In my defence...

So I was thinking about the accusations on the SP forum which come down to me basically lying about doorwork and lying about being into martial arts for a looooong time- also I have the spamming work of various types to contend with...

I started to worry, I know that human nature being what it is if you say something long enough, loud enough, consistently enough people will start to either believe it or at least have doubts about the opposite point of view

at first I laughed it off, then it started to become a genuine concern

"how can I PROVE I was a doorman or that I have indeed been a martial arts nerd for a long time"

the answer came to me: facebook

I am friends with many bar staff and managers and even customers of clubs I used to work at and Im still in contact with a lad I used to work with in Tenerife and another whose sisters house I lived in over there

question: how do I capitalise on that resource and turn it into proof... or indeed "a proof like thing" to paraphrase the shaved monkey king RichardB?

any suggestions would be good

only thing Ive come up with so far is to set up a facebook group and message my mates who Ive either trained with a long time ago or done doors with

Its kind of a weird embarassing thing to do, but hopefully Ive got enough good karma points with everyone for them to help, I got on really well with barstaff and club managers (more so than other doormen) so Im hoping they will step up

I also spoke to the guy who is still head doorman of the main club I used to work at tonight, he has said he will back me up all the way, but the question is - HOW? he and the other lads arent much for posting on forums, do I have to take a camera and interview them? coz I really dont fancy that, its a pain and they wont like it

any ideas please? I would really like to deal with this head on and get it sorted decisively- Im not griping by the way, people want claims validating and I think that is fair enough.

you've been more than a gentleman. more than i'd ever be...gunga din.

i think that your facebook idea is golden--forgive the brevity, one singing 2.5 year old boy
meant to be falling asleep [as bonkers as his dad] and one cute 7 month year girly trying to
eat paper. all makes for a cryptic response. appologies in advance.

if it isn't totally appaling to you at this point, my thoughts--amidst a storm of nappies and such
are:
face book wall for some of your past associates and maybe one short interview from the head
doorman who has agreed to step up. other than that mate, there'll always be nutters that'll say
1. he could have doctored that ID
2. created those pay stubs
3. superimposed his name on those tax returns

people are quite irrational when committed to slam a character--but this is the age of telly and
pictures. just as some find it important to savor a blog clip, a defense tip--in a visually formated
youtube clip...the same can be said for the weight of a door guard willing to step up.

or one clip from 'a' club manager that you get on with. for those not on meds, but who are sadly
getting the water effect of too many haters--hopefully this should get them out of the media toilet
and back into the dojo in good form.

you've nothing to prove to me mate [arrrgh...middle of writing when i was forced to stop for dadly
reasons...the rest submitted], but since you're handling rumors, i thought the last one should be
addressed:

apparently your REAL name is Ramook, you're originally from Togo--having migrated across
europe where you then became a Caspian Clamb diver. you also have 3 nipples, and there's something
here about you being a hamaphrodyte. in 1998, there was an incident whilst emerging with your
daily clamb catch, where apparently you terrorized some orphans by eating a puppy. your knees apparently bend both directions and you arrived in Britain in 2007 working for the circus as bee juggler.
you went into hiding and re-emerged as a martial arts instructor after having taken Richard Simmon's
survival course and taking on his name--shortly after strangling Mr. Simmons. the police are 'apparently' still investigating this. oh, and medical science is interested in you because whilst
undertaking a yearly medical exam it was discovered that you possessed an extra anus within your
3rd and 4th knuckle, allowing you great successes in the art of pugilism as you were able to train this
extra anus to shit into people's eye's whilst sparring.

i didn't want to have to bring this up, but i thought it was important.

oh, and hardly worth mentioning but apparently 5 years ago there was some collosal cockup/misunderstanding between you and an orthodox nun--it was laundry day and she was wearing
her red alternate habit with the low cut and studs. money was exchanged and she dropped the charges.
apparently when you stopped returning her calls she agreed to an interview with the globe, the national
equirer, and national geographic.

Thats sounds like a good idea.I would keep it short and sweet and not get into any long drawn out exchanges with those who simply will doubt everything because they simply want to keep their pathetic little gravy train rolling along.Post your proofs and leave it at that.Being a public person was awlays hard, but in the age of internet every loser can feel a king.Regards

What they've said.

Facebook takes less work, and can reach anyone with a facebook account. But you might have to seek some of them out. Do a little video clip for the site. Bottom line is getting the testimonies/testimonials/endorsements you need on record for posterity. It might not kill the trolls. but then they'll just be trolls... The normal people should be satisfied.

Camera seems like the best option. Although writing is probably adequate as well. For the camera idea, short and sweet as danite said is probably the way to go. Presenting the idea with humor and not playing it up to anything more than it is might work. A fair request, and some trolls riding that wave for what it's good for.

yeah if its short and sweet and kept light it will be easier to get them to do it I think

nice one gents

Not sure how much effort I would put into something like this… I think it depends on how badly you think these things would affect you. I agree with what’s been said thus far and the video would probably be a good way to go. Funny how all this makes you think of how one would go about trying to prove various aspects of ones experiences and how people think of what qualifies someone to teach something. Over the years I have de-escalated and number of potentially violent situations. Does this mean that I am a qualified de-escalation instructor? How would I prove this? If someone has not de-escalated a good number of situations should they stop presenting such concepts and techniques until they have? Should they be required to maintain a de-escalation log to verify such events?

Plus I want more info on the nun incident and if you don’t mind, please provide some photographs.

Roadkill said///

"Over the years I have de-escalated and number of potentially violent situations. Does this mean that I am a qualified de-escalation instructor? How would I prove this? If someone has not de-escalated a good number of situations should they stop presenting such concepts and techniques until they have? Should they be required to maintain a de-escalation log to verify such events?"

it's an interesting point. i think it is a modern phenomena based on the magnitude of people in the field nowadays. before anyone could teach the art of death belly dancing [the hidden art], but now what is emerging [in my humble opinion] is two groups:
-who arguably are going to put their butts on the line and wish to know how it is you came by the secret art of death belly dancing
-the arsey lot who project their own forked tongues on the rest of the world [not actually meant to sound
like arsse--by the way, as punny as i like to be on occasion].

ultimately it's for the best, but the transition is shite--as all transitions are

Roadkill also said///

"Plus I want more info on the nun incident and if you don’t mind, please provide some photographs."

yeah, about that...you'll have to give me about 2 hours to get her number off the toilet stall door of
the chinatown mcdonald's--if you're interested. my mate chumbo seems to have lost his copy.

Keep it straightforward and simple as you have done and call it good.
I agree with Roadkill, this all seems like a very one dimensional argument, and in the end the people that like what you have to say and how you present your material will stay that way, and those that don't, won't change.

"OK so he worked there, but he never DID anything" or
"There was never any trouble at that club" or
"He just got his mate to SAY that"
It could be endless.
In the end it's the material that speaks for itself. Either it's worthy or it's bullsh*t.

As far as martial arts experience? List away, but in the end it's how you move that gives away your level of experience - regardless of CV. I've been around martial arts a fair while, and spent a large amount of time watching people move - you move like you've been training for a long while, you can't fake that - nuff said.
In any case, martial arts experience is no direct gauge of sensible solutions to SP problems .... so again it's the material that counts.
The proof of the pudding and all that.

As an aside, this kind of thing is why my Eskrima teacher taught privately out of his living room, and you could only get accepted as a student if you had an intro from someone that was already a student. He barely taught seminars close to home, preferring Europe, and told me a big reason for his decision was so he wouldn't have to deal with idiots. He was an incredibly humble and extremely skilled individual, often called on to mediate disputes in his community, but there were still people out there waiting to tear him down.
I guess it's just the way it is.

I have never felt as silly, as futile or as pointless as these last 24 hours emailing people asking them to say something that from their point of view is a given... a meaningless given, a pointless given.

I have to say that this is feeling like a natural break in the road for me. I love martial arts but I dont want to be looking backwards to my twisted persona of yesteryear and trying to remember tiny details of things that happened so I can "prove" how "experienced" I am. I think this qualifies as one of the weirdest and saddest things Ive done.

On the plus side Ive recieved some good support from people who I very rarely see nowadays who have been happy to help with emails promising more to come

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=4323552999 can you see this and does it look ok?

I think it looks desperate.

And I think Maija is right, it wont change peoples minds, its a futile endeavour.

Ah well, least people were nice enough to step forward and help me a bit.

No I dont think it looks desperate, now just let it build and see what happens. I have little doubt that the dust will settle on this matter. I do however believe that it will never end... there will always be someone with an agenda.

How to handle keyboard assaults

Richie,

"And I think Maija is right, it wont change peoples minds, its a futile endeavour.

Ah well, least people were nice enough to step forward and help me a bit."

the people who keep this stance are around every corner; i think there is a direct
correlation between folks who are about anything to be able to see merit where it
lives. those who's exhistance is either fading or never there to begin with, well
those vampires will hang on like a virus wherever they see a wound.

i know it's way different from the inside looking out, but cliche though it may sound,
fuk'm. there's an old woodmen's expression that has changed it's original meaning
do to the semantics of the ignorant during missuse...it goes, "let the chips fall where
they may". it doesn't mean, 'late fate deal the hand' as everyone uses it. it means
to focus on the cut, and let the useless splinters fall on the periphery--they're less
critical to keep your mind on then the important cut. you keep the larger pieces.
a splinter hurts, sometimes it's the only thing one thinks about while continuing to cut
wood, but not for long, because the job has taken prominance.

said another way. your constructive work is worth more than another's misguided
foolishness. those that doubt have a subconscious agenda based on taking the attention
off of their own lack of rigor. those that work hard haven't got time for nonsense.
i'll wager those in your corner have more reason to be there nowadays. this bizzare
series of events affords you to say, "sorry...not this time...i'm too busy" the next time
'round.

the worst punishment for tossers is a lack of audience, and living well. you got dragged
into this through collateral damage, otherwise, i'd say you had a tight guard up.

Richie, anybody with half a brain turned on can see from you dvds and videos that what you teach is real and effective,I liked the clips I saw on "I fight dirty.com" and the others on you tube concerning ballistic micro fights.That alone is proof enough that you know what you are talking about and the reality and quality of your work.I think its good to make the effort to put something "out there for the record" but in my humble opinion, put it out there and walk away and carry on with your good work.Ty not to give these braying losers and idiots too much influence.

Quote Richie:
"Ah well, least people were nice enough to step forward and help me a bit."

It doesn't look desperate. And that's what friends are for.

thanks guys, I think I may have let it get to me before... then I went the gym and suddenly it just seemed a lot less important!

state management eh?

drink water, train hard, stop looking at forums, get some sunshine= feel better

Dan, have we interacted on a few things before mate? not before before when you punched me across the digbeth dojo and stuck me in an ankle lock I mean in the last 12 months
your email address looks familiar, did you ask me about running a scenario cutting off a flurry of punches and did you suggest the solo drills idea for DVD?

Maija, I think Ive let this business take over my life too much, I feel like Ive forgotten who my real friends are. Negligent friend is Richie!

Quote :

the people who keep this stance are around every corner; i think there is a direct
correlation between folks who are about anything to be able to see merit where it
lives. those who's exhistance is either fading or never there to begin with, well
those vampires will hang on like a virus wherever they see a wound.

Russ , you are the street fight manic version of eckhart tolle!

Sorry to see Bob Spour ending up like that with his credibility shot and having people
feeling deceived. Bob Spour lied about his military service, inexcusable to those who served and it
must be tragic to his friends.

The DVD's you put together with him haven't changed... the techniques and presentation remain
some of the best..

As to the attacks on you; you've responded to them... your friends and coworkers who knew you from the doors have have vouched for you and I'm sure will continue to do so. The folk who buy your stuff find value in it and will continue to do so.
You've manned up and acted like a professional. It's done, time to move on. Fuck them.

nix wrote:

Sorry to see Bob Spour ending up like that with his credibility shot and having people
feeling deceived. Bob Spour lied about his military service, inexcusable to those who served and it
must be tragic to his friends.

The DVD's you put together with him haven't changed... the techniques and presentation remain
some of the best..

As to the attacks on you; you've responded to them... your friends and coworkers who knew you from the doors have have vouched for you and I'm sure will continue to do so. The folk who buy your stuff find value in it and will continue to do so.
You've manned up and acted like a professional. It's done, time to move on. Fuck them.

nice, thanks man

Russell - yet again you have made me snort cornflakes out my nose - I missed your edit until now ...

Regarding Richie's past -
Quote:
"apparently your REAL name is Ramook, you're originally from Togo--having migrated across europe where you then became a Caspian Clamb diver. you also have 3 nipples, and there's something here about you being a hamaphrodyte. in 1998, there was an incident whilst emerging with your daily clamb catch, where apparently you terrorized some orphans by eating a puppy. your knees apparently bend both directions and you arrived in Britain in 2007 working for the circus as bee juggler.
you went into hiding and re-emerged as a martial arts instructor after having taken Richard Simmon's survival course and taking on his name--shortly after strangling Mr. Simmons. the police are 'apparently' still investigating this. oh, and medical
science is interested in you because whilst undertaking a yearly medical exam it was discovered that you possessed an extra anus within your 3rd and 4th knuckle, allowing you great successes in the art of pugilism as you were able to train this extra anus to shit into people's eye's whilst sparring.

i didn't want to have to bring this up, but i thought it was important."

Richie,

For what it's worth...re: the SP dot com "witch hunt"...I think you have stepped up to the mark and vindicated yourself admirably.

A.

Dark wrote:

Richie,

For what it's worth...re: the SP dot com "witch hunt"...I think you have stepped up to the mark and vindicated yourself admirably.

A.

ROFLMAO! Sucker! The truth will come out...

Macca2 wrote:

ROFLMAO! Sucker! The truth will come out...

Hmm,i've obviously missed something.

Would you be so kind as to clarify that comment please?

Russell Sage wrote:

you've been more than a gentleman. more than i'd ever be...gunga din.

i think that your facebook idea is golden--forgive the brevity, one singing 2.5 year old boy
meant to be falling asleep [as bonkers as his dad] and one cute 7 month year girly trying to
eat paper. all makes for a cryptic response. appologies in advance.

if it isn't totally appaling to you at this point, my thoughts--amidst a storm of nappies and such
are:
face book wall for some of your past associates and maybe one short interview from the head
doorman who has agreed to step up. other than that mate, there'll always be nutters that'll say
1. he could have doctored that ID
2. created those pay stubs
3. superimposed his name on those tax returns

people are quite irrational when committed to slam a character--but this is the age of telly and
pictures. just as some find it important to savor a blog clip, a defense tip--in a visually formated
youtube clip...the same can be said for the weight of a door guard willing to step up.

or one clip from 'a' club manager that you get on with. for those not on meds, but who are sadly
getting the water effect of too many haters--hopefully this should get them out of the media toilet
and back into the dojo in good form.

you've nothing to prove to me mate [arrrgh...middle of writing when i was forced to stop for dadly
reasons...the rest submitted], but since you're handling rumors, i thought the last one should be
addressed:

apparently your REAL name is Ramook, you're originally from Togo--having migrated across
europe where you then became a Caspian Clamb diver. you also have 3 nipples, and there's something
here about you being a hamaphrodyte. in 1998, there was an incident whilst emerging with your
daily clamb catch, where apparently you terrorized some orphans by eating a puppy. your knees apparently bend both directions and you arrived in Britain in 2007 working for the circus as bee juggler.
you went into hiding and re-emerged as a martial arts instructor after having taken Richard Simmon's
survival course and taking on his name--shortly after strangling Mr. Simmons. the police are 'apparently' still investigating this. oh, and medical science is interested in you because whilst
undertaking a yearly medical exam it was discovered that you possessed an extra anus within your
3rd and 4th knuckle, allowing you great successes in the art of pugilism as you were able to train this
extra anus to shit into people's eye's whilst sparring.

i didn't want to have to bring this up, but i thought it was important.

oh, and hardly worth mentioning but apparently 5 years ago there was some collosal cockup/misunderstanding between you and an orthodox nun--it was laundry day and she was wearing
her red alternate habit with the low cut and studs. money was exchanged and she dropped the charges.
apparently when you stopped returning her calls she agreed to an interview with the globe, the national
equirer, and national geographic.

AhHAHAHAHA! Nice one Maija, I missed Russ's work of comedic genius. I am indeed deeply ashamed about the puppy eating orphan scaring incident- I am not ashamed of my bee juggling background and can I also say for the record that Dick Simmon's survival skills are second to none... that nun... that nun will haunt me for ever... such a nasty habit really... (badum-tish!)

Dark, thanks mate, now Im ready to get back to work lar, I think Ive done enough

Macca2, the truth is out mate or did you miss that bit?

Its good to have a shakeup every once in a while, refreshes the system.

But now its time to get back to work.


"Macca2" and those like you, I ask, at this point who did you really think you were kidding anyway ?

Quote :

You will know them by their fruit. Grapes aren't gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles, are they?

Mathew 7:16

yeah, I'll still get biblical on yo ass

Heya Richie,

I definitely think your 'facebooking' will help you out a lot. I've found that a lot of people in business make judgements on others based on 'who they know' and facebook is one of the easiest ways to check up on someone's aquaintances. You just have to peruse through someone's friends list.

I recently gave up my life as a professional musicians (yes i was signed and it was a nightmare ) and I found that certain people, like promoters for instance, wouldn't even give you the time of day unless they knew of you through someone else or knew someone who could vouch for you.

Now as for me mate, you've got nothing you need to prove to me. I've watched and read a million vids and articles, been into martial arts for nearly 20 years now, taken private lessons from some accomplished and scary people, and of everything I've seen yours stood out to me. Why?

Is it that we can hear the experience in your voice? See the moves, bloopers and humor included, on youtube and make our judgement then? The fact that you actively talk on every subject on here and you're not afraid to say that you dont have an answer for something and will seek others advice? Some people try to distance themselves and have that aura of mystique about them so they don't have to look human like the rest of us, but you don't bother to play that game and I think I can speak for everyone here in saying that it is greatly appreciated!!


Finally, I understand that for you and your former co-workers, that doing a video/interview is uncomfortable and for some, going on camera can be seen as a 'no-no.'

I think that therin lies the merrit. If you've got someone who's willing to go to bat for you on video and it's something that normally wouldn't be done it has WAY more value that way being a rare occurance. Maybe instead of making it a dry interview only, you could actually produce another DVD or Youtube segment with your 'reference person' and use/discuss scenario's and responses the two of you have been a part of in the past.

anyways, hope you're having a good weekend and don't let stuff that doesn't matter get you down.

Richard Grannon wrote:

So I was thinking about the accusations on the SP forum which come down to me basically lying about doorwork and lying about being into martial arts for a looooong time- also I have the spamming work of various types to contend with...

I started to worry, I know that human nature being what it is if you say something long enough, loud enough, consistently enough people will start to either believe it or at least have doubts about the opposite point of view

at first I laughed it off, then it started to become a genuine concern

"how can I PROVE I was a doorman or that I have indeed been a martial arts nerd for a long time"

the answer came to me: facebook

I am friends with many bar staff and managers and even customers of clubs I used to work at and Im still in contact with a lad I used to work with in Tenerife and another whose sisters house I lived in over there

question: how do I capitalise on that resource and turn it into proof... or indeed "a proof like thing" to paraphrase the shaved monkey king RichardB?

any suggestions would be good

only thing Ive come up with so far is to set up a facebook group and message my mates who Ive either trained with a long time ago or done doors with

Its kind of a weird embarassing thing to do, but hopefully Ive got enough good karma points with everyone for them to help, I got on really well with barstaff and club managers (more so than other doormen) so Im hoping they will step up

I also spoke to the guy who is still head doorman of the main club I used to work at tonight, he has said he will back me up all the way, but the question is - HOW? he and the other lads arent much for posting on forums, do I have to take a camera and interview them? coz I really dont fancy that, its a pain and they wont like it

any ideas please? I would really like to deal with this head on and get it sorted decisively- Im not griping by the way, people want claims validating and I think that is fair enough.

I’m new to the group never researched or paid attention to Richie’s history and didn’t care too. It is irrelevant to me. I’m an old dude been around and seen a lot of so-called masters and folks with credentials. What impressed me was the psychology and common since ideology promoted by a young man. Keep the course Mr. Richie and care not what others may say. My favorite poem is “If” by Kiping.

Thanks D.B. and M.B.

had a meeting with some lads last night who I know through doorwork and Im going to get something sorted to make this decisive - but Im not going to put loads of energy into it, if it comes off cool, if not, too bad

Richie

Quote :

Richie,what do you have to prove!!??Anyone with half a brain can see you know your stuff.I think its a sad state of affairs when you have to waste time proving you was a doorman etc just because some twat says you wernt.Sadly there are plenty of people out there with nothing better to do than try and make themselves feel important at the exspence of others Your true friends(and at times like this you`ll find out who they are) know whats true and what aint.Their the ones that matter,not some twat on the internet!!!!!!! I for one take you at face value.I like what you teach and how you teach and thats all i need to know. One thing in life ive learnt is that when someone throws enough shit at a wall some will stick,so no matter how hard we(you) try,there will always be some that dont believe us(you) I SAY FUKC THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good work the pies are on me

if the pies are on you I shall have that special bean, cheese and sausage one beloved of st. helens!



my mate from tenerife when I asked him for support said pretty much the same thing "fcuk the cnuts"

cheers delboy!