Fang Shen Do

[It is Fake]

That's fair. If is a big word tho bro!

You can't help but feel sorry for those being blinded by the FSD org. They are almost like the people in Plato's cave, seeing only the shadows of reality flickering against a dark background. The difference is no one chained up the people in Plato's cave, whereas the FSD hierarchy is responsible for the training of its students. The dark deceivers fucking up the potential of their students and extracting alot of cash in return. Anger towards them will always outweigh the pity I have for their students, and not because the latter is in short supply.

If you know any one still in the cult or with contacts with, if not you aren't already drop this site name in conversation!

As a former McDojo Instructor you guys don't know the half. For a while here a favorite saying was STFU and Train. I used to want to PM everyone that said this and tell them to STFU.

This is one of the greatest tools to make students feel guilty about being on the internet. Let us say I spend 5 hours on this forum. That is 5 hours I could be training. Many people take this to heart.

Funny thing is, it is okay to spend 5 hours searching for postive messages about Chi, Tai Chi, internal arts, anti-BJJ and POSITIVE TMA articles.

See the contradiction. Yeah?? Well most fully immeresed students don't. It took me awhile and I'm now persona non-grata. You lose good friends (a 12 year friend for myself), training partners, and a comfort zone.

Thing is the positives outweigh the negatives. I don't have to lie everyday. I don't have to dodge questions. I found out who were my real friends. There is no pressure and weird looks from the normal (non-MA) people.

[TKD Black Belt]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Now I feel bad for critiquing your latin on the other thread! As a further public service I would like to point out the Gracie McDojo thread and the disappearance of Enhanced and Corvus.

TKD

PS - Locu5 they should be easy to pick out on the street in their matching shoes and hand bag ensembles. Just watch out for phantom elbows, if those videos are accurate they're devastating!

PPS - I got post number #600!!! Do I get a badge or something?

[Locu5]

You get to be Aesopian's bottom for a day. I was going to auction it off for charity, but since you are so deserving and all...

[GreenHornet]

http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/art/t/...theriault.html
in other news: fsd is so time consuming that this poor "artist" has no more time to draw. Oh the agony!!!

but to come in defense of some fsd instructors, not all of them are morons... Brian Paquette, who is clearly "in" the fsd propaganda, still made some fund raising for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): http://www.fatherphoenix.com/
in fact many fsd members were in fundraising movements...

the more I think about it, the more it reminds me of McDonalds: one of the biggest capitalist empire and yet always doing fundraises. this is ethicaly disturbing.

[dictionary69]

Hello, question for crazy mount? I read that you taught that the downtown school was the worst? Why would you say so? One thing that is common here on the people complaining is that they are from the downtown school I think? Is this true? Any other [people on here that are from other schools? Just wondering what the real problem is? Is it the school there or what? Anybody have some feedback on that? Cheeerrss

[Askari]

Just wondering what the real problem is? Is it the school there or what? Anybody have some feedback on that?

Have you even read this thread?

The whole thing actually started off fairly positively thining that maybe there was some value to the system. Then the FSD-Sifoods (like yourself) began to post Sh!t and send bizarre PMs to everyone. Then all the strange scientology and immortality stuff started to come out.

This cult is bizarre, that is the problem.

[Crazy Mount]

Hello, question for crazy mount? I read that you taught that the downtown school was the worst? Why would you say so? One thing that is common here on the people complaining is that they are from the downtown school I think? Is this true? Any other [people on here that are from other schools? Just wondering what the real problem is? Is it the school there or what? Anybody have some feedback on that? Cheeerrss

Well hello Dic69,

I'm going to assume that you are generally concerned about the FSD organization and wish to correct some of the problems so to make it a better school. Therefor I'm going to give you a very truthful answer in hopes that you have the power to make some changes.

I have to say that I wasn't a student at the downtown school but did have the opportunity to train there occasionally. For me it seemed that most of my bad experiences with FSD happened at that school which I thought pretty bad considering I didn't get there often. If you go to a restraunt 5 times, and 4 out of those 5 times the food was bad you'd probably stop going there and spending your money. However, having said that I did have bad experiences at other schools also, including Martins in Montreal.

You only need to read this thread to find out the real problems sifu. I can tell you that Mrs. P. should stop trying to make students guilty for not wanting to hand over there money. She need also stop trying to blackmail some students into taking seminars. Also there are many sifus (I'm just going to call them head instructors) who have to stop giving these stupid reasonings as to how a student can afford the seminar. For example, hey Mr. Pink do you drink coffee? How much do you spend on coffee a day? Oh 3 dollars did you know that's 21 dollars a week and 84 dollars a month. The seminar only costs 79.99$. Do you go to movies that's another 20 dollars blah, blah, blah. The students realize the value of their money and just don't want to take the fucking seminar. I've read David Back's "Automatic Millionaire" and his get rich latte factor so stop trying to play financial advisor to these students. I don't see your CFA papers to do so.

So that's one gigantic problem because it's pissing students off. I will refrain from addressing another one as this post is becoming long.

Cheers:20bux: :20bux: :20bux: :20bux: :20bux: :20bux:

[Stringfellow]

Just following up on some rumours that I've heard recently. Can anyone shed any light on any of the following:

I've heard that in the past couple of months (hmmm - that seems to coincide with the publication of a certain article here) Stephane Patenaude has had all of his assistant instructors quit, leaving him to run his school all on his own. Anyone reading this go to the Orleans school? True or false?

I've also been told of an incident in Cornwall that happened some time ago (I don't have a good timeframe on it yet - sorry). Apparently there was a Fang Shen Do demonstration at a fashion show there. I was told that a guy in the audience was mouthing off during the demonstration, implying that he could take 3 or 4 of the FSD boys on all by himself. I was also told that in response Pat Marcil leaped off of the stage and proceeded to give this guy a more personal demonstration, in plain view of everyone. As I understand it charges were laid and Pat was convicted of assault but served no time (something about the other guy instigating the incident and lying to the judge about some details). Can anyone expand on this?

For those "in the field" - I appreciate your input and keep it coming. If you have information that you'd like to share, PM me with it (and provide sources if you can).

[GreenHornet]

I've heard that in the past couple of months (hmmm - that seems to coincide with the publication of a certain article here) Stephane Patenaude has had all of his assistant instructors quit, leaving him to run his school all on his own. Anyone reading this go to the Orleans school? True or false?

Wouldnt that be great? Seriously, if bullshido was able to do that, I swear I will devote myself to the gods of bullshido (which I already do btw)

I've also been told of an incident in Cornwall that happened some time ago (I don't have a good timeframe on it yet - sorry). Apparently there was a Fang Shen Do demonstration at a fashion show there. I was told that a guy in the audience was mouthing off during the demonstration, implying that he could take 3 or 4 of the FSD boys on all by himself. I was also told that in response Pat Marcil leaped off of the stage and proceeded to give this guy a more personal demonstration, in plain view of everyone. As I understand it charges were laid and Pat was convicted of assault but served no time (something about the other guy.

again I can't help you on this one, but I know that Pat. is reputed to have a short temper, there were rumors about him kicking someone in the throat for no serious reason.

[bummer]

Ex-FSD member

A while ago I did a 6 month stay with FSD at 80$/month.(50% off for 6 months contract). I did not have a positive experience with them, and I will also say that a lot of the shit I've been reading in this thread is just plain crazy, but might be true.

To their defense, I would like to point out that they don't claim to be an MMA / Competition-based organisation - it's basically a fitness gym with some (very little) kung-fu between the warm-up/stretchings and the stations. There is sparring for less than an hour per week, and is basically a free-for-all (which I might've enjoyed, but isn't advancing your skills in the end). You could see all the fancy techniques we've learned throughout the week go out the window.

I think Fang Shen Do's target audience is more the "young teen whose parents will pay for anything to get him off his computer and gain self-comfidence" type, and it's primary goal and focus is to make shitloads of money. I have never been pressured to attend any seminars (I never did) nor to spend extra cash, but I've seen a few "weaker-minded" (no disrespect at all) members have it done to them. I also have seen poor (more like ridiculous) performances at exams, which still resulted in the awarding of a sash. This applies especially to the newcomers, in order to "hook 'em up".

I will say this though; I had an excellent relationship with the instructors. They ARE efficient fighters (I'm guessing some have boxing/muay thai backgrounds) but they are also aware of what they must do in order to keep their rank in the FSD hierarchy. Whatever training they've been up to secretely, they do a damn good job of hiding it to the FSD "disciples".

As far as the poo-sniffing, I'm sorry but not even JP is able to pull that off. Some of the FSD practicioners work in law-enforcement, and, well, that is just overboard. The feet washing? It is more than plausible, considering their voodoo spiritual tendencies. I would like to add that the fight in '03 did take place. I have no business defending them, I just know it for a fact. The quality of the event/fighters is questionable though.

Bottom line : they really are after your wallet, not recommandable ESPECIALLY if you are looking to improve your fighting skills. And even if you're not, there are tons of gym out there that can get you in the same shape for 1/3rd of the price. Hell, you can buy your own gym with a year's worth of FSD suscribtion. I believe my opinion to be an honest and neutral POV, as is StringFellow's - good job on the article, I believe this thread will play a role in FSD's downfall. If I've found and followed the thread for weeks before reacting, I'm sure others did and will do as well. Hope my english isn't all that bad, feel free to PM me. Please refrain from being disrespectful if you disagree with me because I have done my best to adress you all with the upmost respect. Thank you all. Sorry for the bad use of the enter key, I am not very familiar with the message board format.

[Askari]

Hi Bummer,
Your post is very balanced, good work.

One quick question, what kind of gloves did Marcel wear in his supposed MMA fight?

MMA is a sport with very specifice requirements, including the type of glove. A match wearing boxing gloves does not count as MMA. Otherwise its "Mixed Boxe" or "ShootBoxe".

I still think any full contact fighting is good, just dont like it when kickboxers/boxers claim MMA. It would be like a volleyball player claiming to have played pro football.

[Stringfellow]

Bummer,

I second Askari's comment - excellent post. Very balanced and objective. I'm glad to have the perspective of someone who hasn't been in it for years (and the fact that it bears out my observations is a bonus). If you have other observations to share, please do. This thread could use some new blood.

[red-dragon]

Awhile back, the top assistant instructor at the orleans school had a falling out with the owner (SP) over paying more money, he left and so did another assistant instructor. This guy was well liked and respected by all the students there, as a result the other assistant instructors received a tongue lashing from SP on how lucky they all were to be training in FSD, it obviously did not sit well with them and it opened their eyes to what was really going on, a money grab, so they decided to pack it in as well.

[Stringfellow]

red-dragon:

Are you saying that you know that the other instructors left or are you simply providing a possible motive if they left? Just want to be clear.

[red-dragon]

red-dragon:

Are you saying that you know that the other instructors left or are you simply providing a possible motive if they left? Just want to be clear.

The top assistant instructor and one other assistant left together, this is fact. The rest followed shortly after, this was passed on to me by a FSD student.