okay, so I did a little more digging and I found this, written by his sifu Bill Graves:
taken from
http://www.jacksonvillemartialarts.blogspot.com/
[h=3]
Armando Sainz[/h]
I would like to start out by letting everyone know the "TRUE" facts about Sifu Armando Sainz. He was a student of mine, Sifu Bill Graves, and mine ALONE. He trained with my Sifu Karl Godwin less than 24 hours in 12 years, this doesn't entitle him to refer to Sifu Godwin in any other manner than Sigung. Armando had Sifu Godwin give 2 seminars at the Centerline Academy over the 8 year period in which this facility was open. These 4 interactions with my Sifu Karl Godwin doesn't entitle Sainz to refer to Karl as "his instructor", as it is written in the Macon County News Paper.To verify this, all you have to do is look at the Seminole Wing Chun website, and see that Sainz is "NOT" listed anywhere. Sainz has a propensity to "EMBELLISH" his martial arts history as he sees fit. Sifu Karl Godwin never certified Sainz on his wooden dummy form, as he writes on his web site, Innovative wing chun. I certified Sainz in the wooden dummy form, and he never truly finished all of the training that I offer with this form. Sainz was "Never" the "Sihing" of any of my public classes, Sifu Jonathan Petree was the acting Sihing of my public group when Sainz joined. As a matter of fact, in chronological order, Sainz was the "LAST" senior student in the senior group of 8 seniors that I had certified. He did learn the curriculum that I had offered at that time which he trained. Sainz did train with me for a period of 12 years, although the last 3 years consisted of very sparse training, here and there, nothing consistent. Sainz developed some very good fighting skills, yet he isn't the teacher that he claims to be. Sainz learned some very basic Ju-Jitsu skills from me and proceeded to develop a natural wing chun defense which he refers to as "anti-grappling". Upon the dismantling of Centerline Academy, he left a wake of very confused and misinformed as well as improperly trained students in the Neptune beach area where his school did exist for 8 years.There were only 4 students that Sainz trained that advanced to any recognizable maturity Roger Simmons, Robert Nunes, Timothy Faughn and Casey Curley. Only Nunes continues to train with Sainz. Casey had come to me to seek better training about 1 1/2 years before the Centerline facility closed, Roger Simmons and Casey Curley are Sihing of my school at this time, and Tim Faughn trains there presently as well. The last 2 years of the existence of the Centerline Academy Sainz was rarely in attendance of his own classes and left them to be run by his Sihing Tim Faughn. As a matter of fact , quoted by one of his former students," I never saw Armando unless he was trying to drum up new students or giving interviews to new prospective students". The energy within the school of which he praises, Centerline Academy, was in decline and failed badly.
After a " falling out" and mutual disrespect for one another, I can no longer endorse or support this Sainz in any of his endeavours. Sainz is not recognized under my lineage any more. In the words of Sainz," who needs that lineage crap, it doesn't matter to me and I have no respect for it!". Sainz always had a desire to do things on his own, and now he will have too. Sainz has burnt most of the bridges he had in the Jacksonville area between the people he was involved with in the martial arts and friends of his as well. The only relationships he has in Jacksonville are the one's with his PAYING STUDENTS. And of course, they will say good things about him and he will do good by them, as long as they are PAYING. And though Sainz will dispute these statements, everyone that knows Sainz in the Jacksonville area, knows that this is true.
This article isn't about hurting the reputation of Armando Sainz, yet to properly inform people of his "TRUE" wing chun history and the facts of his real legacy. I can't attest to any other of his claims or deny them, but I've known Sainz since the late Ninties, and I can refute his wing chun history. Greed, Fame and Power are things that can truly corrupt an individual, and when a person alters the truth enough, they begin to believe those alterations. At that point the individual is truly lost.
Since this article was written, Sainz has responded to me. I have several emails which show the "True" nature of the supposedly "Religious" Sainz. He has threatened to slander me or as he put it, "Make it his Life's work to drag your name through the mud". It really puts a "Bad Taste" in my mouth, when people hide behind religion to manipulate things as they see fit. Obviously this is the Sainz character in every aspect. As I stated earlier in this blog, ANYONE THAT KNOWS SAINZ, KNOWS THIS TO BE TRUE. I hope I will not have to post the last series of emails that he wrote me.
