Shortly after my interview with Coach Joe McCaffery – i.e., the BJJ purple belt who gained notoriety within the jiu-jitsu community when he promoted himself to brown belt – I was contacted by a Mr. Adisen Samano, an MMA coach at Rocky’s Dojo and Gym in Sugar Grove, Illinois.

“I see you interviewed Joe, the self-promoted brown belt?” he asked through Facebook PM.

A couple of days later, we met again on Facebook. Coach Samano told me that he knew Joe, who used to teach gi jiu-jitsu at Rocky’s Dojo. He also told me he believed the controversial coach almost ruined the credibility of the gym.

We have great coaches there [at Rocky’s Dojo] and senseis in karate that are the real deal. This fool [Coach Joe] almost ruined the credibility of a lot of people that have been there since the 70’s.

I asked him if he wanted to do an interview with the Jiu-Jitsu Times, and he agreed, but only on the condition that it clear the name of the gym’s owner, Master Rocky Troutman, and the gym.

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I agreed to Coach Samano’s terms.

Adisen told me how he was suspicious of Coach Joe’s stories about training everywhere.

I met him [Coach Joe] there at Rocky’s when he was teaching jiu-jitsu gi and I asked what school he came from and if the people at Gracie Barra knew he was teaching. He said he went everywhere to train, but couldn’t validate his story, and I gave Rocky the heads up. Next thing you know, this happened.

By “this,” Adisen is of course referring to Coach Joe’s highly controversial self-promotion, which you can watch below.

https://youtu.be/I_KVxbDucpQ

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Coach Samano was understandably angry, but kept things civil.

I called Joe out when I first saw the video and told him that is wrong, and I don’t agree with him, and if he is willing to roll with anyone. He refused!

Master Rocky – who has been teaching various martial arts since 1973 – was unfortunately out of town for some tournaments, and was not there to deal with Joe personally.

However, days after I spoke with Coach Samano, Master Rocky put up the following Facebook post:

Hello my name is Master Rocky Troutman, I am the owner along with my father of Rocky’s Dojo & Gym, Inc. in Sugar Grove, Illinois. I have been in martial arts since 1973 where I have been studying and teaching Isshin-Ryu Karate, Kickboxing and Boxing. We have ran a dojo since 1975 and believe in the discipline, respect and the belt promotion process of karate and all disciplines of martial arts. For the past 2 ½ years I have been traveling the world to kickboxing championships to officiate as a judge and referee. I just returned Friday the 4th of Nov. from Cancun Mexico at the WAKO Pan American Kickboxing Championships when I found out that the jujitsu instructor (Joe McCaffery) who has been renting space teaching jujitsu for about 5 months at my dojo had promoted himself, disrespected previous instructors and filmed it in my dojo without my permission and then put it on his facebook page. I was not only disappointed in him for his lack of respect, being irresponsible and his comments towards others. I have terminated him from my dojo and have taken him off all dojo websites and literature for my dojo. He has tarnished the over 40 years of hard work of not only keeping a dojo open and successful but has put a bad light on my dojo (Rocky’s Dojo & Gym), I will not forgive him for that. If you have questions or would like to talk to me personally my cell number is (630) 466-7414. It is not at fault for this person’s disrespectful comments and attitude.

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Sincerely

Rocky Troutman

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=665592693618092&id=312319582278740

It therefore appears that it is not only the Brazilian jiu-jitsu community that was offended by Coach Joe McCaffrey’s actions.

You can check out Rocky’s Dojo and Gym and Facebook.