'Wise Warrior' Cheltenham UK

**StraightUpMA** · Posted On: 4/05/2012 10:15am

Well, I know for a fact that the people teaching Aikido have never learned it off anyone legitimate. And what they're teaching isn't even Aikido. Same with the sword. I also know that these people are still part of the BAMA but are pretending not to be.

I started the thread to bring it to people's attention. And to try and stop people being unwittingly drawn into a well know Martial Arts cult.

Mods - what backup are you looking for?

**thrutch** · Posted On: 4/05/2012 10:52am

Some answers to Eddie Hardon's questions would be a start, or at least a better answer than "no idea".

To aid your cause I've just sent them the following email:

Good afternoon

I'm interested in the spread of traditional karate in the UK. Having been directed to your website I wonder whether you'd be kind enough to answer a few short questions for me?

What is the lineage of the karate which you instruct? Is it directly traceable to its Okinawan or Japanese roots?

I notice you have held a seminar on kobudo techniques? Again, could you tell me the style and lineage of the kobudo instruction?

Has your club been approved by the UK's Martial Arts Standards Agency, satisfying its core guidelines?
The MASA Five means that every club instructor should have:
A Black Belt or equivalent in the martial art being taught.
An approved coaching qualification (NVQ or equivalent).
£5 million Professional Indemnity Insurance.
An enhanced CRB disclosure.
A clear pricing policy with no hidden charges.

In case you were wondering I train in Shorin Ryu as a student of the Shorinkan organisation. The head of the organisation is Shugoro Nakazato who has a traceable karate lineage through Chosin Chibana back to Anko Itosu, and a kobudo lineage through Seiro Tonaki to Sanda Chinen.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this email and I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Andy

Perhaps they'll put your mind at rest? Let's wait and see.

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 4/05/2012 11:04am

Originally Posted by StraightUpMA

Well, I know for a fact that the people teaching Aikido have never learned it off anyone legitimate. And what they're teaching isn't even Aikido. Same with the sword. I also know that these people are still part of the BAMA but are pretending not to be.

I started the thread to bring it to people's attention. And to try and stop people being unwittingly drawn into a well know Martial Arts cult.

Mods - what backup are you looking for?

You know for a fact?

Here is an academic research tool. I want you to look at every post you have made and see if they follow any of those basic principles.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/559/1/

Your posts reflect nothing in the above document. You may have done everything listed, but you have not presented it in the fashion described in that link.

**StraightUpMA** · Posted On: 4/10/2012 1:18am

Sorry, I thought this was to bring places to people's attention and raise an investigation. Seems I misunderstood slightly. Let's see what answers they come up with.

**Eddie Hardon** · Posted On: 4/10/2012 2:21pm

Originally Posted by StraightUpMA

Sorry, I thought this was to bring places to people's attention and raise an investigation. Seems I misunderstood slightly. Let's see what answers they come up with.

Really, you just made an unsupported assertion on their competency. You have provided no evidence of your ability to judge the Arts they are offering to teach.
- Have you trained in Aikido? If so, to what level? If not, how are you qualified to criticise?
- Karate. As above.
- Self Defence. As above.
- Kobudo. As above.

Their website does not appear to tie the prospective student to an open-ended or limited Contract with a monthly subscription. In fact, they offer free membership and a 'pay as you train' approach. This seems commendable. If you don't train, you don't pay and can just walk away.

Here's what their front page states:

"Wisewarrior

...providing personal martial arts tuition to all.

Our instructors have been teaching martial art skills to individual adults for over 10 years, we believe it is the best way to truly teach a subject as great as this. Try us and find out for your self.

Start a passion or just learn some amazing life skills with your personal black-belt instructor.

Wisewarrior can provide you with a lesson tailored to meet your needs at a time convenient to you!

No contracts, simply pay as you train.

FREE Membership. "

Now, can you offer any answers to my questions?

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 4/10/2012 3:53pm

Originally Posted by StraightUpMA

Sorry, I thought this was to bring places to people's attention and raise an investigation. Seems I misunderstood slightly. Let's see what answers they come up with.

Really? You misunderstood what? That this isn't a place to air what ifs? Yes, you can raise questions and get an investigation started if you do it correctly. Saying they are part of a cult and that they shouldn't be teaching means nothing. You need basic facts of why you feel this way. "I know for a fact" is not evidence.

So, you sent an email, what was the response?

**StraightUpMA** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 12:05am

Well, you guys have sent an email so let's see what happens. I wasn't quite expecting the hostility to be honest. Look, they're part of another organisation that's been proved on here and numerous other forums to be fraudulent at best, a cult at worst. And they're not clearly displaying that fact on their website. All the criticisms levelled at the Bama surely apply to them too? They're not a breakaway, they're exactly the same thing under a different name. Just thought it was wirth bringing that to people's attention.

**StraightUpMA** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 12:11am

Originally Posted by Eddie Hardon

Tell us more:
- Who taught them and assessed them for Dan Grade?

Pete Delane. Who awarded himself his 4th dan in a pub having broken away from John Alexander's Zen Shin Ryu.
- Do they carry Personal Indemnity Insurance for claims against injury by their students?
Very much doubt it. The BAMA never did.

- Do the Students pay for MA Insurance annually?
- If so, to whom? If not, why not? As above

- Are they trained in Emergency Aid? Do they have the (in-date) Certificate? As above.
- Are there Syllabi for Aikido, Karate, Self-Defence Classes, Kobudo? Karate, yes. There never was for the other stuff. The Aikido was basically Karate with locks that Delane learned from a book.

- Is the Kobudo kata based? If so, where did it originate? No. In Delane's head

That'll do for a start.

Thanks

You're very welcome.