2nd Dan. Ray says that he offers a "Godly martial arts" experience.
Ray's second certification comes from Sifu Eric Hurst of St. Louis, Missouri. Ray claims that this certification is the equivalent of a 5th degree black belt, but Sifu Hurst has publicly contested this, saying that Ray's certification is more along the lines of a pre-black belt ranking. This would make Ray, in most traditional martial arts, a brown belt or possibly a 1st-degree black belt.
In addition to Ray's certified martial arts rankings, he claims to have invented his own grappling style, which he calls "Jiu Kido." Jiu Kido is a name already in use by at least one other group which appears to have been using it longer than Ray has been. Ray does not mention Jiu Kido on his website, but instead claims to teach "Jiu Jitsu (Very similar to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu!)" When pressed to produce a rank in any style of jujitsu, whether Brazilian or Japanese, Ray replied that he has studied with Frank Shamrock and "Dan Severns." While both Shamrock and Severn are formidable fighters and teachers, neither man teaches jiu-jitsu--and both men have long-standing rivalries with the Gracie families. Both would be loath to describe what they do and teach as "very similar to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu." Both are known for teaching western wrestling adapted for submission fighting and mixed martial arts. Severn's background is in world-class folkstyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, while Shamrock practices a much more submission-oriented "shootfighting" style his brother Ken Shamrock learned in Japan. The style is based on Anglo-American Catch-as-Catch-Can submission wrestling, which differs from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in several important respects.


Controversy

Ray's documentation of his martial arts experience and certification is the topic of some debate; his certificates have been judged by people with experience as instructors in Tae Kwon Do and kung fu who have stated that the certificates are suspect.
In addition, Ray claims to have the power to heal the sick through the laying on of hands by channeling the healing power of God and Jesus Christ. Ray has stated that he does not heal through his own power, but that God's power travels through him. Specifically, he claims that on one trip to India, "the blind saw and the deaf heard" when Ray applied his faith-healing power.

'To-Shin Do' nin jutsu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To-Shin_Do

To-Shin Do is a martial art style established by Stephen K. Hayes as a means of teaching ninjutsu (or taijutsu) in a format more accessible to American audiences. It is now practised in other countries including the U.K.,Belgium, and Italy. His prior organizations, the Shadows of Iga Ninja Society, and the Nine Gates Institute, relied more on the Bujinkan's methods of instruction. To-Shin Do was founded with the aim of blending classical martial arts techniques taught with more modern educational methods and techniques, classic weapons can also be learned in to-shin do.

History

To-Shin Do was founded in 1996 as the curriculum for the HGI Quest Centers, a corporation founded by Hayes, along with business developer Bill Poett and Joseph Koenig. A couple of years later, Poett's role in the corporation decreased, and the business was renamed SKH Quest, Inc.
In 2003, Tom Maienza took over the business development role, and SKH Quest began to offer distance learning systems via DVD, along with the original concept of Quest Center martial arts franchises. Along with the To-Shin Do goshin taijutsu modern self defense, SKH Quest has started issuing classical rank cert in To-Shin Do Kasumi-An classical warrior arts training.

Ranks

To-Shin Do has a number of different belt ranks corresponding roughly to the former Marishi-Kai belt system above the rank of black belt, with a new, more differentiated ranking system below the rank of black belt. Ranks are based on the go-dai elemental system, historically used as a counting system in Japan.



Stephen Hayes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_K._Hayes

S Hayes.


Stephen K. Hayes (born September 9, 1949 in Delaware) is a martial arts teacher and author of over fifteen books. He has worked as an actor, notably in the TV miniseries Shogun, and in 1985 Hayes was entered into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as Instructor of the Year . Hayes is also an ordained practitioner of esoteric Tendai mikkyo Buddhism. Hayes lives and works in Dayton, Ohio, and was once again featured on the cover of Black Belt magazine for their March 2007 issue. The issue contains a chapter from his book Ninja Vol 6, Secret Scrolls of the Warrior Sage. The magazine’s opening editorial as well focuses on Hayes, and describes him as "one of the 10 most influential living martial artists in the world."

Biography
In June of 1975 while in Japan, he met and began training under Masaaki Hatsumi, the founder of the Bujinkan martial arts organization. Hayes returned to the United States by 1976 setting up a dojo in Atlanta, and began teaching and authoring numerous books and magazine articles .
He apprenticed beneath Clark Jikai Choffy, an ordained Tendai priest and personal disciple of Archbishop Jion Haba of the Tokyo Reisho-in Tendai temple . He received empowerments and teachings from Rev. Choffy, and received transmission in the Homan-Ryu school of Tendai esoteric Buddhism, and in 1991 he received Tokudo priesthood ordination in Tendai Buddhism from Rev. Choffy .
In the 1990s, Hayes regularly served as personal protection escort and security advisor for 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Tenzin Gyatso, the Dalai Lama of Tibet .[dubious – discuss]
In 1993, Hayes was awarded the judan (tenth degree black belt) degree from Hatsumi and in 1997, he founded the martial art of To-Shin Do, an art based in his experience of budo taijutsu. Hayes has also founded a Buddhist Order based on his teachings and experiences with Tibetan Buddhism and Tendai called the Blue Lotus Assembly . The SKH Quest network now spans 18 schools across North America and Europe.
On 14 May, 2006 George Ohashi (administrator of the Bujinnkan Honbu Dojo in Japan) was ordered by Dr Masaaki Hatsumi to remove Stephen Hayes' name from the board of recognized judans of the Bujinkan. Hatsumi said that Hayes' own conduct had removed him from the Bujinkan.

'Quest center' website