I have zero doubts that there were a few directly around Bret Gordon who knew what Gordon was doing. They were aware of all his fabrications and changing stories. They were aware of the legit people Gordon defamed and of those Gordon harassed. Like one my students and his little girl.
I brought up John Youngblood in previous articles, he was one who knew and he covered for and made excuses for Gordon and worst of all.... he chose to remain silent. And he got ranks in return for his silence and support of Gordon....worthless ranks.
Youngblood wasn't the only one....but those folks are saved for another time....Gordon should have never written a single word about me, harass my students, his child or even approached my instructors.... Gordon, Hatfield Youngblood are not Martial artists they are not fighters or warriors they are not even men. They are cowardly in every aspect of that word....birds of a feather flock together. Gordon, Hatfield and Youngblood DO NOT FIND each others actions or character irreprehensible. THEY ARE THE SAME.
In other words, Youngblood sees no fault in them or cares to....speaks volumes to who he really is. He took elation in joining Gordon and Hatfield in taunting a person battling cancer online to fight. Youngblood covered up and remained silent about Gordon harrassing one of my students and his 13 year old daughter, my student was told that his would his little girl would be skinned alive....peeled like a grape.
Certainly none of it stopped Youngblood from going to Gordon’s dojo and collecting ranks from Gordon.
In martial arts, the value and recognition of a rank depend
on the credibility and recognized authority of the issuing instructors and
their organizations. When those instructors are exposed for fabricating their
credentials, inventing organizations, and misrepresenting their experience, the
ranks they grant are invalid.
Receiving and claiming fraudulent martial arts ranks
severely undermines the credibility of the individual and any organization that
acknowledges or supports such ranks. When someone is promoted by an unqualified
person, or through a made-up or unrecognized organization, their skills and
knowledge are often not commensurate with the rank they claim. Individuals with
fake ranks frequently lack the technical proficiency and teaching ability
expected at their claimed level.
Let’s be clear here Youngblood knows the questionable
backgrounds of both Gordon and Hatfield. He was not duped he went along with
all their changing narratives and histories over the years. Young Blood has
been a student of Gordon’s for years. It is my understanding Youngblood is
Gordon’s highest-ranking direct student. The credibility of Youngblood's ranks all
of which he received from Gordon and Hatfield is fundamentally compromised due
to the documented fraudulent assertions and lack of legitimate recognition
associated his instructors.
Gordon and Hatfield's fraudulent martial arts claims
directly undermine the legitimacy of any ranks they have issued, including
those held by John Youngblood. The technical and ethical standards behind the
ranks are in doubt, making the rank essentially meaningless in any context
where legitimacy and lineage are valued. Association with instructors known for
fraudulent claims can harm the reputation of the rank holder, in this case John
Youngblood, especially if he seeks recognition or advancement in legitimate
martial arts circles.
The exposure of Gordon and Hatfield’s fraudulent claims
renders the ranks they issue to their students and associates, including those
to John Youngblood, illegitimate and worthless. To my understanding the only
ranks John YoungBlood possesses are those garnered from or through Gordon and Hatfield.
Arizona Shibucho
(Reginal Director) San Budo Sogo Bugei
Kyoju Dairi (Representative Instructor) American Yoshinkan
AikiJujutsu
Menkyo Shoden San Budo Sogo Bugei
2nd dan San Budo Sogo bugei
2nd dan American Yoshinkan Aikijujutsu
Black belt Gracie Jiujitsu
2nd kyu Kontei Judo
Note: All the
above ranks and titles come from Gordon and Hatffield. Also note that he was
given the position of Arizona regional director despite Youngblood not actually
having a school or program. San Budo Sogo Bugei is a system that Gordon has
alleged he made up at 16 years of age. Yet he stapled Japanese titles to it
despite not having an actual proven Japanese lineage. American Yoshinkan
aikijujutsu is another home brewed system that Hatfield and Gordon claim have Japanese
roots but those claims have been disproven.
If John Youngblood decides to actually start something teaching
under ranks issued by Gordon and Hatfield, knowing their credentials and organizations
are fraudulent, he would be perpetuating the misrepresentation associated with
those ranks. In the martial arts community, using and promoting illegitimate
ranks not only damages the integrity of the art but also misleads students and
the public about the quality and authenticity of instruction.
Teaching with fraudulent ranks can lead to significant reputational harm for the instructor and any associated organizations. This can have long-term consequences for career prospects and the ability to participate in reputable martial arts or educational communities.
John Youngblood knowingly accepted fraudulent ranks from Bret Gordon and Steven Hatfield, and represented himself as holding that rank, this would generally be considered fraudulent behavior. Such actions would likely result in being regarded as a fraud both legally (if within a jurisdiction or organization with enforceable rules) and ethically, particularly if there was intent to deceive or gain benefit from these false ranks.
I find it odd that Gordon touted Youngblood to be opening a dojo in Arizona and it hasn't actually happened. It begs a few questions; Is Youngblood having second thoughts and just trying to keep his head down. Has he already stumbled into a situation where his credentials have been questioned. Has he been turned down by other organizations. A lot of possibilities. At the end of the day I know Youngblood knew about the harassment of my student and his daughter he at the least covered for Gordon and kept his mouth shut about which makes him just a culpable.
All involved owe apologies plain and simple.
A formal apology is to be issued with Gordon admitting his wrong doing. Gordon is not to twist anything, he screwed up and lied about me and my instructors, he wrongly went after my student to get at me and he wrongly went to my instructors asking for rank in judo years later. He is to post this on his blogs. Former articles that mention myself my students and my instructors are to come down.
I will not stop till then. There isn't going to be a compromise. I will not take mine down. Gordon blatantly lied and those around him knew it. All involved owe public apologies. The most any of them can hope for is that I don't continue to write future articles.
Next:
The American Jidokwan Association and "Justice" served up on a silver platter....
