So now we are left with the long R.E.S.P.E.C.T. ass-chewing from this stranger named Ryan. Now I don’t know who this guy Ryan is. He’s probably a nice guy. Most Blauer people are very nice people. There is actually a "recognizable type." Clean-cut. Smart. Young. And many seem have a tragic flaw, this need to "over-worship" something or someone. Think about it. You know the type? And some like Blauer, have very, very little experience in martial arts. Like this new Cross Fit Generation. (A GREAT business move by Tony in this sagging economy. Brilliant)
I respect soldiers, cops and doctors. I do not respect martial arts group leaders - senseis, grandmasters, guros, Bocha-Mochas, and "Coach Blauers." This is a lesson I've learned the hard way through life in the martial arts since the 1970s. People need to have to have real accomplishments to get my respect. But respect for Blauer has a few more potholes...
…how do I go about saying and how do I tell Ryan, that I know about Blauer since he was in College in southern California from JKD guys back then. So many short stories about Blauer.
- I know that he made my friend in New Jersey buy him expensive cowboy boots on a
seminar weekend.
- I think of SWAT team guys laughing when Blauer calls THEM to teach THEM how to
raid rooms.
-That at Blackwater, when asked why he was no longer there, a head instructor said,
and I quote, “they could not build a doorway big enough for his head to walk
through.” End of quote.
-He was training a team of guys once and suddenly wanted them to "fix up his teeth"
at the dentist. Their dime of course. He kept asking for more and more odd stuff and
the leader fired him. (yeah, FIX his teeth)
-In the 80s and 90s lots of people talked about his insistent and inane patents and
threats to sue, early on on trying to control little catch-phrases and sue people.
-Trying to control police training through law suit threats.
- When my friend in the British SAS said, "Tony has some fun drills but he is a dry land
swimmer."
-The cops that thought he was some sort of Canadian Mountie years ago
-I think of the Canadian cop I know that got too close to Tony and became a major
assistant. Tony would send him out to run the suit courses and Tony keep all the
money. I remember one time he got into trouble for missing work on one of these
unpaid trips.
-He has lost his top 20 instructors in the last 20 years because he runs them off, then
complains about them leaving.
-Stop me. I could go on.
These and more small short stories flashed through my mind. Through the years, through it all, three words appear to be Mr. Integrity's hallmark "take advantage of." Who has actually stayed with him for any length of time? Why not?
Since the 90s he has left a long string string of very nice, smart people totally screwed, pissed and hurt. Its odd because when some of them leave? Its like a divorce or something. Weird. Some just quit. But to me? the guy is a box of rocks.
And as a very important aside, I don’t agree with some, not all, of his foundational aspects of his doctrine, about Hicks law, The Startle Reflex, heart rates and a few other 1990 staples to sell his program. I think he is stuck in that old rut and he can't get out. Tied to his old sales pitch. Then when people ask a serious and challenging question, Blauer's answer is
"...that is not in the Blauer spirit."
The Blauer spirit? WHAT? What kind of con man reply is that? And people actually fall for that? I mean, who in their right mind falls for that crap?
And, on a completely personal and thoroughly inappropriate note, you know, I see Tony in these film clips and he stands around pontificating on and on and on and on about just one simple move. On and on. Cracks a canned joke. Jeez. I can’t bare it. Like 20 minutes pass. Do the move! And now do the next one! Then these little snide remarks making "karate" a scarecrow. People chuckle in all the right places like robots. Blauer is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. (Not to worry there Ryan, I will NEVER go to a Tony Blauer seminar.) People should now disregard my personal opinions like this. You may love the guy. You can decide that for yourself.
I am just giving you an example of how "old I am," how long I've been around and what I know about Blauer through the years and WHY Prince Tony will never get any respect from me. I don’t like his pacing, his message, his doctrine, his arrogance and the way he has treated my friends and contacts in the past. R-E-S-P--E-CT? That’ ll be a nope, Ryan. That is my opinion, and I am not alone. But that is why there are horse races, huh?
So, containing ALL OF THE ABOVE, I say rather impulsively and quickly…
.....................
“Ryan you know, I am almost 60 years old. And Blauer is just a kid to me with a sales pitch and a lot of wind. I remember when he started. He wanted to be the Canadian Paul Vunak. From the first time I saw him on film (in the 80s I think) my BS meter went up. I would respect Blauer if he would simple say, “you know, sometimes your arms go up in a fight and here’s some tricks if they do.” Or, “best get your arms up!” Very simple. Yes, sometimes your arms do go up. Okay, lets start here! But see, that is not the sales pitch. Don’t blow NLP smoke up my ass for 6 hours waving dead, junk science like Hicks law and the Startle reflex. I would also respect him a bit if he didn’t try to squeeze the SPEAR arm into EVERYTHING.
Ryan. Folks. The SPEAR cannot solve everything all the time, every time. Even half the time for that matter. You MUST be free to respond to a problem. Not being free is dangerous. But it is the sales pitch. I cannot respect someone who’s used junk science, NLP and sales pitches to grease his pockets, at the dangerous expense of…well…you. The “Socratic” Tony Blauer.”
...................................
And then...here came the Blauer fans. As you know, they are obvious zealots. Their young minds of mush think they have found the promised land.
Next part coming soon.
(meanwhile, where is the tactical discussion about the article?)
Author
Topic: Tony Blauer and "Why Startle-Flinch?" "Fingers in their Ears?" (Read 5178 times)