DYNAMIC KAJUKENBO BY BARRON SHEPHERD

  

 

COMING FEB/MARCH 2024

 FOREWORD

 TRAVELLING THE PATH

 Colonel G.H. Bristol USMC (retired) Creator and  Developer of the MCMAP , the U.S. Marine Corps Martial Art Program.

 Martial artist travel along a path. Some find the beginning of that path in a dojo and remain for a lifetime. Others have a shorter experience and move on to other endeavors. Some remain with one discipline for their entire length of the path. Others travel multiple paths and experiment with that of weapons, grappling, striking, and other aspects of the combative spectrum.

But a few exponents choose a different walk. They absorb multiple aspects of well-established disciplines and patiently – yet relentlessly – fuse them into their own unique personal fighting philosophy. Barron Shepherd is one of those martial artists. A lifetime journey of dedicated training, learning, absorbing, fusing, and teaching – and training again.

A man of considerable physical capability and capacity, a keen eye for technique, and a humble yet disciplined pursuit, he has walked a long winding road in JUDO and KAJUKENBO – first as a student and now as a teacher and advocate for both. Those who know him agree that he seeks to find the best within the training continuum and then pass it along to others for their benefit.

Talking with him regarding his latest book "Dynamic Kajukenbo", he is – as always – passionate, well-informed, and trains himself and others in what has become a lifetime of learning and DOING. As you read and see the in-depth technical and explosive application of a martial discipline that is at its core a FIGHTING art, you will better know the author.

I know him, so I will give you a thought as you begin to read. The author is a man who can execute – at a high and lethal level – every technique and application he describes. He is a lifelong learner and exponent. But more importantly, he is a man who – to those he knows and trains – would answer the call to those oppressed of the beginner who desires to learn. That combination is at the heart of a fighting man with a pure love of what he does.

Get to know Barron Shepherd in this book. I believe that you will find it informative, motivating, and strikes at the heart of what martial arts is all about. - SEMPER FIDELIS! GH Bristol

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The original concept of Kajukenbo was to build a fighting system that worked in the street. Kajukenbo was NOT the peaceful way, nor was it the way of de-escalation.  Kajukenbo’s mindset was and is one of approaching or attacking violence with greater overwhelming violence. Hit first, hit fast, hit hard and finish the guy! Kajukenbo was never about the avoidance of violence. Engagement and destruction were the strategy and tactics of Kajukenbo.

1.) Both you and the attacker are in a right foot forward fighting stance. Your knees bent and your rear foot is slightly raised off the ground.  2.) The attacker shuffles forward and executes a lead round house punch. Pivot on the right foot counter clockwise toward nine o’clock and strike the attacker’s right arm with the boney area of both of your forearms.  3.) From the point of contact, bend the knees and drop into right hammer fist and left forearm strike knocking the attacker’s arm downward. 

4.) Immediately turn clockwise toward twelve o’clock and execute a right hammer fist to the attacker’s jaw or neck. Your left hand chambers at your right shoulder  5.) Pivot on the rear foot clockwise toward ten o’clock and deliver a straight left punch to the attacker’s jaw. You right hand chambers at the right side of the head.   6.) Pivot counter clockwise toward nine o’clock and strike the left side of the attacker’s jaw with an left outward hand sword turning his head to this right. 

7.) Dropping the hips, deliver a right hammer fist to the left side of the attacker’s jaw. The right left hand rechambers at your right shoulder.  8.) Pivot clockwise toward twelve o’clock and strike the front of the attacker’s right shoulder with a hard left open hand check and grab his shirt at the area struck.  9.) Pull with the attacker toward you as you shift your right foot back slightly and push off it to move toward eleven o’clock.

10.) When you drive of the left foot step your right foot to eleven o’clock and to the outside of the attacker’s right foot  11.) Pulling with your left hand bring your right knee forward and up in between your left leg and the outside of your opponent’s right leg. Swing your right leg downward and back without letting your right foot touch the ground. The back of your calf should make contact with the back of your opponent’s calf. Continue your pull with your left hand bringing your left elbow to your left hip.  Continue with the sweep taking your opponent’s leg upward. Sweep his leg high. While sweeping your opponent’s leg drive his shoulder downward to the ground by continuing to pull your left elbow to your left hip.   12.)  The attacker lands on his left side and is turned away from you. Keeping control of his right arm, immediately place your right knee and shin against the attacker’s ribs and back. 

13.) Drop your hips pivoting counter clockwise on the ball of your right foot and deliver a right straight punch downward to the side of the attacker’s head. Your left hand chambers at your right shoulder.  14.) Twisting your hips back clockwise immediately follow up with a open hand check or a left outward edge of hand strike to the attackers jaw or side of head.  As your left hand checks or strikes your right hand chambers.  15.) Pivot again counter clockwise on the ball of your right foot and drop your hips downward as you deliver a straight punch to the attackers jaw, rechambering your left hand at your right shoulder.

Steven Hatfield and Jack Stern - No Facts just Fiction

It is never a good idea to advertise or represent yourself as something that you are not. Steven Hatfield it appears has claimed to be licensed and or endorsed with the Kodokan and a 5th dan in judo (pictured above on left). Why he decided to do this is anyone's guess. The fact is, it is a claim that could easily be checked out and it was.  

Hatfield doesn't have a single rank in judo that is recognized or verified thru the NGBS.  According to the Kodokan Hombu in Japan, he holds no rank with the Kodokan either. He isn't licensed nor is his school, his Kontei Judo or Sieken Judo Jiujitsu Association. According to an email from the Kodokan in Japan, Hatfield nor his associate Bret Gordon are instructors, nor hold any rank or any licensed status or have any ranked standing with the Kodokan. 

As for Hatfield's Kodokan member card, anyone even non judoka can purchase a Kodokan member card. Kodokan member cards are easy to get.  Tourists can purchase them from a vending machine at the Kodokan without ever taking a single class. A member card can even be purchased online without ever training in judo ANYWHERE or physically stepping foot in the Kodokan. The card doesn't imply any type of standing with the kodokan.  It's only purpose is to keep track of gym members coming in and out of the Kodokan. 

The email above from the Kodokan makes it perfectly clear that neither Steven Hatfield or Bret Gordon have any standing with the Kodokan. 

USA Traditional Kodokan Judo (USA-TKJ).....yep, that's a hard NO.

Hatfield's rank it seems comes from a organization called the USA Traditional Kodokan Judo (USA-TKJ). Is the USA TKJ organization affiliated or recognized by the Kodokan? Well first and foremost I will let the president of the USA TKJ give that answer. He posted it online in a judo group. 

As you can see Bruce Bethers the owner and president of the USA TKJ appeared to be reluctantly honest but did make it perfectly clear (circled in red above) that the USA-TKJ is NOT affiliated with the Kodokan. I also sent an email to the kodokan asking them if there was any affiliation to the USA-TKJ. They repeated Mr. Bether's statement. 

The statement from the Kodokan was brief but direct....the Kodokan has nothing to do with the USA-TKJ. It seems Bethers owner/founder/president of the The USA TKJ was being honest and the Kodokan verified it as well on Oct. 15, 2023 there is no affiliation with the USA TKJ. The USA TKJ holds no standing with the Kodokan or the Judo NGBs. There are several "organizations" that seem recognize/support the USATKJ. However, all have the same business address as the USA TKJ, all appear to be founded/owned by Bruce Bethers as well. 

Before Hatfield started claiming to be licensed and endorsed by the Kodokan he claimed to be licensed and endorsed by Jack Papasan Stern (pictured below). The problem was Stern's own lies were so big that it brought him nationwide attention.

Jack A. Stern known as "Jackie" or "Papasan", claimed to be Congressional Medal of Honor winner and Prisoner of War in the Korean War. He told stories at veterans events of his military exploits. He claimed to have stayed in the armed forces and served with Air America and then with the CIA. Stern wildly claimed to have even worn the ears of his enemies, around his neck! He claimed to have studied martial arts with the great masters in Japan and Korea while stationed over seas. Stern supposedly retired from the armed forces and went on to be a police officer in New York City and eventually retired as a decorated police detective from an elite law enforcement unit. Stern claimed to had been in Judo over 50 years and that his son was a 1987 Olympic gold medalist in Judo.....but....NOT ONE WORD OF WHAT FLEW OUT STERN'S MOUTH WAS TRUE. 

Stern, didn't retire from the military, he was actually a retired bread truck driver. While he did serve in the military, he had never left the United States. See related article: https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/jackie-stern-man-bought-wore-medal-honor-didnt-earn.html

In 1996 according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office investigators Jack Stern's entire military record, law enforcement claims and even his martial arts claims were all a lie. “Stern had never set foot in a continent where blood was shed”. He was never in the CIA and never served with Air America. He was never a police officer nor did he retire a detective of a elite Law Enforcement Unit and never trained in martial arts overseas during his service days. 

Stern's Judo claims of training at Kodokan with the Judo masters

 The Kodokan in Japan themselves validated that there is no record of Stern ever training at the kodokan nor is there a record of his supposed Kodokan member card that is shown on the Kontei Judo website. The Kodokan searched for stern by name the member number on the card and his date of birth and found no record of Stern.

There were no Olympics in 1987

The lie Stern told about his son being a 1987 Judo Olympic gold medalist was laughable to say the least.  There were no Olympics held in 1987, his son never competed in the Olympics. 

The biggest victims of Stern's lies and fraud were his own students. Stern had charged all his students for school fees to train in his Judo school and membership fees in the Korean Yudo Association/Korean Yudo and Hapkido Association, an organization supposedly from Korea, who according to Stern issued all rank certificates.  According to the Broward County investigation this also turned out to be one of Stern's fabrications as well.  Stern's judo/yudo certificates he sold his students were worthless and not from Korea. 

His students ranks and rank certificates were worthless.  Also Stern signed his own rank certificates and promoted himself!!!!  One certificate for 6th Dan supposedly issued by "the Korean Yudo Association" was signed and dated 1995 by one person.... Jack Stern, himelf, and another signed in the same year for 7th Dan signed and dated by him as well. 

According to Broward county Sheriff's office investigation in 1996 Stern's Korean Judo Association/Korean Yudo and Hapkido Association wasn't real. There were no corporation papers, no D.B.A records, no bank account and no tax returns that had been filed. Stern's certificates were worthless, the organization that he claimed to be the head of was non existent.

Judo NGB bans and false documents

In court in 1996 it was revealed that Stern had altered and falsified a plethora of documentation including military discharge paper work, a Time magazine cover, martial arts rank certificates from a non existent judo organization, sold membership to non existent martial arts organization, he forged his own self rank certificates, his own Korean Yudo rank certificates that he himself signed. 

Stern admitted during the investigation and in court that he lied about his military and his martial arts training and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale. Newspaper articles and people present at Stern's sentencing stated that Stern apologized to the military, law enforcement, to martial artists and to his students for defrauding them.

Jack A. "Jackie" Stern's false documentation practices also garnered him permanent bans from USA Judo, United States Judo Association and The United States Judo Federation, all three of the National Governing Bodies for Judo in the United States.  

https://www.usjf.com/membership-expelled-and-suspended-list/ 

https://www.usja.net/suspended 

Also there is a picture posted on the Kontei Judo site that is captioned Stern with Mifune in Japan. The man circled in yellow on the Kontei site that is claimed to be Stern is actually, well known Judoka Hal Sharp. Hal Sharp was confirmed to have trained at the Kodokan and with Mifune. Hal produced a film series that documented his time in Japan at the Kodokan. 

Pictured again above, according to the the Kodokan in Japan there was no record of Stern EVER training at the Kodokan. The Kodokan even questioned the authenticity of Sterns supposed member card.  Jack Stern passed away several years ago, however the Kontei Judo website attempts to sugar coat the circumstances around Stern and skirt the truth....but Stern admitted in court that he made EVERYTHING up!  

See related articles on Jack Stern: https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/jackie-stern-man-bought-wore-medal-honor-didnt-earn.html

http://www.cnn.com/US/9612/04/medal.without.honor/

Hatfield currently claims a 4th degree black belt Judo and a 5th in Yudo, a Korean version of Judo supposedly also from Stern. He wears a red white belt implying an even higher rank. Whatever the story these are judo ranks that are not verified by any legitimate Judo organization. More importantly there isn't a single picture of Hatfield actually training in judo early on at a lesser rank such as a Kyu rank...as a student or even training with the man he claims is/was his instructor.  

 The Kodokan it's NGBs and how they work

I would like to point out to readers that using unverifiable judo instructors or instructors who fast track you through judo ranks are practices that not recognized by the Kodokan or any legitimate Judo organizations.  Nor is it a practice done or recognized in legitimate Judo schools.  There is no skirting the NGBs in any country. Neither the NGBs, nor the Kodokan will accept rank from the USA TKJ.

The NGBs are who the Kodokan uses to vet all foreign Judoka who want their ranks registered through the Kodokan. There are simply no quick paths or back doors into the Kodokan. As an American judoka going to visit the Kodokan to get a black belt you aren’t circumventing the recognized NGBs. You aren’t going to go around one to get to the other. It is going to be challenging to get a Judo Black Belt diploma in Japan. Literally one of the first questions asked is are you a tourist? In Japan there is a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy even for Japanese nationals who train at the Kodokan to get their ranks registered.

Also, as a foreigner, you’re not going to walk in and get your rank recognized at a high dan level. For example, if you’re a sandan, 3rd degree black belt in judo when you visit the Kodokan and your sandan rank is recognized by the NGBs. You will NOT get a Sandan from the Kodokan, it will be a shodan (1st degree black belt). 

If you’re able to go through the Kodokan's vetting process in Japan you will be issued shodan diploma from Japan's National Governing Body. If you didn’t have your original shodan rank registered with the Kodokan at the time originally promoted to shodan the Kodokan will start you at shodan even if your present NGB black belt rank is higher. No exceptions. In the Kodokan’s eyes your time in grade at shodan will start on date of the shodan issued by the Kodokan. 

Lastly, the truth becomes your past and lies become your future. Stern because of his own reprehensible and fraudulent actions the bans he received from the judo NGBs will never be lifted and will always be listed for generations to see. 

Kodokan response regarding Gordon and Hatfield

I have written my last article of those of this ilk.....the judo ranks the judo claims of those mentioned in the article are unverified, highly suspect and highly questionable to say the least.  The Kodokan Institute in japan has informed me of all I need to know about the likes of Steven Hatfield and Jack Stern....no one I would care to be affiliated with. 

I will be releasing all documents pertaining to Jack Stern's fraud, arrest, his confessions to the police and in court testimony for all to read. The court testimony alone is over 1200 pages (scanning these documents to pdf to post online publicly is quite the job). All will read Stern's own admission to the police and in court regarding not only his stolen valor but his martial art fraud, his judo and yudo rank claims and how he ripped off his own students claiming to be something he absolutely wasn't (maybe someone shouldn't have threatened my student and his daughter). 

The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act

Paying to learn martial arts is considered, paying for goods and services. Intentional misrepresentation of those goods and services fits under this state's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Even though the martial arts are not regulated, the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act prohibits unfair and deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce. Under FDUTPA, the courts have defined “trade or commerce” as many things, including advertising, soliciting, providing, offering, or distributing any good or service, by sale, rental, or otherwise. The act is very broad in scope, if a consumer transaction occurs, FDUTPA protection is afforded.

Fraud is defined as wrongful or criminal deceptive practices intended to result in financial or personal gain. Consumers are legally able to halt transactions, agreements both verbal and written. Contracts signed with the fraudulent party become null and void and are no longer binding. Consumers can seek litigation to have monies and payments returned in FULL as well as compensatory damages if any occurred. 

Fraud, Deceptive Trade Practices and Counterfeit Certificates

 

When instructors tell the truth, it becomes part of their reputation and part of their past. The truth never changes. Telling lies become part of an instructor too, how flawed their character and moral compass is. Most importantly lies become part of their future. When someone eventually sees these judo frauds for their misrepresentation which is both base and reprehensible. The fake instructor can never earn anything back, he can’t get back the lost respect, he certainly wont get sympathy, so he runs, locks himself inside his own little dojo, complete with security code for access. But, he will never be able to hide. He will never get back any credibility in the martial art community he will be known as a fraud, a liar and a conman one who rips off and victimized his own students. If he is lucky he will only end up being sued. 

It is sad when I see a martial arts instructor, and in this case, I use the term loosely, purposely misrepresent and imply something that just isn’t true. I have been shown a couple of certificates where the wording on the certificate implied that a student’s judo rank was recognized by the kodokan when in actuality it wasn’t. This instructor didn’t have the authority with the kodokan or was even affiliated himself. Unfortunately, it didn’t stop him from misrepresenting himself, his school and his instructor as such. This is fraud, trademark infringement and Deceptive trade practices all of which are all illegal. I would also point out that any certificate stating an affiliation to an organization like the kodokan when it isn’t true is counterfeit and thereby a deceptive trade practice or consumer fraud 

The good news those who have been defrauded can protect themselves and have avenues they can take to get their money back!

In the martial arts realm, when trademark infringement is coupled with foreign language words and complex phrases describing martial art school names, martial art system names, or martial art school/system logos “implying” affiliation with a known organization that there is no affiliation to, then the potential for consumer fraud is very high. Consumer fraud in martial arts may begin with deceptive advertising or verbal misrepresentations in order to attract new prospects to the infringer's business.

The martial arts industry also has its share of questionable certificate issuance practices by martial art schools and martial art instructors who willfully engage in trademark infringement and trademark counterfeiting, and or implied connections to an organization that they have no connection to. They then issue counterfeit certificates to students who think their ranks are in good standing with, say the kodokan in Japan, but in actuality its nothing more than a scam.

Deceptive trade practices is an intentional misrepresentation of fact and/or the omission of fact by a martial art instructor that can set in place fraudulent circumstances for the consumer that may last for years. This includes misrepresentation, false advertising or representation of a good or service. Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act is designed to protect consumers from deceptive or unfair commercial practices. The FDUTPA prohibits companies/businesses from engaging in a broad range of unfair or deceptive acts, such as false advertising, fraud, and misrepresentation.

BARRON SHEPHERD JUDO: IPPON SEOI NAGE

NEW BOOK COMING IN 2024

Since it’s birth Judo has changed with the times. Even so, the essential nature of judo has remained the same. Judo was born out of innovation, the sport of Judo lends itself to specialization. 

Toshiko Koga perfected a variation of seio nage that required little in the way of gripping and got him consistently under his opponent’s hips. Koga’s powerhouse technique was the ippon-seoi-nage and he had an impressive range of seoi-nage variations.

There were four distinct variations of seoi-nage that Koga did. One type of morote-seoi-nage he had used since the early days of his competition career was the cross-grip morote-seoi-nage. The morote-seoi-nage he is most known for is the legendary one-handed morote-seoi-nage that he did on Chang Su Li of North Korea in the semifinal of the 1989 world championships. 

In the 1989 World Championships, he did yet another unusual form of seoi-nage. It happened in the final, against a left hander, Mike Swain of the USA. Instead of inserting his lead leg like he usually does, against Swain, he did an extremely wide split seoi-nage. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Koga would use a two on one lapel grip, grabbing his opponent’s right lapel with both hands. 

Firstly, Koga’s entry was ballistic. It was so quick and so powerful that even if he didn’t hit it cleanly, he could often get the score anyway. Koga’s seio nage wasn’t the traditional seoi nage. There were two things he did that made it more effective;   1.) His split step entry, and  2.) his use of the lapel grip rather than the more conventional sleeve grip. There was absolutely no question what Koga was going to do in 99% of his matches. He was going to secure his left-hand lapel grip, break your posture, and launch you skyward with his seoi nage. Koga's opposition knew what he was going to do and couldn’t do anything to stop it.

1.) Step your right foot forward at the top of the triangle. Your knees should be bent and your center of gravity low. Twist your upper body clockwise bring your left hand and shoulder to the front closer to your opponent. In a right vs. right situation your right shoulder should be more toward your rear and not out front and easily accessible for your opponent to grip and attack. You left hand is your attacking hand and your right hand is the defensive hand.  2.) From a right foot forward posture, punch in your grip with the left hand gripping at the area of the opponent’s armpit.  3.) The opponent attempts to reach over the top of your left arm with his right hand to get a grip on your lapel. Roll your elbow upward and block his arm to keep his hand from grasping your lapel. As you block with the elbow bend the knees to drop your hips lower (this creates a space for you to move into to execute a throw).

4.) Pull your opponent toward his front with the left hand keeping your elbow high. Simultaneously, step your left foot up to your right foot about a half of a step forward. As you step keep your knees bent. Your belt line should be lower than your opponent’s belt line.  5.) Step your left foot to the top of the triangle.  6.) Your right foot steps back all the way through the triangle between the opponent’s feet pivot on your left foot. As your right foot touches the mat, you should be on the ball of your right foot and the toes of both feet should be pointing in the direction of the apex of the triangle. Pinch the opponent’s right arm at his arm pit between your right forearm and bicep. Rotate the palm of the right hand toward your head (this creates a tighter clamp on the opponent’s arm). 

 7.)  Step back with your left foot thru the triangle between your opponent’s feet and next to your right foot (as you step back with the left foot  your opponent’s feet should start to raise up off the mat).  8.) Straighten your legs quickly and pop your hips upward into the opponent.  9.) Continue to pull and twist your torso to the left, taking your right elbow toward your left knee and drive the opponent to the ground.