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Fake Belt Masterthread
5 year(s) ago • 10192 views • 166 replies
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I met Ari in person when I went to Victoria a few years ago. He was really nice
That's good to hear! Naturally one person being nice to somebody else doesn't prove they're a good person (and it certainly doesn't prove anything about their BJJ), but it's still a positive thing to hear.
On that topic, IMO the number one point in Bolden's favour is that he has Rob 'Panda' Barker as a student (purple belt last I heard? Haven't seen Rob in a while), who is an awesome guy. The fact that Rob has stuck with Bolden that long makes me think there is more to the Ari Bolden story, or at least that it's possible Bolden has learned from his mistakes and managed to create a better school atmosphere than I'd expect (if I'd only read the threads and never met anybody who had trained at Ari Bolden's school).
In my limited online interactions with Bolden, he's always been polite and friendly too.
On that topic, IMO the number one point in Bolden's favour is that he has Rob 'Panda' Barker as a student (purple belt last I heard? Haven't seen Rob in a while), who is an awesome guy. The fact that Rob has stuck with Bolden that long makes me think there is more to the Ari Bolden story, or at least that it's possible Bolden has learned from his mistakes and managed to create a better school atmosphere than I'd expect (if I'd only read the threads and never met anybody who had trained at Ari Bolden's school).
In my limited online interactions with Bolden, he's always been polite and friendly too.
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Anyone remember the story about David Lang, who claimed to be a black belt under Wallid Ismael and/or Giva Santana Somewhere in Rio, Wallid was fuming mad. https://www.youtube.com/w[...]xyT_HOp7vQ
I remember him.. His brother fought one of my guys at New Breed in NJ it was awful and Lang was awful
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Jay Queiroz comes to mind too
Mike Palladino did that one if they had actually rolled it would have been awfull Mike is a beast
DFBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Jay Queiroz comes to mind too
This is one of my favorites! And it led me to train with Mike Palladino which was an amazing experience. I'm sure Phil Dunlap would say the same about Mike
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Mike is a stud and great guy
DFBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Mike is a stud and great guy
No doubt. I liked him before training with him. The class I took and private lesson were phenomenal!
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I may be wrong but my spidey sense is tingling.
If I am wrong I will apologize.
This is Beltchecker, expect to be checked.
Check this profile out.
I could see this if it were someone in Brazil...but in Canada?
https://www.beltchecker.c[...]p?id=47284
If I am wrong I will apologize.
This is Beltchecker, expect to be checked.
Check this profile out.
I could see this if it were someone in Brazil...but in Canada?
https://www.beltchecker.c[...]p?id=47284
JBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I may be wrong but my spidey sense is tingling. If I am wrong I will apologize. This is Beltchecker, expect to be checked. Check this profile out. I could see this if it were someone in Brazil...but in Canada? https://www.beltchecker.c[...]p?id=47284
Wrong scene in 300! But no worries, I fixed it.
Self proclaimed Grand Master Dude has 10:th dan in his own jitz (BJJ is for amateurs) https://smoothcomp.com/jp[...]club/57807
He was promoted to black belt at an age of 4½ months old, 34y before IBJJF introduced the grey belt (when I started training in 1996, yellow was the first kids belt after white). This was awarded by Dad Dude Maurice in Canada (first there to even hear about GJJ?) after sending a video to Gracie Dude in Cali-f*ing-fornia and (I guess) receiving his blessing to promote. This was some 30 years before the Gracies started their video promotion sh*t and at a time where home films were almost exclusively shot on 8 or 16 mm film (you older people know the kind with perforations on the side). But ok, Dad Dude was an extremely early adopter and actually documented the skills of Baby Grand Master Dude on video. Rorion was the only Gracie Dude in Cali-f*ing-fornia back then and when he arrived to the US in 1978, he started out working with cleaning houses. But sure, he would have prioritized investing the inflation adjusted equivalent of $4,500 to $6,300 in what a video player cost back then! You receive something as exotic and high tech as a video cassette from a Dad Dude in Canada claiming to have a Baby Grand Master, of course you'd pay anything to check it out! Especially as Dad Dude flatter you by being the only dude in North America who already know about you and your jitz.
And the overture has only just started.
Please Christian, tell us Grand Master Dude is a real person who has sent in verifiable ID info and not just someone consciously trolling! We really need this!
Self proclaimed Grand Master Dude has 10:th dan in his own jitz (BJJ is for amateurs) https://smoothcomp.com/jp[...]club/57807
He was promoted to black belt at an age of 4½ months old, 34y before IBJJF introduced the grey belt (when I started training in 1996, yellow was the first kids belt after white). This was awarded by Dad Dude Maurice in Canada (first there to even hear about GJJ?) after sending a video to Gracie Dude in Cali-f*ing-fornia and (I guess) receiving his blessing to promote. This was some 30 years before the Gracies started their video promotion sh*t and at a time where home films were almost exclusively shot on 8 or 16 mm film (you older people know the kind with perforations on the side). But ok, Dad Dude was an extremely early adopter and actually documented the skills of Baby Grand Master Dude on video. Rorion was the only Gracie Dude in Cali-f*ing-fornia back then and when he arrived to the US in 1978, he started out working with cleaning houses. But sure, he would have prioritized investing the inflation adjusted equivalent of $4,500 to $6,300 in what a video player cost back then! You receive something as exotic and high tech as a video cassette from a Dad Dude in Canada claiming to have a Baby Grand Master, of course you'd pay anything to check it out! Especially as Dad Dude flatter you by being the only dude in North America who already know about you and your jitz.
And the overture has only just started.
Please Christian, tell us Grand Master Dude is a real person who has sent in verifiable ID info and not just someone consciously trolling! We really need this!
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I think he is trolling the site
JABlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
I may be wrong but my spidey sense is tingling. If I am wrong I will apologize. This is Beltchecker, expect to be checked. Check this profile out. I could see this if it were someone in Brazil...but in Canada? https://www.beltchecker.c[...]p?id=47284
and it's deactivated.... LOL. Must have been super legit
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Rodrigo Munduruca did not know or has ever heard of the guy.
JBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Aww, man. I was hoping that “Grand Master” Marc Saurette could tell us about the Gracie baby program. I now feel bad that I waited until my son was five years old to enroll him in martial arts classes. ;)
This is the first time I have seen an adult fake children’s ranks along with their adult ranks. Why go to the trouble? It’s not like the child ranks are prerequisites for adult ranks and they were the most absurd part of his promotion timeline.
This is the first time I have seen an adult fake children’s ranks along with their adult ranks. Why go to the trouble? It’s not like the child ranks are prerequisites for adult ranks and they were the most absurd part of his promotion timeline.
JABlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
Aww, man. I was hoping that “Grand Master” Marc Saurette could tell us about the Gracie baby program. I now feel bad that I waited until my son was five years old to enroll him in martial arts classes. ;) This is the first time I have seen an adult fake children’s ranks along with their adult ranks. Why go to the trouble? It’s not like the child ranks are prerequisites for adult ranks and they were the most absurd part of his promotion timeline.
Now I wish I would have seen this profile. lol
SEBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Now I am happy not voted for that profile!
„I don‘t know Marc, but….“
„I don‘t know Marc, but….“
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
It's obviously a troll attempt
JBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
It's obviously a troll attempt
That was my first reaction, but then I remembered the case of Tearion Scott and thought, “This guy might actually be this crazy.” :)
Edited 2 year(s) ago
JBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Here’s a photo of his Gracie Baby program VHS promotion from Rorion. Legit! OSS!!! ;)
(If this was trolling, I have to admire this person’s comic genius.)
(If this was trolling, I have to admire this person’s comic genius.)
JABlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
Here’s a photo of his Gracie Baby program VHS promotion from Rorion. Legit! OSS!!! ;) (If this was trolling, I have to admire this person’s comic genius.)
I don't know this baby but...
:D
:D
CBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
That was my first reaction, but then I remembered the case of Tearion Scott and thought, “This guy might actually be this crazy.” :)
With him it was god's will! :D
JWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Did you ever come across Ari Bolden/Knazan/Kay, given he's in Canada too? Though naturally Canada is a pretty big place: he's in Victoria BC specifically. I'm not sure how integrated he was with the local BJJ scene. IIRC the zillion threads on him, there is a Carlson Gracie affiliate (Zuma) right near Bolden's school who never had any luck with asking him to roll etc. Though I don't put Bolden in the same category as some of the others, although he started off his BJJ career as somebody from a different style putting on his TMA black belt (which interestingly also had doubt cast on it, from shen IIRC) and blurring the line, he did then go and get his BJJ belts from people with a legit lineage (Eddie Bravo and then Keith Owen).
I was in Team rhino when Ari started training under Keith. I never trained with him in person, but he seemed to have Keith believing in him pretty well. I got out for other reasons, but Ari's situation never sat well with me. I can't speak for Keith's motivations on that matter, but some of the things going on with Ari were why I left and never looked back.
RKBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I knew a guy who was a Japanese Jiu-Jitsu coral belt that would wore a BJJ brand gi when he taught JJJ classes. To my knowledge he never trained BJJ at that time. Kinda irritated me a little.
RABlack belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
We had local NC legend James Paredes about a decade ago teaching BJJ at a local karate school. He got called out eventually and said that his style was more traditional even though he wore BJJ gis and had a BJJ black belt. But if you ever were wondering how to handle someone trying to choke you while you mounted them, then I've got the technique for you.
https://www.youtube.com/w[...]dit.com%2F
https://www.youtube.com/w[...]dit.com%2F
BCBlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
Maybe there are liability reasons but I would love to see the details of deactivated accounts.
CBBrown beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
another one from back in the day was alleged black belt Gene Simco. This goes to mid 2000s in the NY BJJ scene. He got called out by many people and this was on the Bullshido site when it was big. This was a really big controversy in like 2008 or so. One of the threads I was able to dig up. https://www.bullshido.net[...]court-case any of the NY guys remember this one?
I remember reading about Simco on the nhbgear forums back in the day
CBBrown beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
That's good to hear! Naturally one person being nice to somebody else doesn't prove they're a good person (and it certainly doesn't prove anything about their BJJ), but it's still a positive thing to hear. On that topic, IMO the number one point in Bolden's favour is that he has Rob 'Panda' Barker as a student (purple belt last I heard? Haven't seen Rob in a while), who is an awesome guy. The fact that Rob has stuck with Bolden that long makes me think there is more to the Ari Bolden story, or at least that it's possible Bolden has learned from his mistakes and managed to create a better school atmosphere than I'd expect (if I'd only read the threads and never met anybody who had trained at Ari Bolden's school). In my limited online interactions with Bolden, he's always been polite and friendly too.
Rob lives in Australia now (Tazmania) and got his brown belt I think. He's still training and being the panda. Good dude.
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
If you want to jump down some big BJJ drama rabbit holes, back in the day Ari Bolden/Knazan/Kay etc got a ton of flak (soooo many threads on that over the last decade), as did Brandon Quick for different reasons, then there's Jordan Tabor. The latter two are interesting cases, as they had verifiable skill, but the way they got their black belts was questionable (e.g., Tabor awarded himself a black belt and then spammed the internet with bizarre conspiracy theories about the IBJJF being out to get him).
False.
Jordan Tabor did NOT award himself his black belt.
He was promoted to black belt,
then his affiliation hit him up for a $2,000 affiliation fee,
which he refused to pay,
and they then refused to recognize the promotion to black belt.
Which is actually a fairly common situation that many of the people on Beltchecker have reported they have experienced.
He also did some fairly interesting investigative reporting on some immigration scams going on in relation to certain affiliations, that were also affiliations under the IBJJF, and other questionable affiliation behaviors.
But, Tabor does tend to express himself in a Hunter S. Thompson style, if Hunter S. Thompson was doing so in Hip Hop vernacular.
The Internet people who "made fun" or attempted to cyber bully him for being the subject of an affiliation fee scheme after the fact, were shameful, in their mob and pitchfork behaviors.
He was also shamefully mocked by the Internet mob dummies for losing to Gordan Ryan, when Ryan was a purple belt, twice, putting up his own money to stake the match.
Frankly, some of the mocking, and some of the mockers, struck me as being somewhat racist, because Jordan Tabor is a black guy, that talks in Hip Hop vernacular.
Jordan Tabor did NOT award himself his black belt.
He was promoted to black belt,
then his affiliation hit him up for a $2,000 affiliation fee,
which he refused to pay,
and they then refused to recognize the promotion to black belt.
Which is actually a fairly common situation that many of the people on Beltchecker have reported they have experienced.
He also did some fairly interesting investigative reporting on some immigration scams going on in relation to certain affiliations, that were also affiliations under the IBJJF, and other questionable affiliation behaviors.
But, Tabor does tend to express himself in a Hunter S. Thompson style, if Hunter S. Thompson was doing so in Hip Hop vernacular.
The Internet people who "made fun" or attempted to cyber bully him for being the subject of an affiliation fee scheme after the fact, were shameful, in their mob and pitchfork behaviors.
He was also shamefully mocked by the Internet mob dummies for losing to Gordan Ryan, when Ryan was a purple belt, twice, putting up his own money to stake the match.
Frankly, some of the mocking, and some of the mockers, struck me as being somewhat racist, because Jordan Tabor is a black guy, that talks in Hip Hop vernacular.
Edited 2 year(s) ago
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I can't remember the details of Simco's belt, but I do remember the much more serious controversy about child abuse: https://www.bullshido.net[...]court-case I also remember a lot of discussion about how Simco apparently got his then-student Brian McLoughlin to write his BJJ book, for which Simco took all the credit. Lots of weird financial stuff circulating around Simco, he was one of the first Americans to heavily push instructional BJJ material, IIRC. The very first was Paul Viele as far as I'm aware, later famous as the guy behind World Martial Arts, as well as allegedly the guy who wrote (allegedly) fake reviews as 'Bill Lewis' dissing his rivals and praising his own company.
Gene Simco's promotion to purple belt was legitimate.
After that, I cannot say.
I do recall the child abuse case.
After that, I cannot say.
I do recall the child abuse case.
Edited 2 year(s) ago
JBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
A $2000 affiliation fee!?!
Jordan Tabor told the whole BJJ establishment to fuck off, after that extortion attempt.
Which is congruent with his track record, very well documented, regarding the virtue of: Bravery.
He was Internet lynched over it,
And black people getting lynched for running their mouths, as if they were equal to other humans,
has a long, and sad track record.
Especially when those black men, have muscles, know how to fight, and run their mouths, against the system which seeks to extort them.
Ignorant mobs, seem to love to throw tomatoes, cabbages, at people accused of crimes, especially if they are black, and speak creole, or modern versions of creole like Hip Hop vernacular and poetry being what they are.
Luckily, the ignorant Internet BJJ mob, in its vulgarity, depravity, and pettiness,
or out of some fear of law,
did not grab ropes and hang him from a tree, because of their own erectile dysfunctions.
They only crucified his reputation, as a brave grappler who took on opponents at all levels,
from black belts on the mats,
and as a higher belt, taking on Gordon Ryan twice, staking his own money,
and then taking on the IBJJF,
which in every other circumstance,
not concerning a black man, speaking in Hunter S. Thompson, Hip Hop Style,
So many black belts here have made the same report, and same complaint,
how their affiliation system tried to extort them for money,
or the IBJJF system fucked them over.
Never mind, I forgot he is a black man, making that complaint,
in Creole, and Hip Hop vernacular.
All the people that mocked him, vilified, him, and ridiculed, him,
were right and just to do so,
After all, Gordon Ryan caught him in a sub, twice.
So, the mob must be right.
After all, is not the mob just, and reasonable, righteous, and without flaw, or sin?
And all the affiliations, and the IBJJF,
Cannot be wrong, as they can do not wrong,
Because they do not know, what wrong means.
Which is congruent with his track record, very well documented, regarding the virtue of: Bravery.
He was Internet lynched over it,
And black people getting lynched for running their mouths, as if they were equal to other humans,
has a long, and sad track record.
Especially when those black men, have muscles, know how to fight, and run their mouths, against the system which seeks to extort them.
Ignorant mobs, seem to love to throw tomatoes, cabbages, at people accused of crimes, especially if they are black, and speak creole, or modern versions of creole like Hip Hop vernacular and poetry being what they are.
Luckily, the ignorant Internet BJJ mob, in its vulgarity, depravity, and pettiness,
or out of some fear of law,
did not grab ropes and hang him from a tree, because of their own erectile dysfunctions.
They only crucified his reputation, as a brave grappler who took on opponents at all levels,
from black belts on the mats,
and as a higher belt, taking on Gordon Ryan twice, staking his own money,
and then taking on the IBJJF,
which in every other circumstance,
not concerning a black man, speaking in Hunter S. Thompson, Hip Hop Style,
So many black belts here have made the same report, and same complaint,
how their affiliation system tried to extort them for money,
or the IBJJF system fucked them over.
Never mind, I forgot he is a black man, making that complaint,
in Creole, and Hip Hop vernacular.
All the people that mocked him, vilified, him, and ridiculed, him,
were right and just to do so,
After all, Gordon Ryan caught him in a sub, twice.
So, the mob must be right.
After all, is not the mob just, and reasonable, righteous, and without flaw, or sin?
And all the affiliations, and the IBJJF,
Cannot be wrong, as they can do not wrong,
Because they do not know, what wrong means.
Edited 2 year(s) ago
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Given the whole reason Beltcheckers was created,
and given the volume of stories that have been presented here,
which mirror Jordan Tabor's story,
I think everyone here, on this thread,
May owe him an apology,
For including him on this thread,
with his name, which may mean something to him, and his reputation.
And if any of the readers or posters here,
were among the Internet BJJ mob that threw digital cabbages,
and tomatoes at him,
and mocked him,
I think you might want to soul search,
Because you may owe him a very real, and sincere apology.
I know he is black, and speaks in a Hip Hop Creole style.
But, if that is a crime, take me to the gallows, first,
as I am not any more real than he,
as a Black Belt.
After all, BJJ Globetrotters got the same boot he did, didn't they.
And for the same reasons.
They refused to kneel, when they were told, they must kneel.
Meanwhile, keep telling me about "loyalty", as opposed to "bravery".
And here I thought, we were supposed to be "fighters".
What are we supposed to be fighting for, except that which is right?
I know, it is scary for "fighters" to stand in disaffirmation, and disagreement,
to a mob, especially in this digital environment, which is ran by votes,
and so is a true democracy, aka mob.
Populists will surely get the most votes,
and be the most pious,
they will make sacrifices to all the gods,
Whenever the public requires it,
Regardless of who is sacrificed, so long as it is not their own,
or their own selves.
Not very Brave, though.
Nevermind, probably very "loyal" though, and safe.
and given the volume of stories that have been presented here,
which mirror Jordan Tabor's story,
I think everyone here, on this thread,
May owe him an apology,
For including him on this thread,
with his name, which may mean something to him, and his reputation.
And if any of the readers or posters here,
were among the Internet BJJ mob that threw digital cabbages,
and tomatoes at him,
and mocked him,
I think you might want to soul search,
Because you may owe him a very real, and sincere apology.
I know he is black, and speaks in a Hip Hop Creole style.
But, if that is a crime, take me to the gallows, first,
as I am not any more real than he,
as a Black Belt.
After all, BJJ Globetrotters got the same boot he did, didn't they.
And for the same reasons.
They refused to kneel, when they were told, they must kneel.
Meanwhile, keep telling me about "loyalty", as opposed to "bravery".
And here I thought, we were supposed to be "fighters".
What are we supposed to be fighting for, except that which is right?
I know, it is scary for "fighters" to stand in disaffirmation, and disagreement,
to a mob, especially in this digital environment, which is ran by votes,
and so is a true democracy, aka mob.
Populists will surely get the most votes,
and be the most pious,
they will make sacrifices to all the gods,
Whenever the public requires it,
Regardless of who is sacrificed, so long as it is not their own,
or their own selves.
Not very Brave, though.
Nevermind, probably very "loyal" though, and safe.
Edited 2 year(s) ago
