.
.

Instructor Who Gave Out Junior Black Belts Responds: “I do not regret giving them black belts!”

Instructor Who Gave Out Junior Black Belts Responds: “I do not regret giving them black belts!”

 

 

Naturally seeing a picture of these 2 kids being awarded their Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts while wearing their bjj gis raised quite a few eyebrows. The whole incident came into light after Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Maryland -Columbia owner Mike Stewart Jr shed some light:

But now someone from Gunn Martial Arts where the “incident” took place is ready to respond. Shaun Wilson, one of the instructors in charge explained:

Good morning everyone. I have read a lot of opinions and here is my (hopefully) last response.Yes Keith Jackson and I gave out two black belts to two kids that have been training with us for over 12years. YES we handed out the wrong belts (Our mistake). But this test was already happening and we were not going to just dismiss it. This was a 4 class test and the families were already involved.
I do not regret giving them black belts but i do regret the type. As you see, I am not even wearing a BJJ belt.
That is the belt that was promoted to me by Gary Burger at the BMAA and the style that i was taught that they have been training in for a long time. (also a Krav Maga Poster above my head and no comments lol) Now, since my martial arts has been questioned, here is one back at you. All of you who claim to teach Anti-Bullying please reflect on how you have acted on this thread.
Whether you want to believe it or not, you are no better than the bullys themselves. Anyone of you could have contacted me or Keith Jackson and we could have easily have corrected this situation that has offended you. Believe me this was not our intent. But instead, lets try and rally everyone we know and have people attack people they dont even know. I guess this is the new era of anti-bullying? If that is the case, trust me i wish not to join in those ranks. Hell, if that is what it means then I will do away wiith any school patches or belts that represent anything other than what I teach.

Also, if any of my students have chimed in in a retalitory fashion I appologize and will speak with them. This is not our way. For those of you that know me i wish you knew me a little bit better but I was wrong.
Mike Johnson, I have always respected and appreciated what you have done. I would have thought and hoped you would have contacted me if this offended you. I truly thought we were friends. Mike Stewart said you were the one that got him started on this. If this is not the case, please contact me and I will apologize to you personally. thank you.

 

source: bullshido

What do you think about his response? Are you satisfied with this explanation?