Thread regarding Kenpo

**justan00b** · Posted On: 7/06/2004 5:32pm

I recieved the link to this thread from a friend:

http://www.internationalkenpofellows...num=1088528172

It regarding Kenpo guy whos rep is somewhat " :( " So to say....

It's required that you register, so if you want to read it and comment on it, please take the time.

:rolleyes:

**Locu5** · Posted On: 7/06/2004 5:33pm

what are your thoughts on it?

**justan00b** · Posted On: 7/06/2004 5:39pm

Well, with what I have been reading so far, it seems a bit rotten. If these guys are right.

Seems like a lot things dont match up, with dates and all. I dont know whether its fraud or what ever?....

**Locu5** · Posted On: 7/06/2004 6:11pm

can you cross reference it with anything?

**justan00b** · Posted On: 7/07/2004 2:42am

Well if you trust there guys, it seems THEY have cross ref'ed it. For all I'm reading most things don't add up. A lot of odd dates both with tha man's age, and when he was supposedly graduated.

The fact that he is not very interrested in getting in to the discussion also seems very strange. because I dont think they just want to flame the guy. Some of the other guys in the discussion on the "Kenpo fellowshipp" board seems to know alot about him...

**justan00b** · Posted On: 7/07/2004 4:52pm

I have been talking to a danish kenpo Practitioner, whome I just recieved the following from:.

Hello everybody. I am a Kenpo Practitioner from Denmark.I have been posting in the thread on Kenpo fellowship. But I would like to repeat what I said, for you all here:

This is the tale of Jørn Brandt as I know it. I have all the proof in emails. But all of the following is on my account and nobody else’s.
I was one of those who left Jørn Brandt after the European championships in Plymouth 2000, due to circumstances before and during the event.

It seems strange to me that JB would win a lot of tournaments where the rest of us didn’t go. And not when we went along.
In 1999 Holsterbro, Denmark hosted the European Championships in Kenpo, unfortunately JB couldn’t participate due to knee surgery. But only a fortnight later he was up and jumping around with no problems what so ever.
In England 2000 he had to forfeit due to a concussion, which allegedly happened when he fell in the bathroom. At the event a lot of Kenpo community was gathered (eg. Huk Planas, Lee Wedlake, Poul Dye, Ed Downey, Gary Elles, Jeff Speakman, Ingmar Johansson, Jaki M, Angelo etc) Whom would know what to look for, and how to spot a fraud.

Jørn Brandt claims that Frank Trejo has graduated him, the above mentioned confronted Trejo with that at a brotherhood dinner in England 2000.
Jørn Brandt also claims to have trained several places in the U.S, however he can’t mention any places nor any instructors. No one knows who, where or how he was graduated from white to 5th dan.

Jørn Brandt was a 1st dan when started teaching in Odense Kampkunsk Center Kenpo, only 14 days later he was a 5th dan.

The American Roger Wohletz taught Tai Chi in the 80’s, and is credited as the founder of Jørn Brandt’s kickboxing style “CHAKIBO”
Roger Wohletz was said to be 7th dan in Kenpo. But at that time there were no 7th dan teaching kenpo in Europe.

At Viking Camp 2000 in Sweden Jørn Brandt claimed to have received his 5th dan in American Kenpo in 1994. He also told that he was 36 years old, I only believed Jørn to be 34, but that would only make the story even more incredible.
According to this Jørn Brandt was 30(2 when he received his 5th dan.
Normally it takes two years from first to second dan, three years from 2nd to 3rd four years from 3rd to 4th and five years to graduate from 4th to 5th. Taking these numbers in consideration Jørn Brandt would have been 16
(14) when he graduated to 1st dan.
Another way is having a minimum of three years between each Dan graduation, this would mean Jørn Brandt would have been 18(16) when he received his 1st dan. However I have never heard of anyone doing it in the minimum required time.

Jørn Brandt claims to have received his black belt in the U.S. However he is not able to mention any specific school as he travelled a lot working as a security guard. If this is a fact he must have spend at leas three years of training before receiving his black belt, most people take 6-7 years before graduating to 1st dan. But even with the three years before graduating to first dan this would make him 15(13) and working as a security guard?!...

I find it interesting that the students of Jørn Brandt almost never participate in Seminars when international instructors are teaching in Denmark. In 1999 Jørn Brandt stated that there was nothing new to learn. Or is it a matter of fear. That he should discovered as a fraud, or atleast not be as skilled as he claims.
It also seems that he disapproves of his students participating in seminars.
Both with other Kenpo instructors. But also in other styles.
Another troubling subject is the diplomas. I have personally talked to many instructors from the U.S but none of them have ever heard of Jørn Brandt, or trained with. And neither have they ever graduated him.
I believe he has learned most of his skills from the Larry Tatum video collection. As we say in Kenpo: Monkey see, monkey do!
I have many serious accusations regarding Mr Brandt. Most of them do not belong in a public forum. But one fact I do like to state publicly, is the logo Jørn Brandt is using, Which Tatum also uses. Is NOT made by Jørn Brandt but by a former student of his.

The above is less than a fraction of the material I have gathered about Jørn Brandt. No doubt about it, he seem like a nice and trust worthy persons, until you compare his different versions of the truth.

There is more, so much more. But this will be all for now

Best Regards
KD

**Oldefar** · Posted On: 7/11/2005 1:30am

Hi all, this is my first post here, and I know the person in question, having once upon a time been a student under him, and I also know the individual known as KD.
I realise this is an old thread that I am resurrecting, but I would just like to add weight to the comments made by KD.

The club I train at were, as I said, once upon a time, affiliated with Jørn Brandt, but we left due to "issues" if you will.
Upon announcing our intent to move elsewhere, my instrutor was treated with the utmost discourtesy, and a threat was made that we were no longer entitled to our belts and should return them post haste.
When my instructor reminded him that we had paid (over the odds) for them, and earned the right to wear them, my instructor also offerered the opportunity for him to come take them himself, an offer which was never taken up.
Jørn Brandt and his wife, Lis, are members of LTKKA, and make claims to ranks/titles which are, at best, spurious.
The couple are currently under investigation by the Danish police for fraud and tax evasion related to the running of their club/organisation.

A word to the wise: Do not take this individual at face value, initially he can appear to be an intelligent honest and knowledgable practitioner, but I can assure you that appearances can, in this case, be decieving.