Mike White - BJJ Black Belt?

**Kisujede** · Posted On: 9/30/2009 11:44am

I am extremely new here, though I've lurked a bit. I hope I'm going about this the right way.

I haven't had any experience with Mike White personally, I just came across a thread about him on the BJJ forum @ mixedmartialarts.com

Basically, this guy is accused of falsely representing himself as a Black Belt under Royce Gracie. He teaches BJJ in Annandale, Virginia. I'll follow with quotes and videos of the guy from the original thread, which can be found here:

http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/?go=...1&page=1&pc=68

From the website: http://www.sportandhealth.com/offeri...?sn=70&id=2232 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu "The World's Most Effective Self-Defense and Fighting Style" Escape dangerous Street Attacks! Learn Submission Maneuvers! Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu "The Worlds Most Effective Self Defense and Fighting Style" Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu follows the path of least resistance, thrives on surprise and reversal and is less interest in power than in technique. It allows a smaller, man or woman to prevail against a more physically imposing opponent. Leverage and balance are used as technique, no strength is required. 95% of all attacks will end up on the ground. Understanding how to defend yourself from the ground/ bottom is a necessity. Our system looks at all of the worst possible attacks and offers true solutions to those situations. Mike White was taught Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the original undefeated Ultimate Fighting Champion. We focus on Sport Competition, No holds barred, Street Application and Self Defense. We offer the area's most effective and detailed women's self defense system. Get fit and learn self defense in a friendly team environment. Our Program was recently promoted and sponsored by HOT 99.5 Class schedule: Tuesday 8pm - 9:30pm All levels Thursday 8pm - 9:30pm All levels Saturday 9am - 10am Advanced 10am - 11am Women's Self Defense 11am - 12pm Adult beginners & Kids Cost: 20 classes for $200 *Nonmembers add an additional access fee of 30% to all classes. Contact: Mike White at 703-256-6600 or email to mwhite@sportandhealth.com.

One of my employees used to work with this Mike White guy.

I emailed him asking him what his rank is, who he trained with and if he competes. This was his response:

Hello Jeff,

thanks for the inquiry.

I have 15 year's training in Jiu-Jitsu. I have trained with too
many people to list. I teach my OWN style of Jiu-Jitsu. Not
Brazilian,Gracie,etc. My own. I would recommend other schools in
the area. I have a small group of guys(no women) that I train. I
focus my time as a personal trainer.

What Sport&Health is she interested in joining? I can recommend
from there.

Mike White
CPT - National Academy Sports Medicine
Boot Camp & Youth Fit Instructor
*cough* total fraud *cough*

Videos of this instructor and his "black belt" level BJJ in action:

YouTube - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

YouTube - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

YouTube - Brazilian Jiu-Jits

This is two of his purple belts in a match that was the finals of an in house tournament:

YouTube - Lance/Robert - Title

Smells like fraud to me.

**CoffeeFan** · Posted On: 9/30/2009 12:11pm

I'm not sure what the website said before, but reading it now doesn't show any mention of BJJ/GJJ, just Jiu-Jitsu.

Jiu-Jitsu

"The World's Most Effective Self-Defense and Fighting Style"
Escape dangerous Street Attacks! Learn Submission Maneuvers!
Jiu-Jitsu

"The Worlds Most Effective Self Defense and Fighting Style"

Jiu-Jitsu follows the path of least resistance, thrives on surprise and reversal and is less interest in power
than in technique. It allows a smaller, man or woman to prevail against a more physically imposing opponent. Leverage and balance are used as technique, no strength is required. 95% of all attacks will end up on the ground. Understanding how to defend yourself from the ground/ bottom is a necessity. Our system looks at all of the worst possible attacks and offers true solutions to those situations.

Mike White was taught Jiu-Jitsu from the original undefeated Ultimate Fighting Champion. We focus on Sport
Competition, No holds barred, Street Application and Self Defense.

We offer the area's most effective and detailed Boot Camp. Get fit and learn self defense in a friendly team environment. Our Program was recently promoted and sponsored by HOT 99.5

Class schedule:
Tuesdays: 8-9:30pm All levels
Wednesdays: 7-8pm Boot Camp; 8-9pm Jiu-Jitsu
Thursdays: 8pm - 9:30pm All levels
Saturdays: 9-10am Advanced; 10-11am Boot Camp(co-ed)

Cost:
8 classes for $100
20 classes for $200

*Nonmembers add an additional access fee of 30% to all classes.

Contact: Mike White at 703-256-6600 or email to mwhite@sportandhealth.com.

Plus in his email he even says outright that he isn't teaching BJJ

Hello Jeff,

thanks for the inquiry.

I have 15 year's training in Jiu-Jitsu. I have trained with too
many people to list. I teach my OWN style of Jiu-Jitsu. Not
Brazilian,Gracie,etc. My own. I would recommend other schools in
the area. I have a small group of guys(no women) that I train. I
focus my time as a personal trainer.

What Sport&Health is she interested in joining? I can recommend
from there.

I don't see what the problem is.

**DKJr** · Posted On: 9/30/2009 12:26pm

I actually don't see anything technically wrong with his grappling. His blue belts could have had some better passing skills, but they looked kinda old and not in great shape so. Like Coffee said he's not saying it's BJJ it may be a McDojo with average grappling, but he's not a fraud BJJ blackbelt. Now do I think it's slightly dishonest to wear the BJJ gi and a blackbelt, yup sure do. He's being sleazy for sure.

**Rene "Zendokan" Gysenbergs** · Posted On: 9/30/2009 12:56pm

Quote:
From the website: http://www.sportandhealth.com/offeri...?sn=70&id=2232 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu "The World's Most Effective Self-Defense and Fighting Style" Escape dangerous Street Attacks! Learn Submission Maneuvers! Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu "The Worlds Most Effective Self Defense and Fighting Style" Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu follows the path of least resistance, thrives on surprise and reversal and is less interest in power than in technique. It allows a smaller, man or woman to prevail against a more physically imposing opponent. Leverage and balance are used as technique, no strength is required. 95% of all attacks will end up on the ground. Understanding how to defend yourself from the ground/ bottom is a necessity. Our system looks at all of the worst possible attacks and offers true solutions to those situations. Mike White was taught Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the original undefeated Ultimate Fighting Champion. We focus on Sport Competition, No holds barred, Street Application and Self Defense. We offer the area's most effective and detailed women's self defense system. Get fit and learn self defense in a friendly team environment. Our Program was recently promoted and sponsored by HOT 99.5 Class schedule: Tuesday 8pm - 9:30pm All levels Thursday 8pm - 9:30pm All levels Saturday 9am - 10am Advanced 10am - 11am Women's Self Defense 11am - 12pm Adult beginners & Kids Cost: 20 classes for $200 *Nonmembers add an additional access fee of 30% to all classes. Contact: Mike White at 703-256-6600 or email to mwhite@sportandhealth.com.

He's sending some conflicting signals around.

Mike White was taught Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the original undefeated Ultimate Fighting Champion. --> That would give the impression that he was a student of Royce Gracie

Quote:
One of my employees used to work with this Mike White guy.

I emailed him asking him what his rank is, who he trained with and if he competes. This was his response:

Hello Jeff,

thanks for the inquiry.

I have 15 year's training in Jiu-Jitsu. I have trained with too
many people to list. I teach my OWN style of Jiu-Jitsu. Not
Brazilian,Gracie,etc. My own. I would recommend other schools in
the area. I have a small group of guys(no women) that I train. I
focus my time as a personal trainer.

What Sport&Health is she interested in joining? I can recommend
from there.

Mike White
CPT - National Academy Sports Medicine
Boot Camp & Youth Fit Instructor

and here he's covering himself, saying that he doesn't teach BJJ/GJJ/MJJ.

He's really a "Douchebag Deluxe"'.

**Rolling Stoned** · Posted On: 9/30/2009 2:24pm

Maybe he was a white belt at a Royce school when he decided that it was quicker just to make up his own stuff?

**Ka-Bar** · Posted On: 9/30/2009 3:44pm

Why are his youtube videos titled "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu"?

Why is he wearing a gi with a flag of Brazil on it?

Why does he imply that he trained with Royce?

Because he wants people to think he teaches BJJ.

He got called out on it by someone who knows better and he tried to cover his ass, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that if some 16 year old kid came to his school looking to learn BJJ, he wouldn't issue that same disclaimer.

I swear, some of you guys are too soft on these motherfuckers.

**DKJr** · Posted On: 9/30/2009 4:19pm

Originally Posted by Ka-Bar

Why are his youtube videos titled "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu"?

Why is he wearing a gi with a flag of Brazil on it?

Why does he imply that he trained with Royce?

Because he wants people to think he teaches BJJ.

He got called out on it by someone who knows better and he tried to cover his ass, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that if some 16 year old kid came to his school looking to learn BJJ, he wouldn't issue that same disclaimer.

I swear, some of you guys are too soft on these motherfuckers.

Just a little soft. He's for sure being a misleading sleaze weasel, but really all we can do is say it's bullshit subpar grappling till he can prove it in competition.

**Rene "Zendokan" Gysenbergs** · Posted On: 9/30/2009 5:40pm

Mike White was taught Jiu-Jitsu from the original undefeated Ultimate Fighting Champion. --> the "Brazilian" is gone.

**Punisher** · Posted On: 9/30/2009 6:25pm

Originally Posted by Ka-Bar

Why are his youtube videos titled "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu"?

Why is he wearing a gi with a flag of Brazil on it?

Why does he imply that he trained with Royce?

Because he wants people to think he teaches BJJ.

He got called out on it by someone who knows better and he tried to cover his ass, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that if some 16 year old kid came to his school looking to learn BJJ, he wouldn't issue that same disclaimer.

I swear, some of you guys are too soft on these motherfuckers.

How do we know the youtube videos are even of this guy or who put them up. There's nothing really on the clips saying Mike White. Just a generic title saying Brazlilan Jiu Jitsu. You bascially have to take TS word for it.

I could just as easily start at thread saying "OMG!!! Ka-Bar is Fake Marine Rick Duncan!!!" and post this clip:
YouTube - Fake Marine Rick Duncan talks during forum in Colorado

Bullshit. Absolutely, but with about as much proof of fraud as anyone who has posted here so far.

The guy DOESN'T say he is a BJJ blackbelt and I don't mind him staying he's trained under Royce Gracie if it is really true, even if it were for a week, a month, or even just a seminar. As a former school owner myself, I know what its like for a former instructor to want some sort of payment for simply stating on your website that you trained under him at one time and having to resort to bullshit like saying "trained under the founder of such and such".

I have no problem calling a fraud a fraud, if there is proof. And I don't see it here yet.

**EternalRage** · Posted On: 9/30/2009 6:58pm

NHB Gear Forum thread where a Mike White purple is feeling suspicious about his promotion:
http://www.nhbgear.com/forum/index.p...c,87055.0.html

NHB Gear Forum thread from 2008 about White:
http://www.nhbgear.com/forum/index.p...240.0/all.html

Supposedly this was Mike White calling out black belts in an NHB thread:
http://www.nhbgear.com/forum/index.p...c,79366.0.html

Google-fu also turned up evidence of his students competing, one of whom is the person who started the first thread I linked:
http://www.usgrappling.us/events/copa-nova-ii/