A Storm is Coming

 False Claim: "Criminal history of violence"

Legal Reality: Expunged = NO criminal record Result: Per Se Libel + Malice = Punitive Damages Eligible

Forged in Fire

Make no mistake: I know precisely what appeared on a certain person's Facebook page in late September, and what his accomplice—his own student—dispatched to the martial arts organization. A deliberate, calculated strike meant to bury me under your blatant lies. You are not men, and you certainly don’t belong in any uniform.

Rest assured, justice rolls toward you both, unyielding. The truth will strip bare your sly ambushes and reveal the shadows you truly cast. 

For over forty years, I’ve undergone and passed criminal background checks to maintain my black belt rank, coaching certifications, and teaching credentials. From my very first black belt test to my most recent review just two months ago, every single background check has come back clean. That’s four decades of documented verifiable and undeniable proof that I am the complete opposite of what these people attempted to portray me as. 

A personal note from me.......

None of you have faced the kind of crucibles I’ve survived in my life. It’s those trials, not martial arts, not it's ranks, titles, or associations, that define who I am. The hollow accolades of the martial arts world have never validated my identity. Who I am does not lie in judo or karate. That isn't my essence nor the mark of my worth. 

My worth was forged long before any of you ever learned to bow on a mat. I was born tough — I didn’t have the luxury of choice. Life, not the martial arts, made me that way. And the older I got, the tougher I had to become. Every obstacle, every fight, every setback only hardened my resolve. I didn’t just survive — I adapted, endured, and came back stronger every single time. 

I was in my fifties when I was hit, run over, and crushed by a semi-truck. Make no mistake I wasn’t in a automobile, I was on foot when I was hit and run over. Doctors, specialists, and neurosurgeons told me I was finished. The many neurosurgeons said I shouldn’t even be walking and couldn’t under stand how I was even able to. I was told I’d never walk right again, never train again, never step back onto the mat. 

Not one of them knew what I was made of. Through years of my own rehabilitation, pain, and sheer willpower, I came back. And not just to move again — but to perform judo at an elite level, a level that not one of you wannabes will ever touch in your lifetime.

And I didn’t stop there.

At 61 years old, I put on a white belt again and began a new journey into the most demanding and unforgiving style of Karate style there is. Before I even committed to that training, I spent two months training privately, conditioning myself for the intensity that particular karate style is known for.

You actually thought you can somehow hurt someone who’s already survived the worst life can throw? In your tiny, ego-driven minds, with fake ranks wrapped around your waists, you thought you’d “get over” on a man who doesn’t quit, a man who doesn’t stop until he reaches what he sets his sights on. 

FUCKING WITH ME was your biggest mistake.

You thought that I was like everybody else. My Judo it self isn’t like the versions taught in other schools. It isn’t about the gentle way or giving way or turning the other cheek. My mantra has always been direct, raw, disciplined, unrelenting and absolute: “Anytime Judo is used, you must transcend theory and rule… and become a DEMON.” Something none of the likes of you were ever prepared for. 

AND make no mistake a demon is what I am, forged in fire. 

As for those of you who stood around, knowing exactly what was going on — your silence makes you complicit. Don’t think for a second that I don’t know who any of you are. You watched, you heard, you defended him, you stayed quiet, you whispered among each other and you allowed the harassment, threats and slander to happen again and again. You all let it go unchecked and unreported. You’re not innocent; Expect legal and civil actions to follow — to the fullest extent that I can and will take them. 

Rest assured that 2026, upon full exposure and accountability of all involved, this blog will conclude exhibiting the documentation of each individual's downfall. The example I will make of all involved will send a message loud and clear to every other fraud in the martial arts world....if you get the notion to fuck with me....DON'T!

The New Year 2026: Justice is Going to be Served….COLD

I am not someone who only talks; I am a person of action and always have been, and concrete steps were taken even before the start of the New Year 2026. Actions were initiated against a certain central Florida–area individual engaging in martial arts fraud, and his decision to target me, my student, and his daughter will be addressed fully and firmly through the legal system. Once warrants are issued against those involved with the threats, they will be promptly enforced by law enforcement. I, together with a detective who is also my Black Belt student and the appropriate police authorities, will do everything within the law to ensure that these warrants and related legal measures are carried out. 

In addition, I will notify local news outlets that a local-area instructor is the subject of an arrest warrant and related legal proceedings, so that the arrest is conducted transparently and lawfully and so that his actions are fully exposed to the community. Anyone who received rank from him will be embarrassed to claim those ranks much less claim to be an instructor under him.

For those who assisted him in the threats, the personal attacks, and those who engaged in slander, defamation, and libel, you will also face appropriate legal consequences. You chose to attempt to damage my standing in the martial arts community at your instructor’s behest. I am fully aware of who was involved and to what extent. Your loyalty and anger were squandered to defend fake martial arts credentials, and you will now face the legal price for those choices. Every lawful remedy available has been initiated against each person involved, and there will be no avoiding accountability. 

You will remember my name for the rest of your lives, because the legal and public record will ensure it. I will see to it. While your instructor has little to no real assets, many of you do; your careers, homes, and finances can and will be reached through the courts where appropriate. Do not expect mercy or leniency, because the consideration you showed me is exactly the level of consideration you will receive. I do not care how the consequences of your own actions against me affect your livelihoods. 

To everyone involved: the consequences of your actions will unfold systematically through legal channels, one individual at a time. You will observe each case progress and resolve, inevitably prompting reflection on your own accountability before the law—and you will wonder which one of you is next.

An Officer’s Retaliation in Defense of the Wrong Cause: Evidence, Statements and Emails Collected

Imagine this: a couple of friends of a U.S. military officer were banned from a civilian martial arts organization for serious violations of conduct. The decision was fair and necessary—especially since it was learned by the organization that one of those individuals is a prime suspect in a police investigation for online threats against a child and threatening to kill a child. This same military officer, a chaplain,  had received martial arts ranks from the individuals over the years, and he even sat on the board of the organization that his friends had attempted to join. Yet instead of showing integrity or accepting the consequences of their actions, the officer chose retaliation over responsibility. Driven by anger and misplaced loyalty, he didn’t direct his frustration toward the police or investigators or his friends/instructor who committed the crime, instead he targeted me. He purposely and intentionally defamed and slandered me. 

In that act of vindictiveness, this Air Force chaplain composed and sent an email to the organization’s leadership filled with false, malicious, and defamatory accusations specifically intended to destroy my reputation. This was no misunderstanding or lapse in judgment on his part, it was a calculated attempt to slander and discredit me. By weaponizing communication channels to spread deliberate falsehoods about a civilian, the air force officer crossed the line from professional misconduct into retaliatory defamation—compounding the gravity of his actions by doing so in defense of a person under active criminal investigation. 

The officer’s email constitutes written defamation if its contents are false and harmful. Because the motive is retaliatory—attempting to “get even” with the organization through character assassination—the civilian victim can claim actual malice, significantly strengthening their case for compensatory and punitive damages.

The Air Force views retaliation and abuse of authority with particular gravity; such actions erode command credibility and can result in career‑ending administrative measures, including reprimand, loss of clearance, or decommissioning.

By retaliating on behalf of someone implicated in a child‑threat investigation, the officer’s conduct also raises potential questions of ethical complicity—supporting or shielding a person accused of criminal behavior rather than upholding integrity and lawfulness. This further intensifies both disciplinary and reputational consequences.

Under U.S. civil law, defamation occurs when someone publishes a false statement of fact about another person that causes harm. In written form—such as an email—it becomes libel. A civilian harmed by such an act can bring a lawsuit seeking substantial damages.

To prevail, the civilian only needs to prove:

The officer made false factual claims.

The email was sent to a third party (the organization).

The officer was negligent—or malicious—in verifying the truth.

The statement caused harm or intended to cause harm.

Because the email was retaliatory, the civilian can allege actual malice, defeating any “qualified privilege” the officer might claim for communications made in good faith. Courts take retaliatory motives seriously, and punitive damages may follow if the conduct was outrageous or malicious.

Within the military, an officer’s duty to act honorably is codified in multiple UCMJ provisions. Sending defamatory or retaliatory communications can breach several of them:

Article 107 – False Official Statements: If the email was sent using an Air Force system or included official identification, knowingly spreading false information may constitute a “false official statement.” This offense is punishable by confinement, loss of pay, and dismissal from service.

Article 133 – Conduct Unbecoming an Officer: Retaliatory defamation sharply conflicts with the standards of decency, truthfulness, and professionalism expected of commissioned officers. Conviction under this article can result in separation or a dismissal equivalent to a dishonorable discharge.

Article 134 – General Article: Even if the act was “off‑duty,” it still harms the image of the Air Force and can be charged as service‑discrediting conduct.

The reputational and career fallout within the military can be as damaging as any civil penalty. An officer engaged in personal vendettas through abuse of communication channels may lose promotions, security clearance, or command trust. Substantiated misconduct may lead to an Officer Grade Determination, referral for Board of Inquiry, or ultimately the loss of commission and involuntary decommissioning from active service. Once integrity and trust are compromised, reinstatement within military leadership circles becomes nearly impossible.

Retaliating on behalf of one’s associates, or using military status to intimidate or discredit civilians, falls under abuse of authority—a serious ethical violation. The Air Force Inspector General encourages civilians and service members alike to report such misconduct through official channels. Investigations can lead to reprimands, administrative action, or court‑martial proceedings.

Make no Mistake I'm coming for you. 

The Poom Rank Mirage: No Adult Black Belt Here

Bret Gordon's sole verifiable rank is a junior Taekwondo black belt (poom), which in actuality is far from an adult dan-grade credential.  Leaning on this childhood poom as his "black belt" foundation while claiming mastery across multiple arts falls woefully short of the pressure-tested shodan forged in 5–7 years of legitimate training.  A poom rank certainly isnt a foundation to be used to make up one's own fighting style at the age of 16. "Kiddie" black belts lack the maturity and the depth that define real black belts or real effectiveness. 

Kiddie Black Belts and Commercialized Dojos aren't Hard Training Environments

Gordon trained early on in a kiddie black belt program 12 to 18 months to junior black belt, gotten in 2000 when he was 8 years old.  Gordon claims he under went hard training during this time. 

In mainstream Taekwondo, anyone under 16 is formally a poom (junior black belt), acknowledging they are not yet at an adult dan level even if they wear a black or half‑red/half‑black belt. Commercialization in the 1980s dramatically shortened martial arts belt timelines by prioritizing profit over traditional mastery, turning dojos into businesses reliant on frequent promotions. Tae Kwon do related "Kiddie" Black belt programs, as Bret indicates he is a product of, targeted kids aged 6-12 with simplified watered down curricula—promising black belts in 12-18 months to boost retention and parental buy-in.  

These programs omitted any and all rigorous standards. They bypassed real training time by conveniently watering down the art, substituting endless belt ceremonies, paperwork, and snack breaks.​​ Instead of hours drilling basics like proper ukemi, kihon-ippon kumite, or tanden-driven force generation, these fantasy factories prioritize "graduations" every three months—complete with cake and photo ops—to keep revenue flowing. 

Fast-track black belt programs in Taekwondo rose in the 1980s due to aggressive commercialization of dojos in the U.S., where owners shifted from traditional training to business models emphasizing quick promotions for revenue. Many U.S. TKD schools and McDojos targeted kids with "fast-track" poom/junior black belt paths, promising ranks in 12-18 months via simplified poomsae, basic kicks, and board breaks rather than full sparring or self-defense depth. Parents signed these contracts locking in fees, cementing these “schools” as profit-driven and not merit-based.

True Path to Shodan

Serious dojos demand 5–7 years for shodan, with traditional ones pushing 8–10, building unhurried command of skill, timing, mechanics, and mindset. Rushing yields delusion over depth—1-2 year "black belts" expose zero functional edge.

Memorization Fails Pressure

Kata and combos? Any rote learner nails them quick. True mastery flows instinctively under resistance, techniques crushing live foes—this emerges only from years of brutal mat time and nothing else.

Bret Gordon’s martial arts journey reads like the tragic tale of a man who spent his formative years bobbing and weaving around the one experience that forges real budo character: the well-deserved, attitude-adjusting ass whupping. In his own posts he readily admits he never trained anywhere long. This indicates that he conveniently missed out on anything that was actually tough, difficult or presented challenge.

In a proper dojo, bad habits and big egos are corrected by the oldest universal language in combat sports: getting folded in half by someone smaller, older, and far less impressed with you than you are with yourself. 

Judging by his public self created mythology, Bret seems to have sidestepped the day a beginner learns that watching Steven Seagal movies is not a defensive technique. In most people, it produces humility, better guard position, and a deep respect for cardio. In Gordon’s case, instead of getting punched in the face, he simply awarded himself another rank certificate or got daddy to buy it. 

The Fast Track Black Belt - Road to Ineptitude not Supremacy

Fast-track black belts from McDojos or junior poom programs routinely crumble against legitimate shodan holders who earned their rank through 5–7 years of rigorous, pressure-tested training. These mismatches expose glaring gaps in technique, conditioning, and composure, often leaving the quick-rank holders embarrassed on the mats.

Junior black belt and “dumbed‑down” standards

In mainstream Kukkiwon Taekwondo, anyone under 16 is formally a poom (junior black belt), acknowledging they are not yet at an adult dan level even if they wear a black or half‑red/half‑black belt. For a child of 8–10 to be a “black belt,” adult skill, power, and maturity standards must be significantly lowered, making the rank more about age‑adjusted performance and persistence than true combative proficiency. Junior belts cheapen the symbolic value of black belt for adults from more rigorous systems, because outsiders cannot see the difference between a poom rank and a full dan.

Mat Reality Check

Traditional dojo students drill fundamentals relentlessly, yielding polished stances, timing, and resistance-proof skills that overwhelm McDojo grads who get tapped out fast or get thrown when real randori hits, their lack of depth exposed to the nth degree. Poom or Junior ranks prioritize memorization not real live application, so adult sparring reveals zero black belt savvy or endurance against battle-hardened opponents.

McDojo schools, training and habits offer no real depth in any martial art and prove that 1-2 year "black belt mastery" is relegated to nothing more than a participation trophy. An attendance award that represents delusion, not dominance or technical supremacy.

Putting on a White Belt Again

 I'm in my 60s, I hold black belts in Shotokan (3rd dan), Judo (5th dan), and Kajukenbo (8th dan), yet here I am, brand new to Kyokushin Karate—and enjoying every brutal second of it. After surviving being hit, run over, dragged, and crushed by a semi-truck, with doctors saying my martial arts days were done, Kyokushin's ethos feels like it was made for me. It's not just training; it's proof that real toughness isn't handed out—it's forged in fire.

 The raw grind of Kyokushin just hits different. No padded gloves, no pulling punches—just honest contact that dumps the semi accident's ghosts and daily stress into something I control. As a white belt, I feel those beginner gains again—the power building session by session. It's addictive, especially after decades of coaching others.

I reject cross-rank shortcuts and McDojo nonsense, I've called out fast-tracked frauds. I have no desire to be a one year black belt. Starting from scratch in Kyokushin honors the grind, years of hard work. I reject special "considerations" for  previous experience. No special treatment here, just sweat equity. I'm the new guy again, not the coach or sensei or experienced martial artist. My cup is empty I am a beginner. For a guy like me, whose exposed fakes and mcdojos, authenticity is everything. Frauds wouldn't put a white belt on in the first place. They certainly wouldn't take on what I am. 

Osu no Seishin—the indomitable spirit. It resonates, it echoes my survival. Kyokushin demands you push through pain, fatigue, and getting lit up, just like crawling out from under the semi truck that hit and ran me over. Every low kick toughens my shins, every body shot builds iron abs, turning random trauma into chosen power. Bruises? They're badges I pick, not surprises. Kyokushin channels my post-accident resilience with a bare-knuckle ferocity that softer karateka and frauds can't even touch.

Kyokushin just fits, a rough and rugged fit for an older athlete who lives biomechanics and explosiveness. Raw, full-contact training with zero bullshit that forge scars into unbreakable supremacy, a spirit that doesn't bend. Several years ago the doctors said I was done; I proved them wrong and still am. Osu.

The Demise of a Martial Arts Fraud; Cuffs, Cameras, and Collapse

Your empire of lies has crumbled. Every fake black belt you've claimed, every padded resume you've flashed, every student you've conned with fabricated katas, every rival you've menaced, smeared, threatened or slandered — it's all fraying at the edges. 

Social media captures your gasping ineptitude in those sham "sparring demos." Biomechanics don't lie; your sloppy hip throws scream decades of delusion, not mastery. Whispers from former pupils who you ripped off and betrayed echo louder each day drowning your delusions. Fear coils in your gut because deep down, you sense the storm breaking—no escape from the reality that is barreling toward you.

Its coming. No more alibis. No more pointing fingers at the very people you put up to aiding you.   

Picture this,  your so called lineage traces back to ghosts, credentials evaporate under scrutiny, your self claimed "legacy" dissolves into memes of a wheezing pretender cuffed head down, mid-bow. The headlines read; "Fake Martial arts instructor Arrested—Terroristic Threats toward a minor." 

You live in fear worried every minute if this will be the last day of your freedom, will this be the evening cops come into your dojo to arrest you.

 Run if you dare; I hunt charlatans like you, no mask, no hidden identity and no fear of frauds, I instill fear in the hearts of my enemies, frauds in the martial arts, like you. The clock ticks and when I walk in and I will be there to see justice is served, my justice. Will you say it was all a misunderstanding? Your pleas will fall on deaf ears. No apologies or retractions will be considered or even tolerated. It will be seen for what it is, the desperate act of a portly coward. 

You will be hauled out of your dojo in cuffs, news media present, in front of your students and then your community and eventually for all to see. No doubt video footage will reveal just another lowlife martial arts fraud weeping uncontrollably when arrested.  

From a psychological standpoint, arrest represents an abrupt ego collapse for individuals like you, whose identities are constructed around deception. Fraudsters often display brittle self-concepts sustained by control, intimidation, and external validation rather than internalized discipline or moral structure. When confronted with arrest, the sudden removal of authority and narrative control frequently triggers acute stress responses: visible emotional dysregulation, involuntary weeping, and pleas for forgiveness or mercy. These behaviors are not expressions of genuine remorse, but reflexive survival responses emerging when a long-maintained false persona is forcibly dismantled. In that moment, the individual is no longer performing credibility they are reacting to the irreversible exposure of it.

That will be only the beginning.

You will be gone for years. There will be no deals, no leniency. You will sit in jails until your trial which could take a year. Your black belt students will be left to endure the damage caused by you. No one will believe they did not know about the crimes you committed or the fraud. Your "black belt" flock will bear your stain; no one will buy their innocence. They'll shoulder the shame of tying themselves to a rank-racketeer, a mentally disturbed sociopath, who hurled death threats to shield his fake ranks and a fictional martial arts lineage. 

This will just be the dawn, the nightmare stretches endless.....I will be coming for any and ALL involved.....and it will be to a point where no fraud will ever cross my path again. The example made of you will resonate, fake instructors will close down operation and hide for fear that I come after them.