Martial Arts Bullies and Trolls

[C.G. Mcfadden]

Hello everyone, my name is C. G. McFadden. I’ve been involved in martial arts for many years now, and over that time I’ve been fortunate to study and train in multiple disciplines. My path has taken me through some traditional arts but it seems BJJ and kickboxing has held my attention the most and with in the last 10 years i have really been digging into traditional Japanese jujutsu for a better understanding of BJJ. and I continue to practice and learn with the same curiosity and respect for the arts that first drew me in. But my God the amount of misplaced trauma turned to bitterness that is flowing through the veins of the community is absolutely sad. I do not remember the arts ever being like this and granted it could be because of the innerweb which now we all have the ability to place information how we see fit be it good or bad. Now I would like to be completely transparent and inform everyone I really would appreciate any and all perspectives on this subject because I do plan on using a few of these discussions as part of research for my book That I hope to release next year.


One of the things I appreciate most about the martial arts community is the wide range of perspectives and experiences we share. With that in mind, I’d like to open up a discussion on something that I think many of us have encountered: “Martial Arts Bullies and Trolls.”

• Do you see them as a necessary evil that, in some strange way, pushes people to be sharper—or are they the biggest cancer to ever hit the martial arts community?
• Do you feel it’s important that we, as martial artists, police our own when it comes to misinformation, ego, or bad behavior?
• And if so, where is the line? When does holding people accountable cross into going too far? What should be considered acceptable, and what should be tolerated?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. I think it’s a conversation worth having, especially if we care about the integrity and future of the arts we all practice and love.


Looking forward to learning from the perspectives here and being part of the discussions.


—C. G. McFadden

 

[skribs]

I hope I don't come across as a bully or troll when I say this, but you really need to work on your grammar skills if you want to write a book.

In addition to that, I don't really know what the post is about. Are you talking about online trolls? People who train martial arts to bully people at work or at school? People who bully other martial artists in class?

I don't really know what we're talking about, because I haven't really experienced bullies in the gyms I train at. At least, they generally don't stick around long enough to get good enough to use it to bully people.

 

[J. Pickard]

I don't think bullying is necessary in any way but I'm not sure what you think qualifies as a "bully". Could you elaborate on that?

 

[C.G. Mcfadden]

I don't think bullying is necessary in any way but I'm not sure what you think qualifies as a "bully". Could you elaborate on that?

Thank you very much for your response I truly appreciate you taking the time to engage with me on this topic. I completely agree with you that bullying is not necessary in any way, shape, or form. In fact, I believe it’s one of the most corrosive forces in any community, whether we’re talking about martial arts, professional environments, or everyday life.


When I use the word “bully”, I’m not only referring to the obvious forms—like physical intimidation or verbal harassment—but also the subtler, sometimes overlooked behaviors. A bully can be the person who uses their seniority, reputation, or skill level to belittle others instead of build them up. It can also be someone who trolls in online forums, hiding behind anonymity to humiliate, spread rumors, or provoke conflict rather than contribute positively.


To me, bullying includes (but is not limited to):

• Verbal abuse – insults, humiliation, name-calling, and constant criticism meant to tear others down.
• Emotional manipulation – creating fear, isolation, or a sense of inferiority.
• Abuse of authority or rank – instructors or higher belts using their status to mistreat, exploit, or shame students instead of guiding them.
• Online harassment/trolling – spreading lies, mocking others, or baiting them into conflict just for ego or attention.
• Exclusion and gatekeeping – deliberately ostracizing individuals or discrediting them without fair reason.

So when I say “bullying,” I’m really talking about any consistent behavior where one person leverages power, influence, or aggression to diminish another human being.

What makes this conversation tricky, however, is that not everyone defines “bully” the same way. For example, some people think being direct, strict, or brutally honest qualifies as bullying, while others believe those traits are part of discipline and accountability. That’s why I believe discussions like this are so important we need to separate constructive criticism and firm leadership from destructive behavior that damages people and communities.


I’d really like to hear your perspective on this what do you consider bullying, and where do you feel the line is between tough leadership and outright abuse?

 

[C.G. Mcfadden]

I hope I don't come across as a bully or troll when I say this, but you really need to work on your grammar skills if you want to write a book.

In addition to that, I don't really know what the post is about. Are you talking about online trolls? People who train martial arts to bully people at work or at school? People who bully other martial artists in class?

I don't really know what we're talking about, because I haven't really experienced bullies in the gyms I train at. At least, they generally don't stick around long enough to get good enough to use it to bully people.

Thank you for the feedback—I’ll take that as both a compliment and a challenge. Don’t worry, my book will be professionally proofed and edited before release, so the grammar won’t be left entirely to my own devices (or my voice-to-text assistant, which has a mind of its own sometimes).

Since you brought it up, yes—I’m Autistic and dyslexic. That means I absolutely agree with you: grammar is something I need to work on, and I don’t shy away from admitting that. The reality is, I can only hyper-focus on so many things at once, and right now my energy goes into research, writing, and sharing ideas. Clean grammar comes later in the process, with the help of professionals who do that better than I ever could.

Now, about the actual topic: my post is about martial arts bullies and trolls. To clarify:

• Yes, it can mean online trolls who hide behind keyboards and thrive on conflict.
• Yes, it can mean martial artists who use their rank, skill, or reputation as a weapon against others rather than a responsibility.
• And yes, it can even mean people who carry that arrogance outside the gym—to school, work, or daily life—treating martial arts as a license for dominance instead of discipline.

I understand you may not have personally seen much of this where you train, and that’s fantastic—honestly, that’s how it should be. But unfortunately, not every school or forum has the same culture, and some people do experience real harm at the hands of bullies who never should’ve been allowed to thrive in a martial arts or professional business environment.

---

 

[skribs]

Thank you very much for your response I truly appreciate you taking the time to engage with me on this topic. I completely agree with you that bullying is not necessary in any way, shape, or form. In fact, I believe it’s one of the most corrosive forces in any community, whether we’re talking about martial arts, professional environments, or everyday life.


When I use the word “bully”, I’m not only referring to the obvious forms—like physical intimidation or verbal harassment—but also the subtler, sometimes overlooked behaviors. A bully can be the person who uses their seniority, reputation, or skill level to belittle others instead of build them up. It can also be someone who trolls in online forums, hiding behind anonymity to humiliate, spread rumors, or provoke conflict rather than contribute positively.


To me, bullying includes (but is not limited to):

• Verbal abuse – insults, humiliation, name-calling, and constant criticism meant to tear others down.
• Emotional manipulation – creating fear, isolation, or a sense of inferiority.
• Abuse of authority or rank – instructors or higher belts using their status to mistreat, exploit, or shame students instead of guiding them.
• Online harassment/trolling – spreading lies, mocking others, or baiting them into conflict just for ego or attention.
• Exclusion and gatekeeping – deliberately ostracizing individuals or discrediting them without fair reason.

So when I say “bullying,” I’m really talking about any consistent behavior where one person leverages power, influence, or aggression to diminish another human being.

What makes this conversation tricky, however, is that not everyone defines “bully” the same way. For example, some people think being direct, strict, or brutally honest qualifies as bullying, while others believe those traits are part of discipline and accountability. That’s why I believe discussions like this are so important we need to separate constructive criticism and firm leadership from destructive behavior that damages people and communities.


I’d really like to hear your perspective on this what do you consider bullying, and where do you feel the line is between tough leadership and outright abuse?

Can you provide specific examples of what you're talking about? This reads like a textbook or a mandatory training class. It doesn't really describe any specific behaviors or scenarios. At this point we're just talking in abstract theory, which doesn't help much in the real world.

 

[skribs]

Let me give you an example from my day job. I work cybersecurity. I had created vulnerability reports for our infrastructure team. Our infrastructure director said, "He's not doing enough analysis in these reports, I need him to do more analysis." This didn't really help the discussion, and my manager and I struggled to figure out how to do "more analysis".

A few months later, our IT director gave his feedback, "I want to see what is past SLA and by how much, and what is going to be past SLA before the next report." It was very easy for me to take that feedback and provide a specific report.

You're asking now about this nebulous thing, that itself is a bit of a rarity in martial arts. Most people who get to a high level in martial arts get humbled along the way, and bully behaviors tend to get ironed out. You're asking us to create a unicorn and then argue about it. What are some specific examples of bullying behavior that we can discuss?

 

[C.G. Mcfadden]

Let me give you an example from my day job. I work cybersecurity. I had created vulnerability reports for our infrastructure team. Our infrastructure director said, "He's not doing enough analysis in these reports, I need him to do more analysis." This didn't really help the discussion, and my manager and I struggled to figure out how to do "more analysis".

A few months later, our IT director gave his feedback, "I want to see what is past SLA and by how much, and what is going to be past SLA before the next report." It was very easy for me to take that feedback and provide a specific report.

You're asking now about this nebulous thing, that itself is a bit of a rarity in martial arts. Most people who get to a high level in martial arts get humbled along the way, and bully behaviors tend to get ironed out. You're asking us to create a unicorn and then argue about it. What are some specific examples of bullying behavior that we can discuss?

Thank you for spelling that out with your example that actually helps me frame this much better. You’re right, vague descriptions don’t really get us anywhere, and concrete examples are what move the conversation forward. So let me give you some specific behaviors I’ve seen or heard about in the martial arts world that I would classify as bullying to maybe start with.

1. Instructor abuse of rank/authority –
   
   • Publicly humiliating students for mistakes instead of correcting them constructively.
   • Using higher rank as a shield to insult, intimidate, or even physically punish students beyond what’s necessary for discipline or training.
   • In extreme cases, exploiting students financially or emotionally under the guise of “loyalty” or “tradition.”
2. Student-on-student intimidation –
   
   • Higher belts sparring with lower belts and deliberately going 100% power just to dominate, injure, or scare them.
   • Refusing to partner with someone unless they “prove themselves” first, essentially creating an internal pecking order of favoritism and exclusion.
3. Online martial arts trolling –
   
   • Black belts or self-proclaimed “masters” attacking others’ credentials, spreading rumors, or mocking people’s backgrounds without evidence.
   • Forums or social media posts where the goal isn’t honest debate, but ego battles and tearing people down.
4. Carryover bullying outside the dojo/gym –
   
   • Martial artists who take what they’ve learned and use it to intimidate co-workers, classmates, or people in everyday life, flaunting their skill as a tool of fear rather than respect.

You’re also right that at the highest levels, But sadly what i have seen from all arts in one way or another it tends to be the "Highest of Rank" causing the issues with no real correction within the organizations or on the community forums. Yes I agree that real martial arts training should help to humble people, but in the last 10 years is has seemed to show the true colors of most. Or maybe its due to the internet that now I see it more. But the reality is, not everyone makes it to that level. And in those middle spaces where ego is still inflated and accountability is weak bullying behaviors do happen, and they can damage people and communities.

So I don’t see this as chasing a unicorn. I see it as identifying behaviors that should be ironed out, but sometimes slip through the cracks. And if they slip through enough times, they become a culture problem, not just a one-off.

I’d really be curious to know out of the examples above, which (if any) do you think qualify as true bullying versus just bad leadership or immaturity?

 

[skribs]

Thank you for spelling that out with your example that actually helps me frame this much better. You’re right, vague descriptions don’t really get us anywhere, and concrete examples are what move the conversation forward. So let me give you some specific behaviors I’ve seen or heard about in the martial arts world that I would classify as bullying to maybe start with.

1. Instructor abuse of rank/authority –
   • Publicly humiliating students for mistakes instead of correcting them constructively.
   • Using higher rank as a shield to insult, intimidate, or even physically punish students beyond what’s necessary for discipline or training.
   • In extreme cases, exploiting students financially or emotionally under the guise of “loyalty” or “tradition.”
2. Student-on-student intimidation –
   • Higher belts sparring with lower belts and deliberately going 100% power just to dominate, injure, or scare them.
   • Refusing to partner with someone unless they “prove themselves” first, essentially creating an internal pecking order of favoritism and exclusion.
3. Online martial arts trolling –
   • Black belts or self-proclaimed “masters” attacking others’ credentials, spreading rumors, or mocking people’s backgrounds without evidence.
   • Forums or social media posts where the goal isn’t honest debate, but ego battles and tearing people down.
4. Carryover bullying outside the dojo/gym –
   • Martial artists who take what they’ve learned and use it to intimidate co-workers, classmates, or people in everyday life, flaunting their skill as a tool of fear rather than respect.

You’re also right that at the highest levels, But sadly what i have seen from all arts in one way or another it tends to be the "Highest of Rank" causing the issues with no real correction within the organizations or on the community forums. Yes I agree that real martial arts training should help to humble people, but in the last 10 years is has seemed to show the true colors of most. Or maybe its due to the internet that now I see it more. But the reality is, not everyone makes it to that level. And in those middle spaces where ego is still inflated and accountability is weak bullying behaviors do happen, and they can damage people and communities.

So I don’t see this as chasing a unicorn. I see it as identifying behaviors that should be ironed out, but sometimes slip through the cracks. And if they slip through enough times, they become a culture problem, not just a one-off.

I’d really be curious to know out of the examples above, which (if any) do you think qualify as true bullying versus just bad leadership or immaturity?

Again, no specific examples. Just a bunch of vague scenarios that look like they're taken from a textbook or online training course.

I'm also questioning whether you're even human or if you're an AI chat bot. But I'm wondering if questioning the humanity behind the post constitutes as fraud busting on this site. Anyway, I don't see any meaningful discussion being had here, since this is all still theoretical and academic, and there isn't anything real being discussed. So I'm going to bow out of this conversation.

 

[TransformationWell]

Again, no specific examples. Just a bunch of vague scenarios that look like they're taken from a textbook or online training course.

I'm also questioning whether you're even human or if you're an AI chat bot. But I'm wondering if questioning the humanity behind the post constitutes as fraud busting on this site. Anyway, I don't see any meaningful discussion being had here, since this is all still theoretical and academic, and there isn't anything real being discussed. So I'm going to bow out of this conversation.

I disagree. I think these are clear cut examples. I'm not sure if I would agree that having "higher belts sparring against lower belts" is bullying though. It's a more common practice(in multiple disciplines) than you might think.

 

[C.G. Mcfadden]

Again, no specific examples. Just a bunch of vague scenarios that look like they're taken from a textbook or online training course.

I'm also questioning whether you're even human or if you're an AI chat bot. But I'm wondering if questioning the humanity behind the post constitutes as fraud busting on this site. Anyway, I don't see any meaningful discussion being had here, since this is all still theoretical and academic, and there isn't anything real being discussed. So I'm going to bow out of this conversa

I disagree. I think these are clear cut examples. I'm not sure if I would agree that having "higher belts sparring against lower belts" is bullying though. It's a more common practice(in multiple disciplines) than you might think.

I agree that it is pretty common as long as the higher rank has the skill and ability to not harm the lower rank. I was just using that as an example. I have seen many of BJJ and MMA and Kickboxing schools have issues with Egos. And in my experience the instructors do not check that behavior. It seems to have become as part of the martial arts culture but it feels more like a "Gym Bro" Culture.

 

[C.G. Mcfadden]

Oh yes, the keyboard warriors! Here is what i have found and witnessed in just the short amount of time doing research.
The “Guardians of Truth and Authenticity” who suddenly become world experts on arts they’ve never trained in, organizations they’ve never been a part of, and ranks they couldn’t sniff at if they trained for 30 years. And, of course, they always show up under an alias. Because nothing says “credible authority” like hiding behind a fake name while swinging accusations at anyone who doesn’t bow to your imaginary standards. its always a "Kung Fu guy" Attacking a Karate Guy or a BJJ Guy attacking every other art or the TKD Guy attacking the other TKD guy from the other KWAN.


So here’s the most common bully and troll playbook.

1. Step One: Question Everything Except Yourself.
   They swoop in and demand, “Show proof of your rank!” even though they don’t belong to that art, that style, or that federation. Funny how they’re suddenly the gatekeeper of legitimacy while having zero credentials themselves.
2. Step Two: The “Humble Master” Routine.
   You’ve seen it—these saints of humility who are the first to scream “fraud” the second someone in their own art gets recognition. They’ll preach how impossible it is to join XYZ Organization unless you’re legit, then when they find out the victim is, in fact, legit and credentialed through the National Governing Body, suddenly that NGB isn’t valid anymore. Convenient, right?
3. Step Three: Smear Campaign.
   When all else fails, out comes the nuclear option. They start dragging people through the mud with accusations of “being associated with SA offenders” or worse. No proof, no context—just character assassination. Because when they’ve been proven wrong on facts, the only card left to play is slander.

And here’s the sick part: it works. I’ve watched people have their reputations, their schools, even their lives torn apart, not because they were frauds, but because they dared to tell the cool kids’ club to shove it. These bullies don’t care about truth, they care about control. They don’t want martial arts to grow, they want it to shrink down into their own tiny echo chamber where only they and their yes-men belong.

So when someone asks, “What does martial arts trolling or bullying look like?” —there’s your answer. It’s the same sad script on repeat: some fake names, a ton of random "fake" standards, real damage. And no, it’s not about protecting the art. It’s about ego, insecurity, and the pathetic need to play king of a hill that no one else is even climbing.

 

[skribs]

I disagree. I think these are clear cut examples. I'm not sure if I would agree that having "higher belts sparring against lower belts" is bullying though. It's a more common practice(in multiple disciplines) than you might think.

Let's use one of the examples he provided:

• In extreme cases, exploiting students financially or emotionally under the guise of “loyalty” or “tradition.”

There is nothing of substance to this. It's just a bullet point without any source, any emotion, or any data. At least one of those would help, preferably at least two. It's just a sterile statement of something vaguely bad that may be happening at some rate of prevalence.

 

[philwhite]

I think your trying to make something out of nothing. Sure there are roten people but I don't think they are in the majority. Most people I've met in MA are really nice and supportive. I'm sure everyone has a story of a bully or negative person but they also probably have stories of helpful kind folks too. Also not interested in helping someone publish a negative hit piece on MAs.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

Back on MAP I used to love trolls. I would take great pleasure in tormenting them. But then, the abyss stares back and I now realise that in the process I had become the biggest troll of all. Learn from my mistake, I beg you.

 

[isshinryuronin]

I think your trying to make something out of nothing.

Yeah, somebody just trying to stir up controversy.

Oh yes, the keyboard warriors! Here is what i have found and witnessed in just the short amount of time doing research.
The “Guardians of Truth and Authenticity” who suddenly become world experts on arts they’ve never trained in,

Is he talking about himself?

 

[C.G. Mcfadden]

If you don't want to engage and discuss this topic other than trying to stir up a some crap yourself then just scroll right past it. No one is forcing anyone to engage. Just because you do not like the way I have worded things or God forbid it isn't meeting your requirements of the Gatekeepers to be acknowledged does not make my question less valid. It seems I have only had two respectable responses, the rest just seem childish. The real question is how much longer can you go on with this? what else can you say about me? I'll wait.......... Its starting to get good lol

 

[Appledog]

If you don't want to engage and discuss this topic other than trying to stir up a some crap yourself then just scroll right past it. No one is forcing anyone to engage. Just because you do not like the way I have worded things or God forbid it isn't meeting your requirements of the Gatekeepers to be acknowledged does not make my question less valid. It seems I have only had two respectable responses, the rest just seem childish. The real question is how much longer can you go on with this? what else can you say about me? I'll wait.......... Its starting to get good lol

Well to be fair if I wanted to talk to Chat GPT there's a website for that.

And, of course, they always show up under an alias. Because nothing says “credible authority” like hiding behind a fake name while swinging accusations at anyone who doesn’t bow to your imaginary standards.

You mean like using the name of the actor who plays Dr. Beverly Crusher and hoping no one would notice?

 

[Stuarto]

Well to be fair if I wanted to talk to Chat GPT there's a website for that.


You mean like using the name of the actor who plays Dr. Beverly Crusher and hoping no one would notice?

I knew that name looked familiar!