Yesterday we reported on an incident at a recent Gordon Ryan seminar. As per initial reports after repeated requests to not film Gordon Ryan doing the technique he had left and would not roll with anyone. Here’s how he initially described it:
He has since penned a more complete account of events:
“Ok guys. So here is the full story on what happened at my seminar at central penn mma (cpmma). Before the seminar I gathered everyone around and asked politely to not record me teaching the techniques but if you feel you need to record for future retention of knowledge to record yourselves doing the moves rather than me teaching. The gym owner Ryan gruhn told his gf, wife, or secretary to keep a camera in her lap and try to record me Without me noticing.
Keep in mind they were both sitting within 5 ft of me when I asked specifically for no recording. I approached him asking what that was and why was she recording when I specifically asked not to record. He responding by saying “it’s all good bro I told her to record” I said “it’s not all good.
I asked not to record and you did anyway. If that shit happens again I’m gonna walk out”. Then me and Nathalia tell him to delete it and he laughs in our faces and changes the subject. Then the woman sits down with the camera and doesn’t record video but still continues to record audio for a set of techniques. No problem.. I then walk around helping groups for the rest of the seminar. In the q&a portion of the seminar where i usually rapid fire techniques without drilling Ryan takes his phone and places it in his belt line with himself and the camera facing me and hoping I didn’t see. I didn’t say anything then because I didn’t actually show any techniques I just answered general questions of the students. At the end of the seminar I expressed I wanted to roll with the students like I do most of the time at seminars but couldnt trust I wouldn’t be filmed because the host of the seminar (Ryan) tried to record the entire seminar behind my back and explained the reasons as to why I didn’t want to be recorded. Then stating i couldnt train because I couldn’t trust I wouldn’t be recorded.
I called him out in front of everyone so maybe he learns a lesson to not do this again. Like me or not I’m not a fake loser like most people. If I like you you’ll know. If we have a problem you’ll know. I’m posting this to apologize to everyone who was looking forward to training with me. Thanks for the support guys”
The man he accused has since given his own account on personal facebook s saying:
To address the Gordon Ryan Seminar…
“While we were initially recording, like we always do for seminars, when he clearly stated no video taping and asked us to stop recording, we stopped. We deleted the video and showed his girlfriend that it was no longer on the camera. We were then told pictures were okay but then were told pictures were no longer okay. The video and pictures were taken with a big Sony SLR camera out in plain sight which once he said no more at the beginning, we stopped using it. Any of the 30+ seminar attendees can attest to this fact.
Gordon is stating that I placed my phone in my belt line with myself and the camera facing him at the end of the seminar. Our Sonos sound system is controlled by our phones, which I was controlling; pausing the music for him to teach and unpausing the music during drilling. When I wasn’t using my phone, I was setting it down on our boxing ring or keeping it in my waistband.—As my students can attest, I often store my phone in my shorts/belt.
Here is a picture from a few days ago (October 31st, 2017) of me with my phone in the exact same position. It’s just a phone hanging out. Nothing more, nothing less. If this is what Gordon is getting upset about then we can all move on. I would like to apologize to Gordon and the people who attended the seminar for the confusion and assure him no footage was recorded with my phone. This situation could have been very easily handled if he would have asked me, on the spot, and I would have gladly shown him that it wasn’t recording. The phone wasn’t even on.
For those who attended the seminar, if you feel like this situation took away from your experience in any way, please shoot us an email or message CPAMMA on Facebook and we will make it right. We are constantly having high level competitors come in for seminars and will gladly invite you to one of them.
I would not go against anyone’s wishes not to tape and didn’t not. I get it and respected his wishes. He’s a high level competitor that doesn’t want footage of him leaking out. He wants people to attend his seminars and not just watch videos of him online. This was understood from the beginning when he stated it and respected.
Now, let’s get back to what we love doing and go train! ❤”
