"SAS" Martial Arts

None taken. And none returned when I say that no civilian had a right to cash in on the name of real warriors, no matter how accidental or loose that connotation might be.

Why does he have to call it SAS Martial Arts and not SASMA, or Sofos Martial Arts, or dozens of other possible iterations?

Yeah, it's the dude's livelihood and reputation. But he chose that name so he's opened himself up to the criticism. Fair game as far as walting is concerned in my opinion, regardless of whether it's on purpose or accidental.

 

Have you seen friends die in combat?

Trust me I'd be reacting the same if someone was using other frontline military acronyms (SBS, for example).

 

Stay on the box mate. It makes debates like this multi-dimensional. But I think this thread is certainly much more polite than many others out there, and I think your reaction is a little OTT and rose tinted glasses. Threads like this also serve to call out people who, regardless whether intentional or not, are leeching off other people's hard work to sell their services. The connotations attached to SAS are bloody obvious and it's distasteful. Dude needs to change it.

 

I was welcoming your opinion, albeit disagreeing with it. Had no intention of reporting it.

Hence why I asked if you had been in combat or seen friends die in combat. When you have, it tends to make you a bit salty to even the slightest hint of walting. And again, I welcome your opinion. I just don't agree with it; at risk of painting myself as a grumpy old vet who mumbles "Cut yer hair ya damn hippies," I think it's a bit too sunshine 'n' rainbows.

Again, consider the context of my military background when I formed my opinion. I agree that Sofos is more likely than not naming his school after his instructor title and initials; I just think the "SAS" thing, while it's easy to claim it as innocent, has obvious links to the elite combat unit of the same name especially when we're talking about a person selling hand-to-hand combat for a fee. I think stuff like this has to be stamped out otherwise it encourages the really bad offenders. Yes, that carries an inherent amount of negativity. So be it.

Such is the nature of debate.

My opening post was quite rhetorical. I'm not looking for people to agree with me. Perhaps my military background makes me quite passionate about this sort of thing. But I dislike even the slightest hint of someone may be cashing in on the endeavours of others. The forum population clearly plays a large part; I bet if this thread were posted on a combat vets forum there would be more opinions against the use of "SAS" in the title.

I've said I agree it could have been done with honest intentions. But there are, to me, obvious connotations between using the title SAS for a martial arts school and the military unit of the same name.

Well, technically Seal isn't the same as SEAL. And he sings; he doesn't sell a combat system.

Relax. I'm not going to go Westboro Baptist Church and stand outside his school waving a crude placard.

We'll agree to disagree on that.

 

Just... don't.

 

It's funny innit because I think it's a real reach to think that he named his school without any knowledge of the SAS, and what that acronym implies, and just innocently went with his initials.
Pretty much no one in the UK, especially someone involved in combat training of any sort, is that naive IMHO.

I'm out though...if discussing the relative merits of the way people market their martial arts classes is seen as some sort of reflection on my character then I honestly don't have much stake in this.

 

You do have to be semi stupid to go to a wing chun school and think thats what the U.K military use. Its not like we had our own fighting system in WW2 or anything. (which is still used as far as i know today in any evolution) If you have a legit issue with it and think it could be misleading or what ever, you coudl try reporting it and see if they could get doen for Fraud.

Also am i the only one who would prefer sitting in a bush hours on end taking photos as recon? XD


[edit]: A lot and probbly most people in the U.K would know about the SAS, its doccumentary galore and they got populairty from a siege they did. They should be known by people in the martial arts community of said country as chance sbeing they might meet people who teach self defence who wher ein the military or soemthing lie that. I would say the SAS is one the most known one in a few countries. (thats not natioanlism either. ) Its kind of directly influenced many other countries SF units as well. Thesystem of hand to hand fighting used would probbly be the same used by the commandos as well, so its not really SAS martial arts either. XP

 

I think culturally Aaradia might be missing the significance/awareness of the SAS within the UK - there is absolutely no one who has no awareness of them and what they represent, largely due to the embassy siege bringing them out of the shadows. The "Bravo two Zero" phenomena certainly rocketed that even higher

That said I don't see it as Walting - it IS the initials of the teacher after all, and my guess is he thought "Cool acronym that has marketing clout too!"

I don't see any malice on his part, but calling attention to it isn't necessarily motivated from spite either - if it was called "Shaolin Ninja Dragon Clan Combat Academy" then it would be likely laughed at heartily without anyone batting an eyelid!

 

Almost anyone in the UK who sees the title 'SAS Martial Arts' will think it refers to the Special Air Service. I can't say I've ever seen a martial arts club that uses the initials of its coach, as its brand name - especially not the initials of their title and name - you wouldn't see someone called Mr Joe Bloggs putting their initials down as MJB would you? Not to mention on the website he is referred to as Master Alan Sofos, not Sifu. Funnily enough it's only in the logo.

While I'm sure there was no malicious intent, Master Alan Sofos almost certainly knew what the connotations would be.

 

SEALs as part of US culture have nowhere near the level of penetration as the SAS does in UK, so it's similar but not directly equal

And I wasn't putting words in, just making a general comment

 

Nope really you don't get it, thats not a knock it's simply the fact that post 1980 the initials SAS have really only one meaning in the UK, and putting those initials before a martial art school is doing only one thing, cashing in on that association.

If seal renamed himself SEAL martial arts and started teaching fighting the analogy might be closer to the mark, but still wouldn't be anywhere near as close.

SBS and SEAL in your school title would be almost as bad because in all honestly those aren't as well known in the USA or the UK as the SAS, if I'm honest I bet 90% of the general UK population would be able to tell you what SAS stood for, and most of them tell you it's motto, maybe 10% could tell you what SBS meant, that not a knock on the royal marines, just means the winged badge wearers have better PR, and this school owner I'm betting knows that

 

You can't help yourself lol but innuendos aside I agree, no single special forces group has penetrated the public's imagination like the SAS, blame Maggie, blame the IRA, blame the Iranian embassy, hell blame Lewis Collins but it's true!

 

Everybody knows it means "super army soldiers"

As already said, The guys real name/ initials aren't SAS, so it's a intended marketing tool, as such you can completely judge him on his decision.

 

LOVE that episode!

 

Yup! Then there is Mcnab, Ryan et al.....

With regards to the SBS, my first real awareness of them was via Paddy Ashdown!