"Lieutenant X" Admits False Advertising

[golok]

I've become convinced that a certain nontrivial percentage of the martial arts population actually want crap.

Real martial arts are taught in squalid garages. The semi-charlatans end up with huge populations of students who they teach in fitness centers that they own. This is a generalization of course but like so many generalizations it seems to hold true more often than one would like.

I've known so many excellent teachers and martial artists over the years who are basically picking shit with the chickens. I've helped two hardcore teachers pack up their old style cable weight machines and their bloodstained heavybags for the last time because they couldn't pay the rent. Meanwhile the guys who market "navy seal fighting" have advertisements on Drudge Report.

It's just discouraging. How hard would it be for these guys to sell something legitimate? It's not like there aren't legit systems that are undermarketed, that they could package up and sell.

But OH NO.

[It is Fake]

Yes, we have had both discussions that you are bothered by right now.

Yes, some people like to larp. IMO that is fine. It still means they should get legit larping training.

5%-15% isn't huge. Still, if we stop one person from doing something dumb, I think we did something good.

[batsugan]

If we can serve the 5% to 15% of the martial arts newbie market that actually wants to actively protect their own interests as consumers then we've done our jobs.

Hell, if Bullshido saves 1 person from a scam it is well worth it.

[golok]

Hell, if Bullshido saves 1 person from a scam it is well worth it.

You think that's worth all the effort that all of you go to? Aside from the "fun factor," and you know you all enjoy the mockery (as do I), I don't really know if the effort is worth it.

You've probably already discussed to death the idea of putting together your own system and marketing it, and you've probably come to the conclusion that it's not a good idea for one reason or another, so forgive me for this, but I think that if you want to save people from scams, effort tends to be far better spent on efforts that are fundamentally positive-- that is, creating something-- rather than the antieffort of constantly trying to deal with these guys as they crop up.

That's an effort similar to a one-legged man trying to stamp out a prairie fire.

If you could put something out and use its own momentum to market it, you'd be able to compete more effectively with these guys who are now rich enough to advertise on mainstream news sites.

Just a suggestion and again I mean no offense by beating what's probably a dead horse.

[Kintanon]

Those things already exist.
We just have to point people to them.
But part of that is educating the populace about what is and is not proper martial arts for a given purpose. I mean really, why should anyone listen to use over Grand Master CIA Operative Special Forces Instructor 15th Dan Black Belt Ninja Dude? We try to spell that out here on the site and demonstrate what is and is not credible combat ability. Once people understand the difference only THEN will they listen when we start the ol' BJJ/MT/Judo/Wrestling/Boxing/Kyokushin mantra. If they don't understand WHY these guys are full of shit then they have no reason to listen to us.
And yes, it's worth it. That's like asking a doctor if it's really worth helping people when there are always going to be more sick people just around the corner.

Of course it's worth it.

[It is Fake]

That's like asking a doctor if it's really worth helping people when there are always going to be more sick people just around the corner.

Of course it's worth it.

Thank you. With all the idiots running around in trollshido/YMAS using poor analogies, finally a good one.

[TEA]

OK, I missed this thread when it originally started up in 2006. Whatever happened to reporting this guy for fraud? Wouldn't the person doing the reporting actually have to have suffered some injury (financial or physical) as a result of the fraud to have a basis to press charges? In other words, someone who purchased one of his videos or face-to-face training from this guy. Also, in what organization was Chris Pizzo a captain?

Oh, and that site seems to be another vehicle for spreading spyware.

[omoplatypus]

OK, I missed this thread when it originally started up in 2006. Whatever happened to reporting this guy for fraud? Wouldn't the person doing the reporting actually have to have suffered some injury (financial or physical) as a result of the fraud to have a basis to press charges? In other words, someone who purchased one of his videos or face-to-face training from this guy.

that's what i thought too. you had to be a victemized party to do anything. oh well, this is why we have bully lawyers.

[TEA]

Maybe Sam should run a late night TV commercial trolling for victims ala the ambulance chasing workmans comp/mesothelioma/defective drug lawyers. Class action lawsuit FTW.

Edited to add:

Have you ever paid money for so-called self-defense lessons only to find out later that you paid for sub-par choreographed fighting techniques with little or no practical value? Did the self-proclaimed master of some obscure martial art convince you of the efficacy of his trumped up martial art based upon false and misleading claims, bogus testimonials, and/or a fictitious history of his fabricated martial art? If so, you may be eligible to receive substantial monetary compensation. For more information, call, 1-800-SUE-4FUN

[omoplatypus]

do it sam, you know you wanna.

[golok]

If nothing else, these marketing tactics are shady as all getout.

For what it's worth Chris Pizzo used to either run or be otherwise affiliated with some bizarre sleep-learning thingamajigger called Noble Learning Systems. Google it.

[golok]

Oh, and JESUS CHRIST LOOK AT THIS:

http://fmatalk.com/showthread.php?t=2169

Every culture throughout history has created some form of martial art so their people can defend themselves in a time of crisis.

But as we already know; the only true
test of a martial art is in actual combat.

Known as Kali in Europe and the United States, the knife and stick fighting based art is actually called Eskrima or Arnis by the Filipino people. It is said that the art was developed over centuries during many intertribal conflicts and wars with outside invaders.

Those who practice Kali claim that is more then just a cultural art and remains an effective form of self defense that can be taught to someone quickly. And while on paper Kali seems like it has a lot to offer, both its historical data and self defense methodology say otherwise.

Many Filipino martial artists cite the Battle of Mactan, which occurred on April 27, 1521 as proof that their system works in battle. Warriors of Lapu-Lapu, a chieftain of Mactan Island, defeated a landing force of Spanish sailors and soldiers under the command of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

Magellan's forces were armed with crossbows and muskets, but were heavily outnumbered by the natives. The overwhelming tribal force cut them down and the famous explorer was killed.

The major flaw with this isolated example, is that it is the only successful battle of hundreds throughout the sad but true history of a conquered people. The Spanish Conquistadors went on to conquer all of the islands with ease and held them until the United States invaded in 1898.

The conquistadors were skilled warriors even without muskets and cannons, because they forged their skills on the battlefields of Europe for centuries fighting the also highly skilled Muslim invaders???Not a bunch of tribal natives.

Spain's fighting men conquered huge amounts of territory, and destroyed ancient empires with discipline, superior tactics, and hard training. The unfortunate tribal warriors of the Philippines (and their cultural fighting art of Kali) were no different than any other native conquest to the Conquistadors.

But historical insignificance is not the only chink in the Kali armor.

While it isn't fair to discount Kali simply because its practitioners main focus is blades and sticks (they also do practice some grappling and empty hand techniques), but this kind of training is hampered in the real world.

It has not been socially acceptable to carry a sword in public in over 100 years and there are many restrictions on smaller bladed weapons.

And although Kali stick fighting looks impressive to the untrained eye, I have yet to hear of one person beaten to death by a pair of Escrima sticks.

All said and done, someone armed with an ordinary wooden baseball bat or axe handle, could undoubtedly finish off one of these so called ???dangerous?? stick fighters in a heartbeat.
(!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Like any cultural fighting art, I don't condemn anyone for spending their time practicing Kali because it seems like a decent physical conditioning method and a heck of a lot of fun.

And while weapons training can be a great addition to your close combat toolbox, learning from these conquered people is not the answer as it is clearly not a legitimate method of self defense.

Train Smart,

Chris "Lt. X" Pizzo

What's that phrase about not knowing shit from shinola?

Looks like the hounds are baying, perhaps you should contact them...

Speaking of hounds, perhaps some Dog Brothers would be interested in reading the above. Chris should notify them in person about the ineffectiveness of Kali. Someone needs to burst their bubbles, they've been mistaken all these years!

[265lbsfist]

Jeez, so this joker disses one of the few legit fullcontact arts out there? A hardcore Filipino Master should get wind of this. They don't muck around down there. I bet they'd let him fight them carrying a baseball bat and he'd soon see the pain those sticks can cause.
Bad enough that he is utterly full of shit himself but he should have the common sense to keep his mouth shut about the real dudes out there. Oh well, the splendour of delusion I suppose.

[serge68]

So he apparently claims to be able to be able to teach slow fat losers to be deadlier than all hell in one hour.

Which is just as suspicious as his alleged training of Mercenaries, special forces operatives, U.S. and U.K. soldiers.

Very suspicious.

Anyways, can you or can you not get in legal hot water for fraudulent claims of training? If I was the U.S. army, i'd be embarrassed to even be mentioned by such a person.

[Gezere]

I've become convinced that a certain nontrivial percentage of the martial arts population actually want crap.

Sadly this is all too true.