Michael Sandham The Rise and Fall of a Martial Arts Impostor

 Michael Sandham The Rise and Fall of a Martial Arts Impostor

Dr. C.G. Mcfadden

In the world of martial arts, where discipline and integrity are paramount, Michael Sandham's story stands as a cautionary tale of deceit and downfall. Claiming to be a martial arts prodigy, Sandham's fabricated credentials and self-proclaimed expertise led many to believe in his fabricated persona. However, his empire crumbled under the weight of fraud accusations and personal abuse allegations, revealing the dangers of unchecked ambition and dishonesty.

The Fabricated Martial Arts Mastery

Michael Sandham presented himself as a seasoned martial artist with an impressive array of credentials. He claimed to hold a sixth-degree black belt in Hwa Rang Do, a black belt in jujutsu, a fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo, and the red slash of a master in Wing Chun kung fu. Additionally, he asserted that he had been trained by renowned martial artists such as Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, Dan Inosanto, and Bill "Superfoot" Wallace. To further bolster his image, Sandham introduced a martial art he termed "Sando," positioning himself as its "world grand master." He marketed Sando as a modern warrior style that purportedly offered profound psychological benefits. Military Wiki

Despite these grandiose claims, there is no verifiable evidence supporting Sandham's martial arts achievements or his associations with the aforementioned martial artists. His promotional materials were rife with spelling errors and lacked credible references, casting doubt on the authenticity of his assertions.

The Illusion of Success

Capitalizing on his self-made reputation, Sandham established a martial arts studio in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He marketed his school aggressively, promising students unparalleled training and expertise. However, the reality was starkly different. There are no records of Sandham winning any martial arts tournaments or holding legitimate black belts. His studio's operations were shrouded in mystery, and many students reported feeling misled and exploited. Military Wiki

Financially, Sandham's ventures were fraught with instability. He borrowed money from his wife's family to fund his martial arts endeavors, yet struggled with basic financial responsibilities, even relying on food banks to feed himself. His personal life mirrored his professional deceit; he was described as controlling, refusing to allow his wife to work despite their financial hardships. Military Wiki

The Downfall

As Sandham's deceit unraveled, his criminal activities escalated. In 2006, he was involved in the Shedden massacre, a tragic event that led to the deaths of eight individuals. Sandham, along with several accomplices, was convicted for his role in the massacre and is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Military Wiki

Legacy of Deception

Michael Sandham's story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of integrity in martial arts. His rise and fall highlight the potential dangers of unchecked ambition and the ease with which individuals can be deceived by fabricated credentials. While he may have once been a figure of authority in his community, his legacy is now one of caution and reflection.

In the end, the martial arts community must remain vigilant, ensuring that those who claim to teach and lead do so with honesty, humility, and respect for the traditions they represent.

Martial Arts Claims vs. Reality

Sandham has made several claims regarding his martial arts expertise:

• Black Belts and Training: He has stated that he holds a sixth-degree black belt in Hwa Rang Do, a black belt in jujutsu, a fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo, and the red slash of a master in Wing Chun kung fu. However, there are no records by any martial arts associations showing that Sandham had won any tournaments or had been awarded any belts at all. Wikipedia

• Training with Renowned Martial Artists: Sandham claimed to have been trained in martial arts by Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, Dan Inosanto, and Bill "Superfoot" Wallace. There is no evidence to support these claims. Wikipedia

• Creation of "Sando": He introduced a martial art he termed "Sando," positioning himself as its "world grand master." There is no evidence that "Sando" is a recognized martial art or that Sandham had any legitimate role in its development. Wikipedia

Verified Aspects of His Background

Despite the numerous unsubstantiated claims, some aspects of Sandham's background are verifiable:

• Military Service: Sandham served in the Canadian Army from 1990 to 1994 and was honorably discharged as a trained private. However, he falsely claimed to have served in the elite Canadian Airborne Regiment and to have fought in the Bosnian War. His service records show that during his four years in the Army, he neither saw combat nor served overseas. Wikipedia

• Police Service: After leaving the Army, Sandham joined the police force of Sainte-Anne-des-Chênes as an auxiliary constable in 1999. He later joined the East St. Paul police force as a full constable from 2000 onward. In his police evaluations, he was described as "friendly and co-operative" and an excellent marksman. However, there were complaints about his English, which was marred by frequent spelling and grammar mistakes. Wikipedia

While some aspects of Michael Sandham's background are verifiable, many of his martial arts claims are unsubstantiated and appear to be fabrications. His story underscores the importance of verifying martial arts credentials and the potential consequences of misrepresentation. Individuals interested in martial arts should seek instruction from reputable sources and be cautious of exaggerated claims.

Yes, Michael Sandham did produce black belts under his instruction. Despite controversies surrounding his own martial arts credentials, he founded and operated Shaolin Martial Arts in Lakeway, Texas, where he served as the head instructor. Under his guidance, students achieved various levels of black belt rankings in Shaolin-Do Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Shaolin Martial Arts+1LinkedIn+8Shaolin Martial Arts+8Shaolin Martial Arts+8

Student Achievements Under Sandham

Testimonials from students highlight the positive impact of his teaching:

• Patricia Krivoshein, a Shaolin-Do Black Belt, began studying under Sandham in 2002. She credits him with profound personal development, including improved strength, balance, flexibility, self-defense skills, and overall health. She attributes her clean bill of health to the physical and mental well-being achieved through his instruction. Shaolin Martial Arts+1Shaolin Martial Arts+1

• Michelle Hurtado, a 2nd Degree Black Belt, notes that over six years of training, she gained a much greater sense of discipline and self-confidence. She applied the invaluable lessons learned through Shaolin-Do to other aspects of her life, earning leadership positions throughout high school and having the confidence to join the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M. She attributes much of this to Sandham's excellent teaching. Facebook+8Shaolin Martial Arts+8Shaolin Martial Arts+8Shaolin Martial Arts+1

These accounts suggest that, regardless of his personal background, Sandham was effective in training and promoting students within the Shaolin-Do system.

Contextual Considerations

It's important to note that while Sandham's students achieved black belt rankings, his own martial arts credentials have been widely disputed. He claimed to hold various black belts and to have trained with renowned martial artists, but there is no verifiable evidence to support these claims. His story underscores the importance of verifying martial arts credentials and the potential consequences of misrepresentation.

In summary, while Michael Sandham's personal martial arts background is contentious, he did produce black belts under his instruction, and many students have reported positive experiences and personal growth through his teaching.

1. What defines a “martial arts fraud”?

In martial arts history, someone is generally considered a fraud if they claim credentials they do not actually possess, especially to:

• Gain financial benefit (students, seminars, etc.)

• Elevate their social or professional status

• Promote themselves as a recognized master or teacher

If claiming a black belt or high-level rank without ever earning it is the most common way someone is labeled a fraud. Who is the person to determine if the rank they have is legit enough to wear?  

2. Producing black belts without holding one yourself

Historically, there are examples in various martial arts where:

• A teacher creates a system or teaches students effectively but doesn’t have a traditional rank.

• The teacher is still considered a legitimate instructor if the community recognizes their knowledge, skill, and ability to train competent students.

However:

• In rank-based arts (like Classical or Traditional Karate, Taekwondo, BJJ), the rank itself is part of legitimacy. Producing black belts while not holding one yourself is highly controversial.

• Some "communities" may see the teacher as a “technically unranked master” if they truly have knowledge and produce competent students.

• Others will always "consider" the teacher a fraud because rank certification is both symbolic and structural within a particular martial art.

3. Martial arts history examples

• Bruce Lee: Did not hold high formal ranks in most of the arts he taught, yet is recognized as a legitimate master because of his skill, innovations, and student success.

• Certain historical Kung Fu masters: Some never formalized belts (which were introduced later by Japanese/Korean arts), but their students became masters and teachers. They weren’t considered frauds because the belt system didn’t exist or wasn’t central.

4. Modern implications

Today, producing black belts in a system you created or lead can give some credibility, but it doesn’t automatically erase the fraud label if:

• You claim official black belts in traditional arts you never earned

• You mislead people about your personal credentials

• You profit off the illusion of authority

In Sandham’s case:

• He produced black belts in Shaolin-Do, his own system.

• This demonstrates ability to teach, but it does not validate his personal claims of training with famous masters or holding multiple black belts.

• Martial arts historians or rank-traditionalists would likely still consider his personal background fraudulent.

Bottom line Producing competent black belts can give some legitimacy as a teacher, but it does not erase fraud if your personal credentials are fabricated. It’s about the difference between skill as an instructor and honesty about rank and lineage. But we should always take into account that every "Founder" never had rank and the rank they did have came from kano and a few others that got their rank from Kano. So wouldn't that make our founders Frauds?