One Handed Seoi Nage - Split Entry Drop Knee

 Without a doubt The CRAZIEST throw in JUDO history is the one handed Seoi nage. The Great Toshiko Koga is renowned for this technique. He hit a standing variation in the 1989 world championships. Since then, the Koreans have some drop knee variations of it as well. 

Designed to catch your opponent off guard, this one handed variation of seoi nage utilizes the split step entry and dropping to the right knee. 

1.) Blue and white are standing with the right foot forward.

2.) White reaches with his right hand attempting to get his grip. Blue parries the grip attempt

3.) Blue immediately punches in a grip with his right hand at white's right lapel. 

4.) Blue's left foot drags up to the back of his right foot as the right foot starts to move forward.

5.) As Blue pivots his right elbow comes up under white's left armpit.  As the right foot enters between white's feet drop to the right knee. (The placement of the knee should be past the toes of the opponent's lead foot.) Blue pulls with his right hand turning his body counter clockwise.  Blue's places his left hand on whites left hand keeping control of it to keep white from cartwheeling out of the throw,

6.) Then the left foot slides back past the right knee for maximum leverage. Bring the right elbow to the left hip turning counter clockwise to finish the throw.

Barron Shepherd Judo Makes 2024's Top 10 Best Judo Blogs and Websites

Both my judo blogs have made it in the top 10 of the 15 best judo blogs and websites on the web in 2024, taking the number 6 and number 9 spots. My blogs cover how to effectively fight with judo for sport as well as how to effectively utilize judo for the street.

Both judo blogs are in the top 10 of the best Judo blogs from thousands of blogs and websites on the web. The blogs are ranked by relevancy, authority, freshness and social media followers. 

This is the 3rd year in a row both my judo blogs made the list. I want to take the number 1 and number 2 spots. Just sayin'

https://mma.feedspot.com/judo_blogs 

Barron Shepherd is a Judoka who knows how to fight with Judo! - Alain Burresse

Judo has many styles and variations in its application but none are as progressive as Barron Shepherd Judo. The Biggest takeaway……Barron’s high level attack oriented game. – Andrew Kinchen

"Barron Shepherd, a 5th degree black belt in Judo, introduced us to an innovative style that blends traditional Judo techniques with combative elements, deeply rooted in the philosophy of Jigoro Kano. His unique approach, particularly the use of punching in his grips combined with his split entries, has redefined our understanding of kuzushi—not just as breaking balance, but as a method of destroying the opponent’s foundation entirely." – The Judoka Grappler 

“Coach Barron's ballistic, threatening style of Judo, is a force to be reckoned with.” – Rich Meager

“An explosive showing of precision and power, Barron Shepherd's style of Judo is dynamic and is always moving forward. A constant onslaught of technique, one right after the other, changing direction and almost all with just a one handed grip. He is scrupulous in his technique and dedicated to preserve the dignity and spirit of Judo, something he has dedicated his life to.” - Derek Walker

BARRON SHEPHERD JUDO - ONE HANDED TECHNIQUES SERIES

My specialization and my obsession (LOL) with the one handed style of judo began when I first saw Toshihiko Koga hit a one handed seoi nage in the 89 world judo championships. His dynamic one handed standing seoi-nage captured my imagination. I remember immediately doing my best to replicate it in class after class. Since then it's been a almost 40 journey, a lifestyle dedicated to specializing in that particular method adding more and more to it and to this day continuing to build on it and will probably do so until I die.

There have been few who have used this method. And by few I mean about 4. Not many at all. The master of the one handed Seoi nage was Toshihiko Koga. There are only very few one handed throwers Udo Quelmaz and most recently Soichi Hashimoto and Hifumi Abe (both have a one handed sode tsuri komi goshi). There are indeed a plethora of throws to be executed from a one handed grip. 

Barron Shepherd Judo 

There are three things I say all the time;  

1.) First grip. First attack. Finish and try to look dope while you're doing it.  

2.) Grip fight like a boxer and have footwork like Barry Sanders.  

3.) Anytime judo is used transcend rule, transcend theory and become a demon. 

The one handed style is a dynamic, ballistic and athletic method that is better utilized from a more upright stance, like that of a boxer. Everything about this fighting method of Judo from the stance (false lead) onward is unorthodox and has a distinct purpose. The one handed style catches the opponent off guard. The split stance or split step entry gets the hips under the opponent’s and makes it easy to load him up. Once the opponent is loaded up there’s little he can do to avoid getting thrown.

One handed Ippon Seoi Nage Drill - Split Step Entry

1.) Stand with the right foot forward 2.) Punch in your grip with the left hand.  3.) Pull with your left and and bring your left foot up to your right foot.  

4.) as the left foot comes up toward the top of the triangle pivot slightly toward 6 o'clock as your right foot moves past the base line of the triangle next to the opponent's right foot.  5.) The left foot slides back toward the baseline of the triangle next to the opponent's left foot.  Straighten the legs and pop your hips upward.  6.) Turn your body counter clockwise taking your right elbow to your left hip to finish the throw.

Entering into the Throw with the Rear Foot

In one of his Seoi nage variations Toshihiko Koga would enter into a seoi nage with the rear foot. In this variation of the one handed drill, I am entering into ippon seoi nage with the rear foot using a back step. My rear foot steps behind my lead foot past the base line and to the corner of the triangle. 

Koga variation in competition...........

The following throw is the koga variation that he used used in competition. The rear/right foot steps to the bottom corner of the triangle just inside the opponent's right foot.

The Importance of Taping a Triangle on the Mat.................

If you notice in the pictures I have a triangle taped on the mat with a single straight line taped a foot past the base line of the triangle. Stepping to certain points of the triangle ensures maximum leverage creating a more effortless throw. 

NEXT UP ON TAP: Tsuri Komi Goshi 

Eddie Sebastia, IBJJF Competitor, 62-2 In competition. Purple Belt World Champion, Brown Belt World Champion, Black Belt Pan American Champion, 2023 IBJJF No-Gi World Champion

I have been doing some form of grappling for over 40 years. I started wrestling as a young teenager. I went on to Judo in my later years. After years in this sport, I pursued BJJ. I have achieved the level of a 2-stripe Black Belt. BJJ is where I became a 2 times Masters IBJJF World Champion and 2 times Pan Am Champion and 2023 Masters IBJJF  No-Gi World Champion.

I met Barron after a BJJ tournament in 2022, he was teaching Judo at one of our Carlson Gracie schools. I have been working one on one with Barron, both of us trading knowledge of the different aspects of our particular styles, BJJ and Judo. 

When it comes to judo, I appreciate Barron’s style of teaching, not only with the specific drills that he utilizes to supplement and reinforce his judo techniques, but his overall approach of how to properly execute the techniques. 

One of the things that I especially like about Barron’s style of Judo is his approach to grip fighting and his one-handed style gripping attack. I have implemented this into my game. It has not only helped me with my stand up, but also with my ground game.

Dr. Rich Meagher

I have been doing martial arts for nearly 30 years, and I've never met anyone that can throw like Coach Barron Shepherd. Unlike traditional Judo stylists, Barron doesn't concern himself with complex grips or ideal timing. His focus is on getting the grip that matters and then delivering a ballistic throw. Coach Barron's explosive, dynamic style catches everyone off-guard, no matter if it's a sport or street context. His functional footwork is the Hallmark of his explosive throws. 

Coach Barron is the sole reason I am able to execute Judo throws in a modern, combative situation. The Combat Judo curriculum is an excellent way to introduce students to throws and how to hit them in real altercations. Anyone who can develop at least half of Coach Barron's ballistic, threatening style of Judo, is a force to be reckoned with.

Lauren Meece, 2000 Olympian, Coach, Scouter and Trainer US National Champion Pan Am Games Bronze Medalist 9th place finish – World Championships

Carlson Gracie Winter Haven’s openness to judo is primarily due to Barron Shepherd’s passion to ensure judo is adapted and utilized for their BJJ students. I have traveled all over Central Florida, and while most BJJ and MMA locations seem to discredit judo, (and the overall effectiveness of adapting judo gripping strategies), Barron and his team at Carlson Gracie are the minority that truly understand the value of what judo can bring. 

There are many common misconceptions about the effectiveness of judo, however, it is eye opening to see individuals like Barron and his Carlson Gracie Team continue the legacy of judo and display its relevancy in the world of martial arts. 

Thank you to Barron and Carlson Gracie Winter Haven for ensuring that judo lives on and adapts for the BJJ community to access as well. As judo and BJJ evolves, I see minorities like this becoming pioneers not only in BJJ and judo, but in the overall spectrum of mixed martial arts. 

 

Andrew Kinchen, owner/Head Instructor Carlson Gracie Winter Haven. Instructor Carlson Gracie South Lakeland. Instructor Carlson Gracie Lakeland

Andrew Kinchen and Carlson Gracie Jr. 

Judo has many styles and variations in its application but none are as progressive as Barron Shepherd Judo. 

I first came across Coach Barron Shepherd around 2016. A training partner of mine, Brian Bradway was attending Barron’s Friday Night open mat sessions at the City of Winter Havens chain of lakes complex. At that time, I was a Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and just looking to add some tools into my game. I was immediately taken by Barron’s willingness to cater his curriculum to what we were looking for. He narrowed down a combination of throws that would work well in the BJJ arena. I would go on to drop in on his Friday Night classes to continue learning Judo from him. As the years went on and Covid came into our world, the Judo program was shut down by the city. 

After becoming a black belt in BJJ under Rafa Santos I again sought out to continue my learning. I reached out to Barron to bring his style of judo within the walls of Carlson Gracie Winter Haven. The biggest take was Barron’s high-level attack-oriented game.

I’ve proudly trained under Barron for the better part of 7 years. Learning to aggressively grip, the dynamic entries and his unique one handed style of Judo has added many new options and facets to my game. Being able to play very quick allowed the BJJ players in our gym to continue our attacking style openings to dictate the pace and position of fights. I’ve been able to add to my personal game; I actively compete and the confidence has helped tremendously. I’ve implemented several throws and variations into my existing game helping give me an advantage on the competition scene. As we evolved with Barron and implemented a one-handed style gripping and attacking many of our guys have evolved into having a well-rounded stand up arsenal to complement our ground game.

Edward Coleman, Brown Belt - Judo 

Sensei Barron’s Judo program is the most dynamic and explosive Judo training I have experienced. His boxing style approach to grip fighting and progressive gripping strategies to Judo, gives a very powerful advantage for grapplers of any system.

In just a short time of training with Sensei Barron, my outlook on grappling strategies and throwing mechanics have changed significantly and has increased my effectiveness in Judo. Sensei Barron’s ease in teaching and personable approach to his students, makes learning from him very engaging and enjoyable.

Derek Walker Brown belt Carlson Gracie Jiujitsu, Coach and Competitor

An explosive showing of precision and power, Barron Shepherd's style of Judo is dynamic and is always moving forward. My name is Derek Walker, I am a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Practitioner for thirteen years. 

I met Coach Barron more than a year ago when he joined our Jiu-Jitsu team. Spending time with Barron it is immediately clear he is an experienced Judoka. He is scrupulous in his technique and is dedicated to preserve the dignity and spirit of Judo, something he has dedicated his life to.

Even after the very first lesson Coach Barron taught us, it became clear that his teachings were not classical but very evolved to deal with real life issues. With the popularity of Jiu-Jitsu along with all combat sports, people have become more knowledgeable. Everybody knows throws exist and certainly do not want to walk into them willingly, enter the one-handed style. When Coach Barron grabs your kimono it is with the speed, precision and force. What sets Coach Barron apart from other Judo players I have trained with is when he achieves his first grip the throw immediately begins.

Before Barron trained with us, a single grip on my kimono was bad, but not catastrophic. I did not feel threatened until my opponent achieved BOTH grips. Then like most people, I become hyper defensive, like I can imagine myself being thrown through the air at any second. Coach Barron’s ability to punch in his grip, achieve an off balance and quickly begin his attacks is something practical. It has become an amazing opener in my game. If your opponent is standing in-front of you Coach Barron brings multiple tools to get the job done. A constant onslaught of technique, changing direction one after another will ensure a fundamentally solid stand up game, almost all including just one hand. 

I will say even in a short time practicing these techniques, I have added multiple layers to my game and made them my own. To the gripping style to techniques from classic trips to modern throws. There is something for everyone to add to their arsenal.

Bret Gordon's Lies, Defamation and Unadulterated Hypocrisy

One handed hand on belt seoi throwing drill

My name is Barron Shepherd (recent picture above), I have a 35 plus year career in judo and have trained in the martial arts for over 45 years. My first introduction to judo came at the age of 14, however I would not start formally training in judo until about 9 years later. 

I have written three books in the past two years to date, two on the subject of combat judo, both published, the third will be published in 2024. My published books have sold out and have been lauded and endorsed by former Olympic Judo coaches as well as retired US military officers and experts in their fields, such as Dr. Mike Simpson, US Army Special Forces Maj. ret. and author of the book, "Honed" and Col. George Bristol USMC retired, developer of the US Marine Corp Martial arts Program (MCMAP) as well as other notable experts in the fields of judo and combatives.

In 2020 Brett Gordon wrote a defamatory article about my martial art background. Here is the link to that article https://web.archive.org/web/20201204194651/http://www.join-usama.com/blog/pot-meet-kettle.

Gordon ignored all the then current credentials and then purposely and willfully fabricated his entire article regarding my background. This was done in an attempt to damage not only my reputation but my instructors' as well. 

Judo 

Bret Gordon skirted pertinent information of my background and intentionally presented false information in his 2020 article entitled Pot meet Kettle. He stated that an expired USJA coaching credential earned in 1998 was fake. Gordon used this then expired credential to build his bed of false information concerning my back ground.  

Bret Gordon ignored all of my then current coaching credentials and rank certificates from USA Judo (formerly USJI), one of the National Governing Bodies (organizations) for judo in the US. These credentials included coaching credentials and ranks earned, verified and recognized by USA Judo. These credentials showed a recorded and verified history of years of study in judo attaining ranks of shodan, nidan and sandan over many years. The sandan of which had been earned in 2018.

Bret Gordon then went on to write that my original judo instructor, Terry Tucker, was a fictitious non existent person and that I owned the Winter Haven Judo club and simply promoted myself using forged signatures of  the person(s) who Gordon stated were fictitious.  The following information is found easily online by simply searching Winter Haven Judo club. http://winterhavenjudoclub.blogspot.com/2008/01/newspaper-article-on-judo-club.html 

Bret Gordon ignored the Winter Haven judo club's blog where there were pictures of myself and Mr. Tucker online in a 2008 blog post. Terry Tucker was clearly identified in the 1997 news article, that was in the post and shown to be my instructor and myself as his assistant instructor (below).  Additionally, in 2020 Mr. Tucker was contacted by others and his back ground verified.   

1997 Winter Haven News Chief article

Also the Judo program was not "owned by me" as Gordon stated in his article. It was a city recreational program that was started in the early seventies by Sensei Ro who Gordon stated was also a fabricated person. It was clearly stated in the news paper clipping (above) directly under the pictures in the article that the program was offered thru the city of Winter Haven. No one at the city was contacted by Gordon and if they were Bret Gordon did not acknowledge it. Instead he chose to make up the story that I owned the judo school and promoted myself. 

Coaching and member Credentials USA Judo and USA Boxing 

Bret Gordon purposely made zero mention of  the then current USA judo coaching and rank credentials, USA Boxing coaching credentials, NASM credentials or others. Not a single place in his article did Bret Gordon acknowledge or mention any current verified credentials that I had earned in other self defense and combatives programs. Instead he chose to make it appear in his article that I had no legitimate back ground or rank in anything. 

At the time Bret Gordon wrote the defamatory and slanderous article about me he was claiming to be a 5th degree black belt in judo. A rank that seems to had magically appeared out of thin air. A rank in judo that is too high for someone as young as Bret to have attained. Oddly, since this time, his claim of what rank he is in judo has changed multiple times from 5th down to 4th and ultimately down to a 2nd degree black belt rank in judo. 

Even when corrected and presented with facts from various sources, Bret Gordon did not make proper corrections to his "hit piece". Each correction that he himself made he stopped short of admitting to being wrong or acknowledging that he was wrong regarding his article about my back ground. Example: In one of his corrections he admitted to Terry Tucker being an actual person but stopped short of admitting that Mr. Tucker was indeed my judo instructor.

USA JUDO - SANDAN - AUG. 27 2018

In another correction he tries to imply that I "obtained the rank that I previously claimed to have" implying that I just had gotten or bought my sandan rank from the USJA in 2020, one of the national governing bodies of judo in the US.....This was not the case...... the rank was not gotten or bought. My sandan rank was already validated, verified and recognized thru USA Judo in 2018, two years prior to Bret Gordon's article (circled in red above). 

USJA and USJF

Within these the USJA, USJF and USA Judo organizations there is a rank verification process. The USJA along with the USJF both verified my sandan rank thru the preceeding National Governing Body, USA Judo. Upon verification both the USJA and USJF recognized my sandan rank and the USA Judo award date of Aug 2018 (cirlced in red above).

Kenpo 

Gordon also stated in his article that another one of my instructors, Sam Lonewolf, claimed several tenth degree black belt ranks. Sam Lonewolf made no such claims to several tenth degree black belts. Nowhere is this statement found online...except in Brett Gordon's article. Bret Gordon himself in his article admitted that he could not find much online about Sam Lonewolf. I believe this is why Bret then decided to make up a story and state that Sam had multiple tenth degree black belts. In fact, Sam Lonewolf was only an 8th degree black belt and publicly only claimed as such, even in his own "First Nations" system, he did not claim to be a grand master or claim to have multiple tenth degree black belts. 

Bret Gordon also stated that Sam Lonewolf was never a black belt under the Tracey Kenpo system. Shortly after Bret Gordon's article, links to sites proving Sam was indeed a senior black belt in the Tracy system were provided. One link showed a date of promotion along with the certificate number of Lonewolf's promotion certificate indicating he was promoted by Mr. Tracey himself. Lonewolf's name later disappears from the family Tracy tree around 2012 or 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20040620102236/http://www.tracyskarate.com/Tracytree/Rokudan.htm 

3rd from bottom - Sam Lonewolf 

Gordon, who states that he is a "good  and respectable journalist", has been presented with all such information proving martial art legitimacy but has made no appropriate corrections to his article. 

Bret Gordon was also contacted by the Lonewolf family regarding the falsehoods in his article. Gordon has made no actual corrections, not one regarding the article. Gordon refuses to post anything that proves my back ground and seems content to leave his lies up for his readers to see.  

To further prove Bret Gordon's only purpose for this article was to defame me and my instructors, he stated in his article that someone by the name of Gary Lee was contacted.  Bret Gordon wrote in the 2020 article that Gary Lee, had "inherited Sam Lonewolf's system and stated that there was no record of me ever training with Sam Lonewolf". He apparently did not actually verify this information. Gary Lee however sometime this year contacted Bret via email and let Bret know that he, Gary Lee did not actually inherit Sam Lonewolf's system. 

It was discovered, through the Lonewolf family, that Gary Lee in fact was not knowledgeable of Sam Lonewolf's system and had never actually trained with Lonewolf. Bret Gordon was made aware of this as well. In addition to this, Gary Lee also sent a statement via email to the Lonewolf family apologizing for his false claims. He also apologized mentioning me by name specifically for his statement that "there was no record of me training with Sam Lonewolf". https://lonewolfs7th.blogspot.com/2022/08/sam-lonewolf-setting-record-straight.html  

Forwarded email of apology from Gary Lee 

Bret seems to have made a current correction pertaining to being lied to by Gary Lee but again stopped short of recognizing it as proof of my actual training under Sam Lonewolf, nor did he remove any original statements in the article. 

I think it is pertinent to note that Gordon didn't make a single change when contacted by the Lonewolf family regarding the lies in the article. He only made changes when Gary Lee requested that Gordon remove the statement. Gordon didn't remove the statement from the article he just added a notation at bottom of article. To this day a proper retraction hasn't been posted online by Gordon anywhere. 

Bret Gordon also stated in his article that I made up First Nations Kenpo. The Lonewolf family has also stated that First Nations was what Sam Lonewolf called his system and that I had  Sam's permission to use First Nations. The Lonewolf family has also vouched for me and my long standing with Sam Lonewolf. The Lonewolf family has made all this information available publicly online for months. https://lonewolfs7th.blogspot.com/2022/09/setting-record-straight-mr-bret-gordon.html 

In addition, I have multiple statements from not only the Lonewolf family but Sam Lonewolf's longtime friends, colleagues and those who trained with Sam, as well as Sam himself that verify my background and training history with him. 

Bret Gordon was not interested in clarifying anything that remotely pointed toward my legitimacy or expertise and continued to BLATANTLY LIE!

Bret Gordon then attacked another aspect of my Kenpo training claiming it was also non existent. I had been training for sometime under Rick Brumby, of Premier Kenpo in St. Cloud Florida. At the time Mr. Brumby operated under Paul Mills' American Kenpo Karate International (AKKI), The AKKI was/is the best Kenpo organization in the country by far. I took instruction from Mr. Brumby personally, Mr. Brumby was the best of Paul Mills' instructors at the time, this is why I sought him out to elevate my skill in kenpo. This statement was also made available and validated publicly by other parties, however Gordon made no attempt to make any correction. https://greysmithinvestigations.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-log-in-your-eye-by-gerald-greysmith.html

Gordon even attacked a personal relationship that I had with Sensei Ronald Duncan and his son Sensei Gregory Duncan. He attempted to imply that I had no dealing with the Duncan family. I believe he knew this was legitimate as well as I had written a lengthy memorial about Sensei Duncan for the family shortly after he passed away. This memorial and detailed biography is online on Gregory Duncan's website Duncan Martial arts and can easily be found in a web search. Bret Gordon had no intention of mentioning anything in his articles that would remotely point at anything that was actually truthful about my background. https://duncanmartialarts.com/2013/12/26/koga-magazine-publication-biographic-tribute-to-osensei-ronald-duncan/       

Bret Gordon also in his article stated that he did not know me or know who I was. Gordon did indeed know who I was and what I was teaching. Three years prior to writing his article in 2020, Gordon sent a private message to me on Facebook in 2017. 

2017 FaceBook message from Bret Gordon

He asked me if I could write articles specifically for his blog to share my knowledge and expertise. I believe this further shows and validates that he was well aware of my credentials and intentionally skirted them in his 2020 article and kept continuously lying to defame and slander me. The sole purpose of his article was to paint me  and anyone who I trained under as frauds and put my reputation under scrutiny regardless of  my verifiable my back ground or my certifications and licensed credentials. 

Even when it came to Bret making his so called later corrections and edits at the bottom of his article in 2020,https://web.archive.org/web/20201204194651/http://www.join-usama.com/blog/pot-meet-kettle Gordon purposely ignored multiple USA judo credentials and other credentials from legitimate and prestigious organizations and national governing bodies.  In all his so called edits Gordon stopped short of admitting that and my instructors were indeed legitimate.

Gordon actually believes that since the old article is no longer up online then that means he never wrote it or said it.....BUT HE DID. 

In 2023 Gordon then writes another article, a supposed part two of his original defamatory article from 2020,  https://bretgordon.weebly.com/blog/pot-meet-kettle-barron-shepherd-part-2#/, Gordon INTENTIONALLY leaves out pertinent information that point directly to the extent of his lies. In the original article Gordon defamed me and ALL my instructors. In his 2023 article he lied again to down play and diminish what he actually wrote in his 2020 article. 

Gordon actually believes that since the old article is no longer up online then that means he never wrote it or said it https://web.archive.org/web/20201204194651/http://www.join-usama.com/blog/pot-meet-kettle BUT HE DID. 

Firstly Bret makes a statement in his 2023 article regarding my sandan rank in judo. He leaves out that he claimed in the 2020 article that ALL my ranks were fake. He wrote that I had made up my entire history along with fake instructors. In the 2023 He again purposely leaves out that he INTENTIONALLY ignored USA JUDO credentials, that were dated from the years 2015 -2018.  

Regarding my 4th and 5th dan ranks he fails to mention my verifiable time in judo. He neglects to mention that I have been doing judo since before Gordon was even born and that my 35 plus years in judo are ALL verifiable. The legitimate judoka who I EARNED my rank from I have known longer than Gordon has been alive.  This didn't stop him from calling them frauds. Also according to his 2020 article none of my USA JUDO credentials, that he INTENTIONALLY ignored, pointed to my legitimacy. 

The Depth of Bret Gordon's Hypocrisy

Last year Gordon was GIVEN a Shodan rank in Judo by none other than USA JUDO.  He NOW claims that the USA JUDO credentials are undeniable proof of HIS legitimacy. This is the same Judo organization, whose credentials that he refused to acknowledge as proof of mine. Hypocrisy and a glaring double standard. 

Before Bret continuously wrote on his old USAMA blog that rank certificates don't matter, that the only test of real skill is on the mats. This coming from a guy who cant even defend any of his ranks on the mats and is now waving a USA JUDO certificate around going this is the one thing that makes him legit. 

However this was not the extent of Gordon's glaring double standards and hypocrisy. 

Gordon spent years painting me and my instructors as fakes, frauds, and blatantly admonished ALL of them and ALL the judo orgs for promoting me in judo.  A couple of months ago Gordon decides to email one of MY judo instructors. Yep, one of the very ones who he admonished for promoting me! He begged my instructor to GIVE him a Nidan in JUDO! He was politely turned down. He quickly found out that my instructors don't just GIVE someone a rank in judo. My instructor sent Gordon on his way. Gordon was told to go back to those who had given him rank previously, instead of going BEHIND THEIR BACKS and asking for rank from others. My instructor even told Bret that he (my instructor) would not contact the ones that Bret had gotten his ranks from.  

Gordon emailing my instructor and asking him for a promotion proves that he did indeed know that I was legitimate And my instructors were but he chose to lie and defame me and them anyway. 

Gordon cant fight his way out of a wet paper sack. He cant even defend any of his rank claims ( American yoshikan Aiki Jujutsu, TKD, Jidokwan, karate, Cuntei Judo) on the mats against this sport judoka. Gordon has indeed been invited to get on the mats with me he can use whatever he wants. I will stick to sport judo. Gordon waffled on that.....so did his instructor. 

KOSOTO GAKE - SMALL OUTER HOOK

Kosoto-gake (Small outer hook or wrap) closely resembles the Kosoto-gari (Small outer reap). It consists of advancing toward the opponent, and then placing a foot behind the opponent to throw him down onto his back. This technique is classified as an Ashi waza (Foot / leg techniques).  Its advance against the opponent is deeper when performing the throw and requires instantaneous leg and foot work.

Tori (Player executing technique) feigns an advance against Uke (Player receiving opponent's attack), and then withdraws, pulling him forward, waiting for the moment when Uke (Player receiving opponent's attack) steps forward.

When Uke (Player receiving opponent's attack) pushes back against the advance, Tori (Player executing technique) feigns a retreat, but actually advances to hook the heel of Uke (Player receiving opponent's attack) advancing foot.

Tori (Player executing technique) then pulls Uke (Player receiving opponent's attack) in the direction of the hooked foot while also grasping Uke (Player receiving opponent's attack) uniform between his shoulder and chest with his Tsurite (Lifting hand), lifting Uke (Player receiving opponent's attack) to destabilize and throw him.

In combination with both his arms, Tori (Player executing technique) also wraps or hooks his forward-leg foot against the opponent’s weight-supporting leg. Tori then drives with his own supporting leg to throw the opponent backwards in a diagonal manner (toward 11 o’clock).  Pictured is a low level Kosoto Gake.

KOSOTO GARI - SMALL OUTER REAP

Kosoto-gari (Small outer reap) is classified as Ashi waza (Foot/leg techniques). Kosoto Gari consists of moving forward against the opponent, then scooping up the opponent's leg from behind him, sending him to the floor. It can be used effectively in competition as a single technique, in combination (renraku waza), or as a feint.

Kosoto-gari can be used to reap an opponent's leg by either by bringing the back of the opponent's knee onto your inner thigh to destabilize his balance, or by scooping up his heel.

The "back of the knee" method is performed from a Kenka yotsu (Asymmetrical grips by the two opponents) stance by Tori (the player executing the technique) stepping toward the opponent with what will be his Support leg. 

At the same time, Tori (Player executing technique) bends his knees and pulls his lifting hand downward to lower his center of gravity. Tori (Player executing technique) then pulls the back of Uke (Player receiving opponent's attack) knee onto his inner thigh so that Uke (Player receiving opponent's attack), unable to back up, falls to the floor.

The "heel scooping" method (shown) is performed from a Kenka yotsu (Asymmetrical grips by the two opponents) stance by Tori (Player executing technique) moving immediately to hook Uke (Player receiving opponent's attack) ankle.

Barron Shepherd Judo Clinic

I have been blessed with the opportunity for the past several years to devote most of my time to training. It isn't a hobby, its my way of life. I am equally blessed that my style of judo appears  to be catching on in the judo and Bjj community. The clinics and the Freestyle Judo scrimmages are gathering a increasing following. Florida Freestyle Judo has become a movement and reasons for it are pointed out quite eloquently in the following article by Anthony Colon. 

Anthony Colon, is a blogger known as the JudokaGrappler (Click Here for his Blogs), a judoka since 2009 and blue belt in bjj. Anthony has attended several of my mini-clinics that are held before each of our Freestyle Judo scrimmages as well setting up my 3 hour clinic held at De La Riva Tampa.  He gives his impressions of my style of Judo. 

I will add that it is reviews like these that push me to get better, become more efficient. My training partner and friend Andrew Kinchen, a BJJ black belt mentioned to me after a scrimmage that what we are doing with Barron Shepherd Judo was like the special forces of Judo. My only focus with Barron Shepherd Judo/Florida Freestyle Judo is to continually raise the bar setting higher and higher standards and increasing expectations.  

“Attending Barron Shepherd’s Judo clinic was a transformative experience for our team. Barron, a 5th degree black belt in Judo, introduced us to an innovative style that blends traditional Judo techniques with combative elements, deeply rooted in the philosophy of Jigoro Kano. His unique approach, particularly the use of punch gripping and split entries, has redefined our understanding of kuzushi—not just as breaking balance, but as a method of destroying the opponent’s foundation entirely. 

Our custom Florida Freestyle Judo Rash guard designed by Flow and Roll

In his teachings, Barron emphasized the importance of adaptability and learning from other disciplines, reflecting Kano’s vision as articulated in “Mind Over Muscle: Writings from the Founder of Judo.” By adopting stances and grips similar to those in Western boxing, Barron showed us how to maintain better mobility and responsiveness, significantly enhancing our effectiveness on the mat.

During our recent scrimmages, the impact of Barron’s techniques was undeniable. The punch grip allowed us to control our opponents’ posture more aggressively and effectively, creating opportunities for throws that were previously difficult to execute. This shift from traditional kuzushi to a more dynamic and foundation-breaking approach has not only improved our physical performance but also instilled a sense of psychological dominance over our opponents. 

Barron’s teachings have also fostered a deeper connection between Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), bridging the gap between these disciplines and creating a more holistic approach to grappling. His philosophy of integrating elements from various martial arts has resonated deeply with us, aligning with the principle that continual learning and adaptability are key to growth and mastery.

The Judo clinics and scrimmages we participated in under Barron’s guidance have sparked a shift in the dynamics of Judo and BJJ schools in the US. More practitioners are now embracing this innovative approach, recognizing the value of blending traditional techniques with new, adaptive methods.

Barron Shepherd’s influence has been profound, not just in enhancing our technical skills but in reshaping our mindset towards Judo and grappling. His teachings are a testament to the enduring relevance of Kano’s philosophy, emphasizing that true mastery comes from the willingness to learn, adapt, and evolve. In the words of Proverbs 1:5, “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” Barron embodies this wisdom, guiding us towards a deeper understanding and more effective practice of Judo. We are incredibly grateful for his insights and mentorship, which have profoundly enriched our journey as JudokaGrapplers.” - Anthony Colon