Stuart Hinkin: Another BJJ fraud in the UK (Bridlington)

**RobT** · Posted On: 5/16/2009 1:13pm

Hi guys, the EFN forum (http://www.efnsports.com/forum/) have recently spotted another instance of fraudulant BJJ in the UK so I wanted to bring it to your attention.

This is the original thread about it; http://www.efnsports.com/forum/index.php?topic=6074.0

This is the club's site (Facebook); http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26314203157

This is my exchange of messages with an instructor from the club and the chairman of the Facebook group;

Originally Posted by Rob T

Hello Stuart

I am interested as to who teaches your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lesson, what rank they are and who they train under?

Thanks
Rob.

Originally Posted by Stuart Hicken

hi who are you and what do you do in matial arts

Originally Posted by RobT

I train at Gracie Barra Swansea and I'm a purple belt in BJJ under Braulio Estima (black belt).

Who teaches your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class, what rank do they hold and who awarded them that rank?

Originally Posted by Stuart Hicken

the bjj jujisu is a new class s just starting , we already have three 10th dan s in jujitsu a master in judo ,a 5th danin judo 8th dan master in wado 6th dan master in shotokan ,6th dan in bujitsu a master in stav . and a few 2nd and 3rd dan pluss afree style master europian champion in free stye , seems to be a lot of question from a purple belt, do you live near here now . do you want to train here or why the questions

Originally Posted by Stuart Hicken

by the way why the silly mask

Originally Posted by Rob T

So you have no-one who holds rank in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

I don't live nearby, I told you I train in Gracie Barra Swansea. I am concerned about any clubs which claim to teach the art which I have busted my ass at to earn the rank I hold (do you realise how hard it is to get a legitimate purple belt in BJJ?). I find it pretty annoying when people who have not gained any rank in BJJ decide they can teach it.

So, who teaches your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class? What is their rank in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and who promoted them to that rank?

I don't understand why these questions are so difficult to answer. You asked me about my rank and I responded quite simply.

By "silly mask" I assume you are talking about my profile picture? It's a photoshop I made, I like art.

Originally Posted by Stuart Hinkin

listen your a puple belt im a 6th dan and your annoying me now i dont care what you think so just get on with your own business you've got a lot to lean i know how hard it is a lot more than you so get on with it and by the way i dont care if you understand , your instuctor should teach you more respect a purple belt in any style is just a beginner as far as im concerned
. stick to your art mate

Originally Posted by Rob T

Your knowledge of what a purple belt in BJJ means shows that you obviously have absolutely no idea about the art at all. I do not care what dan you are, it is nothing to do with BJJ at all.

I have not shown you any disrespect at all. I asked you simple questions which, if you had legit BJJ credentials, should have been easy for you to answer. As it stands, it is clear you have just called a lesson "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" to attract students and make money.

Read the messages back, you have been the only one to show any disrespect. Quite strange from someone from a traditional martial art, which I always thought tend to really push the whole "respectful attitude" thing.

I think you may come to regret this message, there was no need for the hostility.

I'd be grateful for any help on this. Obviously I'm not going to be welcome to the Facebook group. Can anyone join up to it and send all the members links to this or the EFN thread?

Also, what about the credentials, does anyone know anything about them? My knowledge of martial arts outside of BJJ is basically nil.

**JingMerchant!** · Posted On: 5/16/2009 2:32pm

Originally Posted by Stuart Hicken

the bjj jujisu is a new class s just starting , we already have three 10th dan s in jujitsu a master in judo ,a 5th danin judo 8th dan master in wado 6th dan master in shotokan ,6th dan in bujitsu a master in stav . and a few 2nd and 3rd dan pluss afree style master europian champion in free stye , seems to be a lot of question from a purple belt, do you live near here now . do you want to train here or why the questions

Well, having three 10th dans around means, as Mtripp will atest to, that you have three individuals who have literally dedicated their lives to Jujitsu and have performed above and beyond the call of duty for it.

I find it strange that they have a "Master" of Judo as well as an 8th dan. An 8th dan in Judo would also suggest a lifetimes commitment, I would suspect there is a limited amount of these people, there may be a list somewhere.

I have no idea what a master of "stav" is... One could be generous and say that's a typo, considering the DIRE spelling and punctuation....

I was under the impression that "Bujitsu" is an umbrella term for combat arts - One can't get rank in Bujitsu... I could be wrong about that.

Freestyle what...?

Jesus wept Rob, you've come across a live one here...!!!

**1point2** · Posted On: 5/16/2009 3:13pm

Sounds like a bunch of rank-inflating blowhards. Well written post on their facebook group.

It looks like they're a karate club that added BJJ, MMA, and women's S-D because that's the terms that bring people in. They deserve justice in the form of RNC.

**Lu Tze** · Posted On: 5/16/2009 3:28pm

I believe it's a 5th dan in Judo, not 8th. Oh, and a "master", whatever that means.

**RobT** · Posted On: 5/16/2009 5:26pm

Stav is some viking bollocks;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stav

http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/stav.html

http://www.iceandfire.org.uk/martial.html

Posting this bit to try to make this thread get picked up on Google searches; Bridlington Karate and Mixed Martial Arts club Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu BJJ STAV

**RobT** · Posted On: 5/16/2009 5:30pm

One of their guys, Ray Wood, appears on here http://www.nationalbujutsu.co.cc/ under the Grandmasters part (turn your speakers down before going to the Grandmasters page!).

Looks like the usual circle-jerk type thing??

**The Dog Father** · Posted On: 5/17/2009 5:30am

I think after 1st dan you just pay for your belt, this Stuart hiccken got and jumped 2 dan grades just for putting on a grading at his club. Student grading £20 a pop Kerching Kerching

**bassai** · Posted On: 5/17/2009 5:54am

I kinda wondered how long it would take shotokan clubs to cash in on machidas success , this is just a circle jerk group , mr Hicken got his 6th dan a couple of months ago for "exceptional duties to martial arts" according to the facebook page.

**JingMerchant!** · Posted On: 5/17/2009 5:54am

D'oh...!!

Thanks Lu...

It is the usual circle jerk affair. Anything genuine, with this level and quantity of martial talent, would have some level of national aclaim.

**RobT** · Posted On: 5/17/2009 11:58am

There have been further posts made on behalf of the club (on the EFN forum) now. A highlight of the claims;

-- The club is a charity and doesnt make any money from its classes.

then later on, after being informed that someone had searched and could not find any registered charity which could be them;

-- Its is a community Club, with a Community Bank Account. We have recently moved from our old training center and to our new one (8th March 2009) and the Charity is in the middle of application for the new club. It was previously 'West Hill Sports Academy'.

Re: the class timetable clearly stating "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu";

-- I appologies for my 'typo'

and then;

-- There was going to be a BJJ Class held on a Sunday. This was replace by Dave Watkinson's Class. I managed to not delete out the previous details. I'm afraid I don't know the name of the guy who was going to teach it. My brother will do as he is very keen to learn BJJ, he currently is a 3rd Dan in Shotokan. I will try find out for you.

However, this was posted on the wall of their Facebook group;

-- Josh Stubbs wrote
at 13:50 on 16 March 2009
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is great, I have done a bit before and it was really good!