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.
