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Video Response From Steven Hatfield To BSMA

11/25/2020

Author: Bret Gordon

Since this charade began, I have been the one primarily addressing the trolls. Of course, everything shared in response to the slanderous allegations has been a collaboration between Hatfield sensei and myself, but he really hasn't said much publicly. As I stated in my last article, it is my responsibility as his inheritor and representative to be the one on the forefront dealing with the nonsense and protecting the family. After some recent developments, Hatfield sensei decided to make this public statement that includes a brief history of our experience with the trolls of BSMA as well as the announcement that we have officially filed a defamation suit that I am excited to move forward with. Check it out!

For reference, the case number of the civil suit filed is 2020-CA-001851. A copy of the complaint draft header is included below as well. All further inquiries regarding this case should be directed to our attorney:

Martin Pedata
120 E. Rich Ave,
DeLand, FL 32724

Here we go!

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How Low Can You Go? (Part 2)

11/24/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

Watching the trolls of BSMA slither down their scum-filled slide of decency has become somewhat of a sport for me, and every day they cross new lines that leave me wondering what depths they will really go to. This article is in response to yet another (I think we're up to 35 total) written about us under one of their many fake names, as well as the latest video by Dale Dugas and the subsequent comments.

In their efforts to find any dirt on me, it appears they've contacted nearly every martial arts school in Clermont where I taught from 2007 to 2018 (I am now in a different county entirely). From referencing a 13-year-old feud with a former instructor of mine, who was upset that I opened up right around the corner from him although we've since shaken hands and moved on, to even throwing out that at one point after moving to a new location it took a few weeks to get the utilities sorted and we borrowed electricity from our neighbors, they really are grasping at straws as if any of that relates to my credentials or abilities.

One school owner's response, which they posted, was the apparent coup de grace of this article, although they apparently missed the part where it backs up things I've claimed in the past. Let's start there...

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Alcohol And Martial Arts

11/23/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

Kagami Biraki supplies

In the United States, we heavily associate martial arts as being just another youth activity. The majority of schools that saturate our strip malls cater to children, and therefore the idea of alcohol being present in the school seems taboo to our Western mind. But what if I told you that not only is it culturally appropriate, it's actually part of the training?

In traditional Japanese dojo, each new year is celebrated with the Kagami Biraki. This event is usually tied to the hatsugeiko (first practice of the year) and may be heavily ritualized. One of the components of the ceremony involves a round of sake, first offered to the dojo shrine and then to each of the attendees. However, that's not where it stops.

Both the Japanese and Okinawan cultures are known for their alcoholism, and so it only makes sense that it would permeate the culture of the dojo as well. The first time I experienced alcohol in the dojo was at a Daito Ryu seminar in 2014. We opened the seminar with a round of sake, and broke continually to refuel our "aiki juice." Apparently this was pretty tame as I heard stories at this event of training sessions where they would in fact set up a full bar in the dojo, and after each round of taking ukemi they'd stop for another shot before getting back in line to be thrown. I later learned that Okamoto Seigo (founder of Daito Ryu Roppokai) himself was an avid aficionado of adult beverages, and when asked why he trained so often with Horikawa, he joked that he wanted to get away from his wife and they served alcohol. I think Okamoto actually gave one of his students a "Menkyo Kaiden" in sake drinking. I would've loved to have trained with him, and one of my biggest regrets is not getting the chance before he passed.

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How Low Can You Go?

11/19/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

I'm not sure whether to be amused or astounded at the lengths our favorite trolls will go to when they continually realize that their efforts to shut down myself and my teacher, Steven Hatfield, are largely futile. Recently, people from BSMA (using fake profiles of course) have begun contacting my students and sending them links to the slanderous articles written about me and my teacher. What's amusing is that they believe I haven't kept my students in the loop about what's happening, as well as provided them with the necessary information to disprove the accusations made by these trolls. They've seen the pictures of Hasaka Yutashi (the founder of American Yoshinkan, click here). They've seen my certificates and scrolls. They've visited other schools with me and have seen firsthand the quality of what we do. They even know the truth about Patrick Justice. To think that some faceless profile sending them a link to an article full of assumptions, half-truths and outright lies would sway them away from my school really is just ignorant. I've stated before that my dojo is not a business but a family built upon bonds stronger than my own blood relatives. The same is true for Hatfield sensei's school. Both of our groups are fully informed and loyal to the core.

As I have always maintained, just because something is not publicly available doesn't mean it doesn't exist... Just because you run your mouth doesn't mean you're entitled to see it. And frankly, the recent actions of these trolls do not make me more inclined to share anything else.

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There's Always Something (Part 2)

11/3/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

In Part 1 (click here to read), I detailed and disproved more of the lies spread by BSMA about my background. I also publicly confirmed that I invited Dale Dugas to my school on Thursday, November 12th, at 7:30pm to settle our differences. It's this event I'll be focusing on for this article. The original invitation can be seen below:

For those unfamiliar with the original dispute between us, it is all documented here. This invitation is my last attempt to clear the air, and should he wish to engage in a friendly match, my mat is open to him. We are all martial artists and the only thing that truly matters is your ability to be martial, so if this is his intention I don't think anyone would refuse to get some rounds in. However, given BSMA's track record of manipulating facts and spinning situations to cast themselves in a positive light despite the truth, there are certain parameters I set in place. It is, after all, my school we are meeting at.

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There's Always Something (Part 1)

11/3/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

It is truly amazing the lengths people will go to when they are consistently proven wrong. Despite revealing my entire resume and the verification necessary for every document that I claim in the article "What Is A Martial Arts Fraud?," my detractors continue to flood the internet with blog after blog of half-truths and outright lies for no reason other than their own enjoyment. It's not like any of them run schools, in my area or anywhere else, or are they affiliated with us in any way. Therefore, I have yet to figure out how anything I do is any of their business or affects them at all.

Some of these lies I will admit are rather amusing, like the assertion that I am now claiming a "black belt" in Muay Thai, even though I have no Muay Thai experience. When it comes to sparring, I've always preferred point fighting, but I do have some full contact kickboxing experience and was on a team led by Arnaldo Lugo that was supposed to go to Okinawa in 2011 to compete in kyokushin-style kumite though we never did raise the funds to actually go. Before anyone jumps the gun, I am not saying that I have trained or have rank in Kyokushinkai Karate, just that on this team we fought by kyokushin-style rules (bare knuckle, full contact) and were going to compete by them.

In addition to outright lies, the trolls at BSMA like to use half-truths and pseudo evidence to bolster their position, such as boasting about an email from the Yoshinkan Aikido Hombu that says they've never heard of Hasaka Yutashi, the founder of the American Yoshinkan Aiki Jujutsu. Of course, I never claimed he studied there or had official ranking in the art so why would they have any record of him? I bet the Aikikai, the Takumakai, the Wadokai and every other organization he never belonged to hasn't heard of him either. I did say that Yoshinkan Aikido is one of the influences of the art, but in actuality I would say it is more in spirit and inspiration than any long-term training. American Yoshinkan is definitely Daito Ryu derived, as my Daito Ryu friends continuously point out.

What prompted this article, actually, is a tall tale by a new comer to the BSMA echo chamber. You know, with as much as they talk about me and my instructor, I'm starting to think that BSMA really stands for "Bret and Steven's Martial Arts fan page." This article, claiming that I am posing as a victim, is so ridiculous I thought about not responding at all. But this is the internet, and no matter how blatantly obvious it is that something is fake, someone is bound to believe it.

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USAMA BLOG

Video Response From Steven Hatfield To BSMA

How Low Can You Go? (Part 2)

Alcohol And Martial Arts

How Low Can You Go?

There's Always Something (Part 2)

There's Always Something (Part 1)

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