Earlier this week, I was contacted by a gentleman named Ryon Connery who was interested in receiving certification as the founder of his own style. As per our regulations, he sent me the three following certificates below as verification of his rank:
 |  |  |
Now, obviously he does not hold high enough rank to be considered for a founder's license, but what struck me as even more odd is that he tried passing off his 8th Kyu (yellow belt) Bujinkan certificate as a black belt rank. But, like we do for all prospective members, we looked up Mr. Connery. What we found was shocking, and so we decided to publish this public service announcement. Unfortunately, here are the results:
Ryon Thomas Connery is a Level 2 sex offender, and has two convictions of child molestation (2nd degree) and one conviction of attempted child molestation (view source). The comments on the attached website read:
"In 1999 Connery was convicted in Lewis County Juvenile Court of Child Molestation 2nd Degree for the Sexual Assault of a 13-year-old female. At the time of the offense Connery, then 17-years-old, became romantically involved with the female and coercing her into sexual activity. As a result of the conviction he was sentenced to 156 weeks of confinement. While he was in custody for that offense another sex offense came to light. This involved a then 13-year-old Connery having sexual contact with an 8-year-old female. He was convicted of this new offense and served his sentence concurrently with the other crime. After his release from juvenile custody in 2002 additional sex offenses came to the attention of authorities. Those crimes, occurring prior to his 1999 conviction, involved sexual contact with female children that were known to him. In 2002 he pled guilty to the single offense of Attempted Child Molestation 2nd Degree. As a result of that conviction he was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Since his release for the sex offense, Connery received a conviction in Lewis County Superior Court in 2014 for Assault of a Child. Based on the type of crimes committed, Connery has been classified as a clear risk to re-offend and this notification in required."
"In 1999 Connery was convicted in Lewis County Juvenile Court of Child Molestation 2nd Degree for the Sexual Assault of a 13-year-old female. At the time of the offense Connery, then 17-years-old, became romantically involved with the female and coercing her into sexual activity. As a result of the conviction he was sentenced to 156 weeks of confinement. While he was in custody for that offense another sex offense came to light. This involved a then 13-year-old Connery having sexual contact with an 8-year-old female. He was convicted of this new offense and served his sentence concurrently with the other crime. After his release from juvenile custody in 2002 additional sex offenses came to the attention of authorities. Those crimes, occurring prior to his 1999 conviction, involved sexual contact with female children that were known to him. In 2002 he pled guilty to the single offense of Attempted Child Molestation 2nd Degree. As a result of that conviction he was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Since his release for the sex offense, Connery received a conviction in Lewis County Superior Court in 2014 for Assault of a Child. Based on the type of crimes committed, Connery has been classified as a clear risk to re-offend and this notification in required."
| After a quick Google search, we found a business listing for his martial arts school, Bushido 2000. The address listed for his business location is also ironically his listed home address on the above website. According to his website, he offers classes for children and adults in "Shorin Ryu Karate Jutsu" and Judo classes for unspecified age groups. Here is his website: http://bushido2000dojo-karate-hapkido.com/index.html |  |
Class Schedule from Bushido 2000 website (May 22, 2018)
Bushido 2000 also has a Facebook page (click here) where Mr. Connery not only advertises his own martial arts classes, but also that he teaches classes at another local martial arts school. I am not sure whether or not Master Choe is aware of Ryon Connery's status as a sex offender.
In addition to being a sex offender, Mr. Connery also has a criminal record for burglary (view source) and child abuse (view source). However, after one of our Board members reached out to local law enforcement, apparently he is not barred from having contact with children or teaching children martial arts.
DISCLAIMER - This article is being shared as a public service announcement. We are not telling you that you should not train with Mr. Connery. We simply urge all students and potential students of the martial arts to do their diligent research on the instructors they are considering training under. People do change, and past crimes are not a guarantee of future ones. But everyone should have the right to know who they're training with, and in many cases entrusting their life to. Your decision to train or not train with someone should be made not just by one or two websites, but through a series of interactions to determine your own personal feelings toward an instructor. If you are comfortable and happy with your instructor, nothing should come before that and I personally wish you the best on your journey in the martial arts.
DISCLAIMER PART 2 - Information posted on this website is provided for informational purposes only. It is subject to change and may be updated periodically. While every effort is made to ensure that the posted information is accurate, it may contain factual or other errors. Information changes quickly and the posted information may not reflect the current information. All are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Published mugshot and/or arrest records are previously published public records of: an arrest, a registration, the deprivation of liberty or a detention. The mugshot and/or arrest records published are in no way an indication of guilt and they are not evidence that an actual crime has been committed. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information posted on this website. However, the USAMA (or any of its affiliates, members or directors) does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the content of this website. In addition names may be similar or identical to other individuals. For latest case status, contact the official law enforcement agency which originally released the information. No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability, or usefullness of any information.
DISCLAIMER - This article is being shared as a public service announcement. We are not telling you that you should not train with Mr. Connery. We simply urge all students and potential students of the martial arts to do their diligent research on the instructors they are considering training under. People do change, and past crimes are not a guarantee of future ones. But everyone should have the right to know who they're training with, and in many cases entrusting their life to. Your decision to train or not train with someone should be made not just by one or two websites, but through a series of interactions to determine your own personal feelings toward an instructor. If you are comfortable and happy with your instructor, nothing should come before that and I personally wish you the best on your journey in the martial arts.
DISCLAIMER PART 2 - Information posted on this website is provided for informational purposes only. It is subject to change and may be updated periodically. While every effort is made to ensure that the posted information is accurate, it may contain factual or other errors. Information changes quickly and the posted information may not reflect the current information. All are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Published mugshot and/or arrest records are previously published public records of: an arrest, a registration, the deprivation of liberty or a detention. The mugshot and/or arrest records published are in no way an indication of guilt and they are not evidence that an actual crime has been committed. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information posted on this website. However, the USAMA (or any of its affiliates, members or directors) does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the content of this website. In addition names may be similar or identical to other individuals. For latest case status, contact the official law enforcement agency which originally released the information. No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability, or usefullness of any information.
