Antonio Estepanian, BJJ brown belt and other spurious claims.

**Respect72** · Posted On: 1/09/2013 7:25am

Battlefields, are you the owner of this site by any chance? As i mentioned already, we will be taking legal action regarding this. There are laws in place to protect people from this kind of slander. I would like to see your credentials regarding any official capacity you have, which i believe in the Cyber world is Zilch! The thread on facebook has already been taken down, funny that. I suggest you do the same. Certificates have been produced to the relevant people, so there really is no need for any of this. I suggest if you want to do something more constructive with your time, find another group, not one which is connected to Andy Roberts. Isn't he losing his students right now, isn't this what it's all about really?

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 1/09/2013 7:30am

Originally Posted by Respect72

The thread on facebook has already been taken down, funny that.

No it hasn't, it's up right now on the UK BJJ Underground group, here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/286498698062505/

Originally Posted by Respect72

Certificates have been produced to the relevant people, so there really is no need for any of this.

Which people are those? Can we see them as well, please?

Originally Posted by Respect72

I suggest if you want to do something more constructive with your time, find another group, not one which is connected to Andy Roberts. Isn't he losing his students right now, isn't this what it's all about really?

I have no idea how Andy's school is going, but it has no bearing on whether Antonio is a BJJ Brown Belt or not. Is this Antonio posting, or some interested third party?

Could you tell us who awarded him/you his belt, please?

***battlefields*** · Posted On: 1/09/2013 7:34am

No, i am not the owner. I wasn't aware of a thread on Facebook. I have no idea who Andy Robert is, nor, I would imagine, do a great majority of people on this site. Bullshido acts as a sort of consumer advisory board where people can find information on potential schools. We have great respect for legitimate teachers of the martial arts.

As I said, if you can provide evidence, like you said you have to other parties, we can happily lay this issue to rest. If you would like to send a scan of the certificate or some such, that would be greatly appreciated!

**Poncey** · Posted On: 1/09/2013 8:06am

^^

Saw this on the UG and had to chip in, I'm not affilianted to Andy but I do train there when I can. And to say he's losing students left, right and centre is like the Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf claiming they were winning the war!!

Also, I know a fair bit about Internet slander as I deal regularly with boxing promoters legal teams regarding the issue and you don't have a leg to stand on. But if you want to waste money on legal advice, feel free.

**Respect72** · Posted On: 1/09/2013 8:14am

This is a third party, who happen to personally know Antonio and therefore speaking on his behalf. We are also a lawyers and gaining evidence. He has provided Kickboxing, Thai Boxing and Tae Kwondo certificates to his Academy. With regards to NASM, i think the checks that were done were not through. The NASM in the UK were contacted not the NASM in the USA. NASM records are disposed of after three years. Speak to the Academy i think you will find, Antonio is a 4th Dan. This behaviour is so disrespectful towards a Master.

**brodown** · Posted On: 1/09/2013 8:17am

Originally Posted by Respect72

This is a third party, who happen to personally know Antonio and therefore speaking on his behalf. We are also a lawyers and gaining evidence. He has provided Kickboxing, Thai Boxing and Tae Kwondo certificates to his Academy. With regards to NASM, i think the checks that were done were not through. The NASM in the UK were contacted not the NASM in the USA. NASM records are disposed of after three years. Speak to the Academy i think you will find, Antonio is a 4th Dan. This behaviour is so disrespectful towards a Master.

Who gave Antonio his BJJ brown belt?

***battlefields*** · Posted On: 1/09/2013 8:18am

Respect72, now you have made a claim that requires evidence, that being that certificates have been presented to "the relevant people", whoever they are. Until such time that we either view the certificates or have your so called "relevant people" verify through legitimate methods the authenticity of the certificate, it calls into question your reliability in relation to your entire story.

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 1/09/2013 8:22am

Originally Posted by Respect72

This is a third party, who happen to personally know Antonio and therefore speaking on his behalf. We are also a lawyers and gaining evidence.

I hope for your sake this isn't true, posting on the thread as you have done would be staggeringly incompetent.

Originally Posted by Respect72

He has provided Kickboxing, Thai Boxing and Tae Kwondo certificates to his Academy.

And BJJ, which is what my question was about? Which organisations are those certificates with? Who awarded his BJJ belt?

Originally Posted by Respect72

Speak to the Academy i think you will find, Antonio is a 4th Dan. This behaviour is so disrespectful towards a Master.

Is Antonio happy for you to speak for him? If he is, why don't you post images of the certificates you mentioned on here?

***battlefields*** · Posted On: 1/09/2013 8:23am

Originally Posted by Respect72

This is a third party, who happen to personally know Antonio and therefore speaking on his behalf. We are also a lawyers and gaining evidence. He has provided Kickboxing, Thai Boxing and Tae Kwondo certificates to his Academy. With regards to NASM, i think the checks that were done were not through. The NASM in the UK were contacted not the NASM in the USA. NASM records are disposed of after three years. Speak to the Academy i think you will find, Antonio is a 4th Dan. This behaviour is so disrespectful towards a Master.

Other than the NASM, which someone has suggested might have lapsed, the main claim that you have not addressed is the claim to being a Rickson Gracie brown belt. Your elusiveness regarding this issue, which is and always was the issue, is supremely telling.

Does Antonio have a BJJ brown belt? Yes or no. If yes, who from? If no, why is he telling people he has one?

Your legal team will inform you that you do not have a leg to stand on.

**brodown** · Posted On: 1/09/2013 8:34am

Respect72- Please scan and post here a copy of the certificate that shows Antonio receiving his brown belt from Rickson Gracie in the 90s? If you cannot do that, then there is proof that Antonio does not have a BJJ brown belt under Rickson Gracie, its actually quite simple.

In addition, a word of advice: If you falsely claim rank under the eldest of Helio Gracie's sons to the rank of brown belt, trying to switch the blame to a legitimate black belt under Roger Gracie simply will not cut the mustard. Im sure Roger will stand by his student and also his relative's best interest if you persist with these claims without evidence.

By not showing the certificates, you are appearing to have something to hide, I sincerely hope you can prove us all wrong and back up the claims in question. Thank you.