Has anyone ever trained with Oscar Thrower?

**doninha** · Posted On: 3/15/2007 12:09pm

Has anyone here had experience with an instructor in Virginia named Oscar Thrower? He taught for some time at the United Karate Institute of Self-Defense (now defunct), and has been known to teach at various other places in the area. I've had plenty of experience with him in the past, but I'd like to know if he rings a bell with anyone here...

doninha

**Tom Kagan** · Posted On: 3/15/2007 12:24pm

doninha,

Since you are a newb and after reading your introductory thread, I'm going to leave this post here for now. But please note the stated intention of this sub-forum:

The official forum for Bullshido. Serious discussion on McDojos, questionable Martial Artists, and relevant issues only. Help us fight fraud in the Martial Arts by contributing well-thought-out threads and ideas on the subject.

I trust your next post in this thread will not be adding on to your "shout out" and actually have some substance behind what I think you have in mind. Otherwise, my next action will be to trollshido this thread.

**doninha** · Posted On: 3/15/2007 3:50pm

Then allow me to elaborate. Oscar Thrower taught at the aforementioned school for many years, claiming to be a black belt in multiple styles, including Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Judo, Sambo, Jujitsu, Kung Fu, Tai Chi and yes this list would go on if I could remember half the bullshit he would spout. He had many "disciples" that followed him around even after UKISD had gone out of business. He taught his classes from a Gold's Gym afterwards, where he would often not show up to teach his class for *weeks* at a time. That school has since dissolved as well, but I keep hearing rumors that he is still teaching in the area. I want to know if anyone on this board has had contact with him, or has even heard of him. He isn't nearly as notible as Ashida Kim or Coda Scott, but his BS is on par. I can only find two traces of him online anymore...

http://www.mastersnest.com/world_registry.htm
http://www.roman-pictures.com/Photos/Oscar181.jpg

He's definitely past his prime, but if he's still out there teaching, I'd like to expose him before he takes advantage of any more naive students.

Doninha

**mulder0199** · Posted On: 5/10/2007 8:07pm

Originally Posted by doninha

Has anyone here had experience with an instructor in Virginia named Oscar Thrower? He taught for some time at the United Karate Institute of Self-Defense (now defunct), and has been known to teach at various other places in the area. I've had plenty of experience with him in the past, but I'd like to know if he rings a bell with anyone here...

doninha

donna i know him

**mulder0199** · Posted On: 5/15/2007 6:23pm

I do know where oscar thrower is and he is still teaching and he has many students what is wrong with his teaching he seems to have all the appr. documentation

**Teh El Macho** · Posted On: 5/15/2007 9:09pm

Originally Posted by mulder0199

I do know where oscar thrower is and he is still teaching and he has many students what is wrong with his teaching he seems to have all the appr. documentation

What's your relationship or affiliatio nwith Oscar Thrower, if any? As a student, acquaintance, training partner? And what type of proper documentation are you referring to?

**mulder0199** · Posted On: 5/16/2007 8:38pm

Originally Posted by El Macho

What's your relationship or affiliatio nwith Oscar Thrower, if any? As a student, acquaintance, training partner? And what type of proper documentation are you referring to?

I have been training with oscar for a while learning from him as well as teaching him is there something that i may need to know about him????

**mulder0199** · Posted On: 5/16/2007 8:42pm

if someone could give me some info on oscar thrower that would be good like i said i am training with him as well as training him please tell me anything i might need to know

**doninha** · Posted On: 5/16/2007 10:16pm

Here is what I know of him from firsthand experience:

I joined the school at which he was the head instructor, United Karate Institute of Self Defense, Inc., in 1997. At the time, I was interested in learning Aikido, which he immediately told me he was black belt in. That's all I needed. After showing me some various techniques, I was sold. Of course, I had to join the regular program as well, which consisted of a blend of Tae Kwon Do and Kenpo. After progressing quickly through the ranks, I went through various phases of training with him which consisted of the following:

Training in Drunken Monkey Kung Fu (each week he would show me a new piece of a form which was never the same)
Training in Aikido and Aiki-jujitsu
Tai Chi
Sambo
Kickboxing
And of course... Capoeira

I only really trust my knowledge of Capoeira, as that is now my specialty. After starting to train Capoeira with Oscar, I began seriously questioning what he was teaching me. He didn't know the names of the movements, his ginga (basic footwork) was worse than a first year student (which I know all about now), he didn't have any knowledge of the music or history. He also proceeded to tell me that the stripes on the pants of some capoeiristas on a DVD were their rank. In Capoeira, ropes are worn around the waist to signify rank. He didn't even know that much.

I started to find different sources to learn capoeira while I was still training at UKISD, and I was appalled at the lies that I found out about. He told me he trained Capoeira in Brasil for 2 years with his cousin who is a master. He told me that he spent a few years at the Shaolin Temple learning Kung Fu when he was a kid while his Daddy was in the military. I can't even remember half of the things he said.

A friend of mine who was much closer to him has even more appalling stories concerning his personal life, but that would be hearsay.I am DEFINITELY inclined to believe my friend about everything he says.

That said, I'm sure some of his claims are valid. He was a decent TKD fighter, a good grappler and I did see some pictures and clips of some pretty hard sparring apart from what he did with us. I'm more inclined to believe that he has a valid rank in TKD or Sambo, but that is probably it.

The sheer scope of his lies is ming boggling though. I know that his Tai Chi was taken from a White Crane Kung Fu book that he had in the school office. And don't get me started in his Bullshido techniques...

If you are training with him, I would RELENTLESSLY check out his certifications. I was too young to care about certifications at the time... Perhaps you could bring some of his claims here so we can help research them. I'd personally like to know what (if anything) he told me was true. And dammit, don't believe a single thing he says at face value.

He is simply the least trustworthy person I've ever met in my entire life. And I work with lawyers...

Doninha