Recently, I became aware of the establishment of a new Martial Arts School by one of my former senior instructors, Mark O'Dell.  Many of the claims in his website are either false, or at best, misleading.  I feel it would be unconscionable for me to allow these inaccurate statements to the Inland Empire Martial Art's community in which I have served for over 25 years, to go uncontested.

Mark O'Dell started his training in Bok-Fu Kenpo Karate at my East-Wind Kung Fu Karate School in 1984 when he was 17½ years of age.  He was an instructor in my school for 18 years and he received his Black Belt from me, only the second I awarded, in 2001.

In 2005, I was regrettably forced to terminate Mark O'Dell's position as instructor in my school and revoke his Black Belt for his inappropriate behavior and conduct inconsistent with the standards of integrity I require of my instructors and Black Belts.  At that time, I also unfortunately discovered that he was not teaching his students the Art of Bok-Fu Kenpo in accordance with curriculum I carefully developed over 30 years of instruction in the Martial Arts.  When I confronted him with evidence of his wrongful conduct, he admitted and acknowledged all of these actions, in writing, in front of several witnesses.

He states that that a number of legendary instructors and Martial Artists, including Grand Master Al Tracy, former Heavyweight Shootfighting Champion Bart Vale, Bill "Super Foot" Wallace and James Ibrao taught at "his school."  The truth of the matter, however, is that the seminars of which he speaks were held, not at his new school, but rather at my East-Wind School.  Almost all of the photos of the above great fighters and teachers he displays on his site were taken during these events at the East-Wind School.  This can simply be verified by contacting any of these individuals.   Bart Vale (1-954-746-0202) has told me he would be more than happy to discuss this directly with anyone interested in speaking with him.

As far as Martial Arts are concerned, taking one (or even several) lessons from an instructor such as James Ibrao, Al Tracy or Bart Vale is not the same as "training" under them.  Indeed, Mark O'Dell's Black Belt in Tracy Kenpo (now revoked) was awarded solely as a result as the Black Belt I awarded him in Bok-Fu ("White Tiger") Kenpo as a consequences of the Tracy Brothers' respect for my preservation of the traditions and lineage of Kenpo at the East-Wind School, not as implied by Mark O'Dell, for his independent study and testing under these Masters.

Through 2005, as of the time I terminated his relationship with the East-Wind School, I was aware of no work by Mark O'Dell as a consultant to the U.S. Military in the development of hand-to-hand training.  Based on the inaccurate statements on his site and my two decades of experience with him, I am skeptical of these claims.

As an additional side note, the "Markleeville Death Ride" is one of the most prestigious bicycling events in the U.S.; while Mark O'Dell may well have tested his endurance by participating in it, I am not aware of him ever completing more than just one-third of the event during the times he participated with me.

By my measure, character is defined by an individual's ability to be truthful.  Some people will live always in the shadows of others.

Sifu Gary Toppins