It is obvious That Bret Gordon Steven Hatfield, John Youngblood and a couple three others don't want any of me. All had some sort of hand in the involvement of trying to defame me and my instructors and harassing my student and his child. Now in all fairness, I did say in my last article I wasn't going to write about Bret Gordon. I did not extend that to the likes of Steven Hatfield. I sure havent forgotten the ones left.....Youngblood.
Steven Hatfield has made numerous claims regarding his background and credentials in aikijujutsu, particularly relating to the creation and inheritance of systems such as "American Yoshinkan Aikijujutsu." These claims have been widely scrutinized and are unverifiable, questionable and have been exposed as total fabrication.
Initially, Hatfield claimed “John Paul” (sometimes referenced as J.P.) as one of his original martial arts instructors. However, there is no independent or verifiable evidence that John Paul ever existed as a martial arts teacher or that he held any recognized credentials in the field.
Haska Yutasi
Haska Yutasi is cited by Steven Hatfield and his associates
as a foundational instructor in Hatfield's martial arts lineage. Yutasi was
described as Hatfield's Goju-Ryu teacher. The narrative suggests that Yutasi’s
Goju-Ryu background somehow evolved into a new martial art, which was then
passed down to
The stories about Yutasi’s background, role, and even the
spelling of his name have changed over time. These inconsistencies are seen as
clear signs of fabrication, with narratives evolving to fit different needs or
to address scrutiny.
Shune Yung Davis
Hatfield has cited Shune Yung Davis as a co-developer of
American Ji Do Kwan and a key figure in his martial arts lineage. There are no
records, photographs, certificates, or credible witnesses to support the
existence of Shune Yung Davis as an actual person as a martial arts instructor.
The claims surrounding Davis, including his supposed role in promoting Hatfield
and passing on organizational leadership. Hatfield claimed that Davis was a
co-developer of American Ji Do Kwan with Grandmaster E.A. Fuzy.
However, the claim and supposed connections to Fuzy and
American Jidokwan were debunked. Fuzy’s black belts and family members have
directly contradicted Hatfield’s narrative and indicate Shune Davis is unknown
among legitimate practitioners. Further more it appears that Shune Davis is a fabricated instructor with no
legitimate existence or recognized role in martial arts history.
William Sirbaugh
Hatfield refers to his stepfather, William Sirbaugh, as a significant influence in his martial arts journey. In 2012, Hatfield said his father was “Grandmaster John Paul,” who died in 1994 at the age of 58. By 2020, “Grandmaster J.P.” disappeared completely from his bios, replaced by William Sirbaugh, who died in 2009 at age 56. All of Grandmaster J.P.’s martial arts contributions, including the creation of “Hanki/American Combat Hanki” that Hatfield formerly claimed had been transfered and contributed to Sirbaugh.
Sirbaugh has had no verifiable martial arts involvement, there is no public information or documentation to substantiate his credentials or his role in developing recognized martial arts systems. Sirbaugh is claimed to have collaborated with a mysterious instructor and developed martial arts systems during periods when court and prison records show Sirbaugh was incarcerated for nearly a decade, directly overlapping with the years Hatfield claims to have been training and developing systems with Sirbaugh.
One of the most glaring examples is Hatfield’s claim of being connected to the development of American Ji Do Kwan through his stepfather William Sirbaugh and another instructor, Shune Yung Davis. The existence of Davis is unproven, and the connection to the legitimate founder, GM Fuzy, is described as totally fabricated. These claims have been repeatedly revised as scrutiny increased, further undermining their credibility.
LINKS TO COURT FILINGS REGARDING KARATE AND AMERICAN JIDOKWAN CLAIMS
Hatfield only began attributing his martial arts background to William Sirbaugh after his death, a common tactic among frauds to attach themselves to deceased people who cannot refute the claims. This pattern is repeated with other supposed founders and instructors, such as Jack Stern, all of whom were deceased by the time Hatfield's stories emerged.
Jack “Papasan” Stern
Hatfield claims to have earned a 5th Dan in Judo under Jack Stern, a controversial figure known for fraudulent claims, including false military honors. Stern readily admitted in court to having made fraudulent martial arts claims and issuing fraudulent ranks and certifications in judo and Hapkido and other arts.
LINKS TO COURT FILINGS REGARDING JUDO CLAIMS
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| Hatfield was never a 5th dan in Judo or licensed by the Kodokan |
By the time Hatfield claimed to be training under Stern, Stern was incapacitated by a stroke and unable to teach, making Hatfield’s claims of significant tutelage highly suspect. Evidence suggests Hatfield met Stern at a seminar, using this tenuous connection and a single group picture as proof of his "legitimacy."
Click Here: USA vs. Jack “Papasan” Stern: Stern’s Yudo, Judo,Hapkido and Kojido Fraud
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Jack Stern’s proven history as a martial arts fraud and fabricator directly undermines the legitimacy of any rank Steven Hatfield claims to have received from him. Jack Stern was exposed as a fraud both in martial arts and in his false military claims. He issued martial arts ranks through nonexistent organizations, signed his own certificates, and was never recognized by any legitimate martial arts governing bodies. As a result, any rank or licensure given by Stern or claimed to be from Stern are essentially worthless.
Hasaka Yutashi
The supposed founder of "American Yoshinkan Aikijujutsu," Yutashi Hasaka, who supposed trained aikido under Gozo Shioda and in daito ryu Aikijujutsu appears to be a entirely fictional character. Formerly Hasaka Yutashi was Haska Yutasi. As in the former no independent evidence exists for this person outside of Hatfield and his associate Bret Gordon. Claims that Hatfield inherited systems from this fictional founder, and then passed them on to others, are not supported by any credible documentation.
Hatfield's student Bret Gordon tried to explain away the obvious discrepancies in the newly formed iteration of Yutasi who was now Yutashi. Even the styles had swtiched Goju to aikido and aikijujutsu. When pressed Gordon suggested that Hatfield both mispronounced and misspelled his own instructor's name and alleged Yutashi had trained extensively in all three before moving to California.
LINKS TO COURT FILINGS REGARDING DAITO RYU CLAIMS
Hatfield’s bios often overlap or contradict each other, such
as being named successor to one system while supposedly still training and
being promoted in another, or inheriting arts from instructors who cannot be
found in any legitimate martial arts records.
The current narrative seems to have multiple variations.
Steven Hatfield is now claiming that "Yutashi" is his grandfather. This is a recent development in his ever-changing martial arts biography, as noted by critics who have tracked the evolution of his lineage claims. Previously, Hatfield described Yutashi as one of his instructors in Goju Ryu and Daito Ryu Jujitsu, but there has never been any verifiable evidence that such a person actually existed. When earlier claims about Yutashi as a Japanese teacher or master came under scrutiny, particularly due to the lack of any verifiable evidence that such a person existed, Hatfield shifted the narrative again, now presenting Yutashi as a family member.
Court dockets indicate that Renshinkan representatives took issue with Hatfield's misrepresentation, conducted their own research and, following a conversation with Hatfield, debunked his claims and alleged that Hatfield purposely misrepresented himself as being ranked within the Renshinkan.
Also this discussion with the Renshinkan denotes another shift in Hatfield's ever changing narrative. The first mention of being trained in daitoryu by his grand father a second version Hatfield told was that it was his step grand father. This was the first implications of Hasaka Yutashi being a family member of Hatfield's. When asked for the grand father’s name Hatfield refused to give it the members of the Renshinkan.
Additionally, these references are in court docket files (130, 138, and 139) https://courtrecords.lakecounty.org/ Case Number 35-2020-CA-001851
The Yutashi story, like others in Hatfield's background, is considered a fantasy construct with no supporting documentation or credible witnesses. Hatfield’s current assertion that Yutashi is his grandfather is seen as another attempt to bolster his martial arts pedigree by inventing or reimagining personal connections to mysterious, unverifiable masters. Hatfield’s claim that “Yutashi” is his grandfather, despite previously offering different stories about Yutashi’s role in his martial arts background, follows a pattern commonly seen among individuals attempting to fabricate or embellish martial arts credentials.
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Hatfield has a documented history of claiming martial arts ranks at ages that are widely implausible in the martial arts community. Hatfield's pattern of claiming advanced ranks at implausibly young ages is primarily driven by a strong desire for status and authority within the martial arts community. By presenting himself as a prodigy or an exceptional case he seeks to by pass years of formal training and the experience required for high level ranks much earlier than is credible.
The debunking of claims in Bret Gordon’s aiki book just two weeks after its release, further discredited Steven Hatfield’s claims. The lineage and historical connections described in Gordon’s own book were completely exposed as being fabricated or grossly misrepresented.
Gordon's book, also included a supposed picture of Yutashi sitting next to Hatfield as a boy. However the person in the picture supposedly Yutashi is not a japanese man. This flies in the face of previous claims of Yutashi being Japanese. Click the following lnk: https://theninjerkiller.blogspot.com/2025/05/what-you-put-into-universe-comes-back_23.html
It appears now the Hatfield's narrative has changed yet again.
Shortly after the claims in the book being debunked, Hatfield and Gordon are now claiming to be under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Typically, an NDA restricts the sharing of specific information, yet the act of publishing a book—especially one that covers the same subject matter—would indicate that the information is already public and not subject to confidentiality.
This contradiction further raises questions and even further damages the credibility of Gordon's assertion that Hasaka exists and further debunks Hatfield’s claims.
Invoking an NDA after public disclosure is a tactic to avoid answering difficult questions, evade scrutiny, or limit further investigation into inconsistencies or fabrications. In the context of martial arts fraud, such claims are commonly used to deflect demands for proof or explanation when previous statements or published materials are challenged. This pattern further undermines the reliability of Hatfield narratives.
Hatfield’s only confirmed legitimate rank appears to be a single 1st degree black belt (Wae Kune Do) , while his higher ranks are associated with discredited or non-existent instructors such as Jack Stern (a proven fraud) and or fabricated figures like Haska Yutasi, Shune Davis and Hasaka Yutashi.
This has significant implications for the martial arts ranks he issues.Ranks issued by Hatfield beyond his legitimate 1st dan in Wae Kune Do are therefore built on a foundation of false claims.
Individuals promoted by Steven Hatfield risk having their own martial arts credentials questioned due to the controversy and inconsistencies surrounding Hatfield’s background and rank claims.
When a figurehead’s history is repeatedly revised or debunked, it casts doubt on the legitimacy of the ranks, titles, or affiliations he bestows. The exposure of fraudulent or exaggerated claims can damage the reputations of those promoted, especially if they publicly support or repeat Hatfield’s narratives. They may face the same scrutiny and or may be viewed as complicit in perpetuating misinformation or as lacking discernment in verifying their own credentials and affiliations.
So Youngblood about your ranks.......
