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.
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.
William Sirbaugh One of the articles being shared was a recent story regarding William Sirbaugh, the founder of the American Jidokwan Association (click here). This article details Sirbaugh's criminal record and his time in prison. As the second member of Hatfield sensei's family to come up with a record, the implication has been made that I've gotten myself involved in a "crime family" and associate with the dregs of society. All of this despite the fact that Hatfield sensei himself has a long career serving and protecting his community.
First, let me say that simply having a criminal record is not a reflection of your character but more importantly in this context, it doesn't take away from your skills and knowledge as a martial artist. Everyone makes mistakes and bad decisions in their life, some of which have serious consequences, but I am not so deluded and self-righteous that I can't bother to be seen with someone just because they have a record. If they have something of value to offer, I am eager to listen and train with them. There are too many variables surrounding the circumstances of one's situation and without having the fully story, I refuse to rush to judgement. Even though we at the US Association of Martial Arts require background checks for our members, the mere existence of a record does not preclude one from membership and instead we strive to find out the circumstances of the conviction to determine one's eligibility. One could even argue that the best teacher for understanding how to survive real-world violence is in fact a reformed criminal, and after all, that is what martial arts are truly for - survival.
Now, the claim is that because of the timeframe of Sirbaugh's incarceration, it is impossible that he was able to develop American Jidokwan when and how we have publicized. He was in an Oklahoma state prison from 1988 to 1991, and an Arizona prison from 1992-95, and again from 1997-1999. Therefore, they believe this contradicts him living in California and subsequently meeting Hatfield sensei's mother and Hasaka Yutashi as we have claimed because he would've been on parole and therefore unable to legally leave the state. The keyword there is "legally." Just because something is a violation of parole does not mean it was not done.
What's important to note is that the article focuses on this period of his incarceration and not the actual timeframes of when I stated he was involved with Jidokwan and later connected to Hatfield sensei and his family. Sirbaugh began his training sometime around 1968 while living in Ohio with his parents (they even confirm his father died in Ohio in 1971) prior to his enlistment in the Army, and they make the assumption that upon his discharge he moved to Pennsylvania when there is nothing to support that. Having spoken to Hatfield sensei, other members of the Ohio Jidokwan community and Sirbaugh's widow (Hatfield sensei's mother), I have no reason to doubt that he in fact returned to Ohio in 1973 where he would continue his training for at least a few years (though he did have family in Pennsylvania so travel would be frequent).
First, let me say that simply having a criminal record is not a reflection of your character but more importantly in this context, it doesn't take away from your skills and knowledge as a martial artist. Everyone makes mistakes and bad decisions in their life, some of which have serious consequences, but I am not so deluded and self-righteous that I can't bother to be seen with someone just because they have a record. If they have something of value to offer, I am eager to listen and train with them. There are too many variables surrounding the circumstances of one's situation and without having the fully story, I refuse to rush to judgement. Even though we at the US Association of Martial Arts require background checks for our members, the mere existence of a record does not preclude one from membership and instead we strive to find out the circumstances of the conviction to determine one's eligibility. One could even argue that the best teacher for understanding how to survive real-world violence is in fact a reformed criminal, and after all, that is what martial arts are truly for - survival.
Now, the claim is that because of the timeframe of Sirbaugh's incarceration, it is impossible that he was able to develop American Jidokwan when and how we have publicized. He was in an Oklahoma state prison from 1988 to 1991, and an Arizona prison from 1992-95, and again from 1997-1999. Therefore, they believe this contradicts him living in California and subsequently meeting Hatfield sensei's mother and Hasaka Yutashi as we have claimed because he would've been on parole and therefore unable to legally leave the state. The keyword there is "legally." Just because something is a violation of parole does not mean it was not done.
What's important to note is that the article focuses on this period of his incarceration and not the actual timeframes of when I stated he was involved with Jidokwan and later connected to Hatfield sensei and his family. Sirbaugh began his training sometime around 1968 while living in Ohio with his parents (they even confirm his father died in Ohio in 1971) prior to his enlistment in the Army, and they make the assumption that upon his discharge he moved to Pennsylvania when there is nothing to support that. Having spoken to Hatfield sensei, other members of the Ohio Jidokwan community and Sirbaugh's widow (Hatfield sensei's mother), I have no reason to doubt that he in fact returned to Ohio in 1973 where he would continue his training for at least a few years (though he did have family in Pennsylvania so travel would be frequent).
Sirbaugh ca. 1980 The next record publicly available of Sirbaugh's life was in 1984 when he was charged in Oklahoma for forging documents. Ironically, this is right after his enlistment ended with the Marines that they claim there is no evidence for (despite the picture of Sirbaugh in his USMC dress uniform, see right). Are the two circumstances related? I'll be honest and say I don't know, but it's certainly possible. In 1979 he faced criminal charges in Pennsylvania, so assuming a new identity and joining the Marines would also not be out of the realm of possibilities.
Lastly, the article states that during the time of his incarceration, martial arts training wouldn't have been allowed and therefore he couldn't have developed anything during his time there. I probably should point out that Tomiki Kenji developed the basis of his Shodokan Aikido while in prison, and that unless you were there it's impossible to say Sirbaugh wasn't training or working on future endeavors. If anything, time in prison would certainly hone one's fighting abilities and combative efficiency.
Was William Sirbaugh a perfect human being? No. He made a lot of mistakes in his lifetime and served his time for doing so. None of that takes away from his experiences as a martial artist or his ability to pass on information to Hatfield sensei. One does not need to teach commercially or have a large student base to create an art. Many of the classical styles we revere began as family or clan based systems handed down from father to son, and Sirbaugh's American Jidokwan Taekwondo (and Combat Hanki, later renamed Mi Guk Yusinkwan Hanki Yusul, click here) is no different. The question did come up about him even being qualified to create his own system, with such a sporadic training history. My only response to that is there have been countless individuals with even minimal training who branch off and do their own thing, which through the test of time come to establish themselves as legitimate arts. For a partial list of young founders/masters or those with what we would consider absurdly short training histories, click here.
Lastly, the article states that during the time of his incarceration, martial arts training wouldn't have been allowed and therefore he couldn't have developed anything during his time there. I probably should point out that Tomiki Kenji developed the basis of his Shodokan Aikido while in prison, and that unless you were there it's impossible to say Sirbaugh wasn't training or working on future endeavors. If anything, time in prison would certainly hone one's fighting abilities and combative efficiency.
Was William Sirbaugh a perfect human being? No. He made a lot of mistakes in his lifetime and served his time for doing so. None of that takes away from his experiences as a martial artist or his ability to pass on information to Hatfield sensei. One does not need to teach commercially or have a large student base to create an art. Many of the classical styles we revere began as family or clan based systems handed down from father to son, and Sirbaugh's American Jidokwan Taekwondo (and Combat Hanki, later renamed Mi Guk Yusinkwan Hanki Yusul, click here) is no different. The question did come up about him even being qualified to create his own system, with such a sporadic training history. My only response to that is there have been countless individuals with even minimal training who branch off and do their own thing, which through the test of time come to establish themselves as legitimate arts. For a partial list of young founders/masters or those with what we would consider absurdly short training histories, click here.
Regardless of if you believe in Sirbaugh's credentials or legitimacy as a martial artist, the truth remains that the organization he handed down to Hatfield sensei has since been recognized as an official branch of the Jidokwan World Headquarters in Korea.
Both he and I have received master level ranking from Korea, and we continually register our students with the World Taekwondo Jidokwan Federation (click here) as official representatives. We are 100% legitimate Jidokwan, and this is indisputable.
Both he and I have received master level ranking from Korea, and we continually register our students with the World Taekwondo Jidokwan Federation (click here) as official representatives. We are 100% legitimate Jidokwan, and this is indisputable.
Moving on, another point made in the article is the claim that there is no evidence of Hatfield sensei and his mother ever living in California at all, where I have stated Sirbaugh met them (as well as Hasaka sensei), considering Hatfield sensei was born in Ohio in 1984 and his younger brother was also born there in 1990. Again, just because a public record doesn't exist does not mean it isn't true. For example, when all of this started with BSMA, one of their members posted a picture from outside what they thought was my apartment:
Posted May 7, 2020 on BSMA
Now despite having moved out of that apartment in January of 2015, I never updated my drivers license when I moved until just a few months ago, so when they did a public record search for me, this is what came up. One could say that there is no record of me living at the three other addresses I've had in the meantime, and yet I did. I also know that if I chose to move to Ohio right now to train full-time with Hatfield sensei, I'd probably crash at his house for at least a few months and there'd be no record of me living there. None of that actually proves anything, other than my unwillingness to keep up with public records. Therefore, it's also impossible (and outright false) to say that Hatfield sensei and his mother never lived in California. Their entire time in California was spent living with relatives, and considering BSMA has in the past publicly posted pictures and home address of Hatfield sensei's mother (until I called them out for such a scumbag move and they were redacted), I am not sharing with whom and where they were living. But I will say that the pictures I have of Hatfield sensei with Hasaka sensei go back to when he was 3 or 4, and he was most definitely in California.
The next downward step on the decency ladder was when BSMA shared personal information regarding one of my students, including contact information for her husband and the fact that she has 2 small children, because when Dale Dugas popped in unannounced he saw that we were not in class and I was in fact casually talking with her and my sister (who was in the next room at the exact moment Dale walked in). Members of BSMA have since continually harassed her and her family, causing unnecessary tension in her personal life and putting her on blast.
In my last article, I stated that because my dojo. Trio Martial Arts Academy, is exclusive to teens and adults (with no current students under the age of 21), we do things differently than a commercial school that caters to children. This includes sitting around having the occasional drink, and as grown adults there is no need to justify ourselves for doing so. Whether or not someone agrees with it does not give them the right to harass my students and their families over it or publicize their personal information. Aside from just being a scumbag move to do so, it flies directly in contradiction of their own rules:
The next downward step on the decency ladder was when BSMA shared personal information regarding one of my students, including contact information for her husband and the fact that she has 2 small children, because when Dale Dugas popped in unannounced he saw that we were not in class and I was in fact casually talking with her and my sister (who was in the next room at the exact moment Dale walked in). Members of BSMA have since continually harassed her and her family, causing unnecessary tension in her personal life and putting her on blast.
In my last article, I stated that because my dojo. Trio Martial Arts Academy, is exclusive to teens and adults (with no current students under the age of 21), we do things differently than a commercial school that caters to children. This includes sitting around having the occasional drink, and as grown adults there is no need to justify ourselves for doing so. Whether or not someone agrees with it does not give them the right to harass my students and their families over it or publicize their personal information. Aside from just being a scumbag move to do so, it flies directly in contradiction of their own rules:
BSMA Rule #17
But that's to be expected from such a hypocritical bunch. Is that an admission that they are just cyber bullies? The majority of trolls in their group use fake profiles and aliases to hide their identity, making them unaccountable for their words. Isn't that a violation of their own rules as well?
BSMA Rule #18
They claim that they use such aliases and fake profiles to protect themselves, as many of the "frauds" they have harassed over the years have threatened them with physical violence. I wonder why...
Hatfield and Hasaka, ca. 1988 Hypocrisy aside, I'm sure then that they are more than understanding of why I won't release information regarding Hasaka Yutashi, including his real name and picture. While this would put to rest the assertion that he never existed, it would also give them an avenue to dig into his personal background and living relatives, opening them up to harassment as well. To say they would never do so is a lie, considering their track record of having done just that, and as the inheritor of his legacy it is my responsibility to protect him, his family and the art more than to protect my image.
I'd also point out that there is just as much information publicly available about the identity of Hasaka sensei as there is about any of these fake trolls, so if they'd like to publicize who they really are I might consider doing the same. There have been a couple of pictures of them wearing masks or covering their faces with emojis, so as a measure of good faith I will oblige in the same manner. I'll even go a step farther and say that he's in this group picture outside of Horikawa Kodo's dojo from the late 1970s.
I'd also point out that there is just as much information publicly available about the identity of Hasaka sensei as there is about any of these fake trolls, so if they'd like to publicize who they really are I might consider doing the same. There have been a couple of pictures of them wearing masks or covering their faces with emojis, so as a measure of good faith I will oblige in the same manner. I'll even go a step farther and say that he's in this group picture outside of Horikawa Kodo's dojo from the late 1970s.
Of course, this is probably me just being petty. The easiest thing to do would be to give in, release all of the information and pictures I have and let the community decide for itself, but I am stubborn and won't be pushed to do something that I don't want to do. The argument has been made that it seems as if I am using my credentials and lineage as tools to attract new students or members, and if that is the case then I have an obligation to publicize everything for potential students to properly vet me. To that, I say that first I am not looking to gain a ton of new students. I run a semi-private training group with 8 currently active students and have an established cap of 15. As I've said, Trio Martial Arts Academy is not a commercial school and I refuse to run it like one. But pretending that it was for a moment, if someone was truly a potential student I would share such information with them during their introductory meeting. That still doesn't mean I need to answer to any and every faceless troll in another time zone.
That being said, I have yet to ever have a potential student ask me about my rank or lineage. I can even count on one hand the amount of times I've been asked about the style we teach. The only questions I really get asked are about the cost and schedule of classes. The average student looking to begin martial arts has only one thing in mind, "What can you do for me?"
At the end of the day, I know who I am, what I have and where I come from. Those who respect me will not be swayed by the slanderous allegations and sloppily thrown together "depositions" by people that have never met or been affiliated with me, and those who would rush to judgement without seeking me out for more information and to experience what I do firsthand are people I don't need in my life anyway.
That being said, I have yet to ever have a potential student ask me about my rank or lineage. I can even count on one hand the amount of times I've been asked about the style we teach. The only questions I really get asked are about the cost and schedule of classes. The average student looking to begin martial arts has only one thing in mind, "What can you do for me?"
At the end of the day, I know who I am, what I have and where I come from. Those who respect me will not be swayed by the slanderous allegations and sloppily thrown together "depositions" by people that have never met or been affiliated with me, and those who would rush to judgement without seeking me out for more information and to experience what I do firsthand are people I don't need in my life anyway.
