Drew Howe

[Thai Bri]

This is not a dig. I've seen your web site and understand that it is still under construction. You have your MQ2 (is that right?) programme, incoporation "Razing" and "Quelling". Here is the questions. Again, I am genuinely interested, and NOT flaming.

1. How would you convince a potential customer that these concepts are your own, and not merely rip offs of the Shredder?

2. Have you trained with Richard Dimitri, or Sammy Franco?

3. Do they endorse, or are they even aware of your programme?

There. Thats all for now!

ps - the site looks good up to now. I'll be checking back to see it develop.

[Thai Bri]

Come on Drew. Don't be shy. You've posted on a few threads since this one went up............

[Drew Howe]

Originally posted by Thai Bri
This is not a dig. I've seen your web site and understand that it is still under construction. You have your MQ2 (is that right?) programme, incoporation "Razing" and "Quelling".

"Razing" is not my term, my term is "Mazing." Razing is the term Sammy Franco uses to describe his version of shredding. My term Mazing actually describes a completely different action. Mazing is a stunning technique, such as forearm strike to the neumogastric nerve sheath or vagus nerve.

Originally posted by Thai Bri

1. How would you convince a potential customer that these concepts are your own, and not merely rip offs of the Shredder?

2. Have you trained with Richard Dimitri, or Sammy Franco?

3. Do they endorse, or are they even aware of your programme?

First, the interesting thing is there are well over 1000 different martial arts system being practiced today, and new ones are created everyday. You could classify these into grappling arts, striking arts, soft arts, hard arts, reality based, etc. Beyond the individual classes, the differences are elementary and the unique aspects start to fade. It has been this way since people started creating martial arts. They borrow from one system or another to make it their own...sometimes they don't even do that. It is also a rarity for people to give credit to the people and systems that spawned the thought.

1. I don't care if someone thinks I have "ripped off the shredder."
That's not what I've done at all. I don't have to make a living teaching, and frankly I'd suggest that they learn from Dimitri or Franco, unless it is more convienant to train with me.

The first thing I did in the development of MQ2 was the application of the Force Contineum (FC) used in Law Enforcement (LE), it includes the use of LE tools and weapons. This is what the MQ2 was originally designed for. There is a progression ladder that MQ2 follows and mirrors the FC. Other things have followed, and are for LEO's only. My understanding of the Shredder and the Widowmaker programs are more for just pure defense of your life, and have really no applications for LE, nor do they employ the use of weapons as part of the concept.

2. I've not trained with either man. I recently met with Mr. Franco in prep for my doctoral program research, of which I am still refining the nature of. He is an extremely knowledgable person and was very accomdating.

3. NO, but I give credit to them, at least for certain aspects of the MQ2 program. But those aspects about 20% of it.

[Thai Bri]

Thanks for plucking up the courage to answer. It took a while......

I would be concenred about potential customers re question no. 1. The fact you say you're not makes me suspicious. I know nothing of Franco, but you obviously have little understanding of Richard Dimitri's Shredder. It can be done with less than lethal/maiming force, and can be done with weapons.

Merely meeting one of the two people you claim to have been inspired by doesn't count for much. Where did you get info and experience about their work? The internet?

I'll bet they're both grateful for acknowledging them. I can hear them now...... "Thanks for using my name to promote your own product"

My impression is that your a bit of a charlatan. But, of course, you don't care if people think that. After all, for every doubter there'll be someone willing to part with their hard earned cash.

[Drew Howe]

[Thai Bri]

Perhaps the word charlatan was a bit strong. You may well have an honest enthusiasm and a genuine desire to teach and learn.

But it is still better to be careful who's name you choose to use, and it would be better if you both knew alot about what they had to offer and, preferably, gave you their permission to use it.

Is that fair?

[Ryu (JKD?)]

Well I don't want to inject my opinion into something that doesn't concern me...

(dodges another tomato)

But I do think Mr. Dimitri should at least be informed if someone wants to use his name...

He's pretty laid back about stuff like that.....but I don't want to put words in his mouth, so...

away I go.


Ryu

[Drew Howe]

I come from the world of academia. As a student and now as a college professor, it is required to site your sources and give proper credit when using someone else's work in the creation of a new project. It was simply in that spirit that I credited Franco and Demitri for their work. I wasn't attempting to suggest that I was somehow approved or connected to either of their programs. However, since I've been told that this is the impression that was left, I've removed any reference to them from my website.

While I feel that it is dishonest not to credit work of others, I also don't want to leave the impression that I am somehow associated with a group that I am not. My apologies to anyone that was confused by my honest attempt at citing and giving deserved credit to the work of others.

[Ryu (JKD?)]

On a random note,

I just realized that I'm currently a Full Instructor teaching private lessons out of my dingy little garage.
I've got no webpage, vid tapes, and don't have a "program" of my own.

What's MY problem??

Ryu

[Drew Howe]

Originally posted by Ryu (JKD?)
On a random note,

I just realized that I'm currently a Full Instructor teaching private lessons out of my dingy little garage.
I've got no webpage, vid tapes, and don't have a "program" of my own.

What's MY problem??

Ryu

Well, we are not that dissimilar. The only difference is that I teach a class on basic web development for business, so that is the primary reason I even created a web site.

I'll bet my garage, where I also teach, is dingier than yours.

[Ryu (JKD?)]

Originally posted by Drew Howe
I come from the world of academia. As a student and now as a college professor, it is required to site your sources and give proper credit when using someone else's work in the creation of a new project. It was simply in that spirit that I credited Franco and Demitri for their work. I wasn't attempting to suggest that I was somehow approved or connected to either of their programs. However, since I've been told that this is the impression that was left, I've removed any reference to them from my website.

While I feel that it is dishonest not to credit work of others, I also don't want to leave the impression that I am somehow associated with a group that I am not. My apologies to anyone that was confused by my honest attempt at citing and giving deserved credit to the work of others.

I know where you're coming from, dude. I don't think you have to take off the citing, etc. I would say just let them know.

I personally use the shredder in my own training. It's a great tool and it's something I've been working on for the last year or so. I've got lots of Rich's materials on it, including his most recent, and am going to try to get up and train with him in the near future. Rich actually gave me permission to use the term and tactic as I see fit, but it's completely Rich's concept, not mine.
If I use it during a sparring session, and people want to know about it, well I give him the credit.

So I think your heart's in the right place.

I'd say (if you haven't already) get to know Rich a bit, get his materials, and train with him.

Ryu

[Drew Howe]

Originally posted by Ryu (JKD?)


So I think your heart's in the right place.

I'd say (if you haven't already) get to know Rich a bit, get his materials, and train with him.

Ryu

Thanks, and perhaps when time allows, I will. I'll certainly be ordering more of his material in the near future.

[Thai Bri]

Thats more like it. Rich is a great guy who would do what he could to encourage and develop you. But he does run a business, so I reckon it would be best to buy some of his stuff. Fill the master's rice bowl, and all that.

www.senshido.com

I don't teach, but I train in a garage. I'm willing to bet a whole lot that it is the dingiest of all....... But at least I have some heating and lighting now.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Aye laddie, but does your garage have mats like mine???

[Thai Bri]

No, but it does boast a rather dangerous thred-bear carpet.

But, on the positive side, it also boasts:-

A power cage
160 kilos of weights
Bars and dumbells
Bench
Pulley system
4 foot punch bag
6 foot punch bag
Floor to ceiling ball and, my pride and joy....
Mr. Spar Pro.


So, it isn't so bad.