INVESTIGATION: Robert Braff, Fake Army Colonel, Fake Doctorate

[Cy Q. Faunce]

Robert Braff is a Cleveland, Ohio instructor of San-Ryu-Do. He has represented himself in the past as a colonel in the US Army and as a supply sergeant in the Ohio National Guard. He has also claimed a doctoral degree.

For the truth behind the claims, read the article.

[Necroyunus]

i like the first photo under the section "Claims"

the arrow in the photo is very well placed. Because when I open the page, regardless why I opened the page in the first place, I targeted the boobs and the arrow was like "HEY DUDE!! THE POINT OF THE PHOTO IS HERE!!"

[BaronVonDingDong]

Just a quick point of fact to an otherwise excellent article: undergraduate degrees are not always a prerequisite for graduate degrees. Exceptions are made when awarding honorary doctorates, for example, or waiving the matriculation requirements when a case can made based on accrued professional or (sometimes) life experience - you would need to petition the registrar for this, however. These examples are few and far between, and clearly don't affect the outcomes here.

On another note - "Canterbury University, Cheshire." Exactly how bad at geography do they expect Americans to be?

[Eddie Hardon]

On another note - "Canterbury University, Cheshire." Exactly how bad at geography do they expect Americans to be?

Fantastic. Condemns him right there (Ha!) :laughing7

[Ka-Bar]

What does that shoulder tab say?

[Cougar Spirit]

The shoulder tab appears to read, "RECON". Funny! And what the hell is Porter doing taking a photo with this schmuck? Porter was in the military and should have seen this guy as a fake when he first laid eyes on him. Oops, wait a minute.

[crawford]

YouTube- Dr Robert Braff 10th Dan Hanchi USA At the 2008 hall fame Gosport and fareham England

[Cy Q. Faunce]

Just a quick point of fact to an otherwise excellent article: undergraduate degrees are not always a prerequisite for graduate degrees.

Valid point, although "life experience" degrees are usually a sign of a diploma mill. Article edited accordingly.

On another note - "Canterbury University, Cheshire." Exactly how bad at geography do they expect Americans to be?

You mean that it's not the one in Christchurch? I think there's one in Kent that also uses the name, although I'm not sure they primary refer to it as "Canterbury University".

In any case, they probably just thought it sounded Olde English enough to draw in the yahoos. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwood_University, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belford_University, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_...nal_University, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpool_University, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buxton_University, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_State_University ...the list seems to go forever. On the other hand, I notice that several of those are close imitations of the names of real universities, so maybe it was a deliberate choice.

[BaronVonDingDong]

Valid point, although "life experience" degrees are usually a sign of a diploma mill. Article edited accordingly.


You mean that it's not the one in Christchurch? I think there's one in Kent that also uses the name, although I'm not sure they primary refer to it as "Canterbury University".

In any case, they probably just thought it sounded Olde English enough to draw in the yahoos. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwood_University, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belford_University, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_...nal_University, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpool_University, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buxton_University, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_State_University ...the list seems to go forever. On the other hand, I notice that several of those are close imitations of the names of real universities, so maybe it was a deliberate choice.

The University of Kent is in Canterbury, and a first-rate institution. Kent is a county of England in the south east corner of the country, and the amusing thing about this guy's faux degree is that Cheshire is a county in the North West - literally a direct diagonal across from the original.

It's quite a funny when you think about it. You gotta love a scammer with wit.

[Matt Stone]

WHAT POSSIBLE REASON DOES THAT FAT, SLOPPY BUCKET OF BUTTER HAVE FOR CONDUCTING A CRAPPY MARTIAL ARTS SEMINAR IN ENGLAND WHILE WEARING THE UNIFORM OF MY ARMY???? HE'S EVEN WEARING DOG TAGS!!!

Okay, seriously, dude's command elements need to be informed of this... I'm seriously tempted to use my own channels (I work in active duty Army JAG) to contact this schmuck's AG and inform him of the fraudulent claims and the fact that he's misrepresenting himself, the Ohio militia thingie he belongs to, and misrepresenting this jackoff as part of the American Army while overseas... I'm sure his UK "students" are totally clear that a fattie like him isn't actually on active duty and is just LARPing with his local buddies because he can't hack it full time with the big boys...

[Matt Stone]

Cy Q. Faunce tells me on the other thread about this jackass that Ohio authorities are already aware of the situation... I'm going to go dunk my head in a bucket of cold beer and calm down...

[Phrost]

This chaps my ass like nothing else, as an actual Noncommissioned Officer in the National Guard.

[Matt Stone]

Having spent two combat tours in "purple" environments, and the last tour hip deep in the shenanigans of reserve and national guard troops who fail to grasp their place in the greater scheme of things, this Ohio militia (let's be honest - that's what this is, nothing more) needs, as do most NG units I've had the misfortune to interact with, to get on board and start acting like proper Soldiers and not ACU clad role-playing wannabes.

This schlep could be the first step in the right direction... Not sure what or how they'd charge him, but if he was active duty I can think of three ways to handle this...

[daishi]

Matt,
Cheers on the dog tag comment...only a d-bag wears their dog tags like that.

I think Stolen Valor Act may apply to him...this is applicable regardless if the guy has real military background or not.

I, and others I know, have seen him in seminars before. He always has some kind of belt that would make a WWE star blush...and often wears it on the outside of a hakama. I have many more things to say, but I've been drinking, have no right to talk shit about a 10th dan x8, and have to get up early to test for MCMAP.

Scorpion Pose! (people who know Braff will get this reference)

[Bluto Blutarsky]

i commend the author, faunce, and the good people of bullshido.com on thier continued efforts, dedication and commitment towards truth in martial arts.