Saturday, June 26, 2010

Highly Unethical

There's someone on EBay selling bogus International Kenpo Karate Association (IKKA) rank certificates.
They charge $60, and are "signed" by Mr and Mrs Parker, Huk Planas and Joe Palanzo. At one time not long before Mr. Parker died, Huk was the Executive Vice-President of the association and Joe was the Vice-President. Leilani would sign as treasurer. On the instructor recommendation side it has the signature of Tony Martinez, one of the black belts out of the Salt Lake City studio run by Mills Crenshaw.
   The description says it's on tan paper "buff" parchment paper. The originals were done on a gray shade of paper. Each had a unique registration number and these appear to have the same number on all. It says you get "Your Name Here" and "Your Rank Here". The date does not appear to manipulated for the buyer. The date is 1987, from a school in Utah (where Mr. Martinez is) though. I am appalled. I don't want to think Mr. Martinez is involved in this. I have heard nothing but good about him. When my first real kenpo teacher, Mike Sanders, trained there he knew Tony and had nothing but good to say. If he's not he needs to know about this.
    These are replicas of the small certificate that was used for many years. At least it's not the large black belt certificate he's ripping off. The time frame of the certificate could be used to mislead, since it is before Mr. Parker's passing and signed by the correct individuals for the time. An unearned rank could obviously be issued  as well. If you don't know about the wrong color paper you could be led to believe it's real. In addition, the school code is incorrect. No school would be issued a code of "Kick1".
   Who would want an obviously fake certificate of rank signed by two people who are deceased, from an association that no longer exists? The same people who get a PhD through an ad in the back of a magazine?
    I'm upset, disgusted, disappointed. Not just angry this person would use my teacher's name like this but that people buy this stuff. I'd think that Mr. Planas and Mr. Palanzo would be, too. Here's the link. See what you think.
 http://cgi.ebay.com/Ed-Parker-IKKA-American-Kenpo-Karate-Certificate-/230478347044?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35a9947b24

More news. This seller has about 600 fake diplomas for martial arts, educational institutions, miltary, etc. He oe she's based in Dallas.

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