The Self Defense Company Damian Ross Bad Business, Scam Artist, Unethical, Slander Internet

 How is it a rip off if you get your feelings hurt? On behalf of all business owners, potential customers are not entitled to contact my company or its representatives and say ANYTHING and expect us to sit there and take it. If you are rude and obnoxious we are going to have some fun with you. So if you want to call me a fraud and a scam because I hurt your feeling, so be it. I bet you always got a trophy as a kid... Rip off report- your irresponsiblity in posting these changes complaints is atrocious. The least you can do is have the customer post a proof of purchase. But no.... anyone can say anything without having to prove they even purchased the product. Thanks for looking out (sarcasm) Damian Ross Owner founder and apparently head a$$hole

Dear rip off report.

 The consumer that posted can't possibly be a consumer as he hasn't bought the product from that particular company. I however, have. I must tell you, that customer service in my experience has been top notch and very professional. As an example, when you purchase the program on the monthly program. Most companies won't allow you to put your system on hold, or completely opt out if  that is your wish. Where as with Mr. Ross, and the Self-Defense company this is not the case. I had started the program, and had unfortunately lost my job. I simply e-mailed the customer service department, and explained my situation and was given several options and was told that I was free to choose any that I felt suited my particular circumstance. The nice thing was that putting it on hold, only stopped the payments, and the dvd's from coming. It did not however cut me off from what I feel is truly the most valuable resource that the Self-Defense Training Company offers, which is  the forum. Also, to start up again, it didn't cost me anything extra there was no hidden fee. It was all above board and straight forward.



Now as far as hate mail is concerned. As a member of the forum I can tell you that this particular gentlemans posts were far from hitting the mark. As a matter of recourse the gentleman was very rude. Furthermore, do we get a little irritated when people come on there bashing what we have spent our hard earned money on, and invested time training in? Yeah a little bit. We are a pretty close nit bunch of guys and gals on the forum. Many us of training in other methods, as well as the SDTS, ( Self-Defense Training System). Does he call us up and tell us to go rip on a moron? No, he doesn't. Hate Mail is a topic of discussion on the Forum, it is free to browse by any one visiting that site. You don't even have to be a member of the Forum to go and read the original Hate Mail posts by this guy. I think most of us were more shocked by his claims and demeanor than we were hateful or mean. Ripping on stupid is one of  my personal favorite things to do.....I visit Hate Mail regularly to see if there are any other unenlightened individuals that have false, and baseless claims to make. Now, if you send Mr. Ross an e-mail, is he going to send you straight to hate mail? No, he never did me. If you ask a question will he send you to hate mail? No. If you ask a stupid question will he send you to hate mail? There are no stupid questions. If you are rude, and nasty and mean, am I going to see it in Hate Mail and post a response? Absolutely!



As far as reputation, for me, Mr. Ross, has always been above board and honest with me. I can ask no more, and nor do I expect any less. So let me explain to what this system really is, and who it is designed for.



This system is a system of combat that anyone regardless of age, weight, size, or physical ability can do. It is based off of a system of combat brought about into existance in WW2. This system of combat was designed for close quarters combat, which is what Trench Warfare was. It was designed to be simple and easily learned. Many of the troops at that time were getting as little as 8 hours of hand to hand combat training, and were doing some of the most sophisticated forms of unarmed combat. I.E., assassinations, sentry removal etc....This system of self-defense is based on the premise that you are going to be tired, you are going to not be expecting an attack, and you must be able to perform gross motor movements to survive an attack should you be forced to protect yourself. Gross motor skills  are the most easily learned and longest retained motor movements that the human body can learn. As such yes we learn the 'Judo CHop" we call it an Edge of Hand" and it works great. Delivered to the right part of the body it is a fight ender. It can be deployed from numerous angles, and delivered to a variety of targets with minimal to no damage taken by the person delivering this strike. It is taught before punching simply do to the fact that it takes a great deal of time and conditioning to properly deliver an effective punch. Time in which a student may not have. One of the motto's on the forum is "What you  learned in the classroom had better work tonight in the parking lot", and if you break your knuckles on some poor fools head, you didn't learn anything, but how to break your knuckles. But an edge of hand can be delivered to the head, and still get the desired results, where as a punch may not. This system is designed to make you maximally effective in the shortest period of time, because quite honestly once you leave your house, you might need to be.



So bottom line here is this. The posters claims are in my opinion, way out in left field. Beginning with how Damian Ross treats his customers. I am one, and he has treated me above and beyond what good customer service warrants. Secondly before you can go from window shopper to customer you have to actually purchase something to become a customer. Until that time, you haven't become a customer, and you haven't gone beyond a window shopper with a bad attitude. I train in this system, and I recommend it to anyone that feels that they could use a good system of hand to hand combat to protect themselves. You can listen to this guy, or you can listen to someone that is doing it, and the others on the forum that are training it, and some of them, it has saved there lives. By there own testimony.

Let me begin by saying the Rip off report is irresponsible at best, negligent in the very least. The headline refers to scam and fraud. While opinions vary, this person has not been "scammed" or "defrauded", his feelings are hurt. So anyone searching me or my company will see that post. In a world where people are so easily turned off by negative press, you would think Rip off report would be a little bit more responsible. But they don't care because this site is lead generation for attorneys looking for class action suits and SEO companies claiming to be able to "clear your good name". How do I know this? Because I get emails from people that begin "I just read your name on Rip Off Report..." In essence, rip off report is a...a rip off?

Anyway, reading this post makes me laugh. It's obvious this person is "off the reservation." I will address his concerns one by one.

1. We have "HATE MAIL" as a forum for people like you who wish to express difference of opinion. I do this so if you feel strongly enough and justified you can speak your mind. Also note, I have removed posts from people who have either apologized or provided a reasonable explanation. I do not use names or email addresses (unless you email me from work).

We usually post hate mail  if you are rude, unreasonable or appear insane. Usually you have been belligerent with a customer service rep. I tend to take this personally since I don't feel our employees and associates need to take any crap. They want to do the best job they can and go about their day.
You're shocked because I called you out. I don't know who you are or what your issue is and unlike you I will not use your real name.
2. "Damian Ross verbally attacks customers who have complaints or issues.
Only people who are rude or appear to be insane.
3.  Damian Ross and The Self Defense Company try to humiliate the customer
by cursing at them, pasting the customers complaint email on the forum and at times even give out the customers full name and email address" This is a lie. (Almost) Cursing, no not really. Name and email. Email only if you are doing it from work, and not a full name. If you are another self defense/martial artist then yea, I will show everyone your site. 
4. Be warned, not only is the content on this DVD series bad.
You're entitled to your opinion
5. If you send Damian Ross or his company an email you are at risk of being
humiliated on his public forum where he sends all the people on his
list to. Lie. I only tell you you have hate mail. People can post, agree or disagree.
6. Even if you don't have a complaint but just a comment or question...
chances are high that you will make his "Hate Mail" section and
start receiving verbal attacks from him and tons of other people on the
internet. 
Lie. we receive hundreds of questions and comments from intelligent people on facebook and the forum.
7. He may be making money but I can't see him lasting for 10 or more years if he keeps up this practice.
So far I've been around since 2002, so far so good. In 10 years I hope someone else will be running the company. So I guess you're right.
8. His reputation is getting to be as bad as Chris Pizzo (a former partner of Damian's... says a lot)
Hmm, I guess you've been doing "research" on forums. It's amazing after all this time a few posts by a few people get recycled over and over again. What, nothing new to say?
9. On his forum Damian even makes fun of a women and tells her she has "p***s envy". 
She did, or does. She might not have it anymore.
10.  Again, if you decide to purchase from Damian Ross or The Self Defense
Company you are at risk of being humiliated for no good reason other
than to make Damian's ego feel good and powerful. 
First, I don't think it can feel more good and powerful than it does now. Second, you will be humiliated for very good reasons.
11. He even admits that he does not know how to handle situations well and lashes out at people. 
Where do I post this? Please provide a quote.
12.  Especially with his connection with Chris Pizzo (they shot their DVDs in the same location).
Pizzo was a student of mine and did marketing and distribution.
13. Damian Ross has some black belts in martial arts but from what I have
seen, his biggest accomplishment is being a high school wrestling coach.
REALLY? Umm....Some Black Belts?!?! How about 3? There is a laundry list of credentials and you pick out wrestling coach?!?!? You can see for yourself here: http://www.theselfdefenseco.com/about_self_defense.asp or here: http://www.selfdefensecompany.com/about.asp.
14. This guy reminds me of the bad karate master in the Karate Kid movie!
AWESOME! I love Martin Kove (John Kreese), thank you!
15. The customer service clearly sucks.
Here's my point, you are rude and condescending.
16. Just look at his YouTube videos.  His biggest fighting technique is judo chopping someone to death.
The edge of hand is awesome and it works.
17. He is all hype. Nothing more.
Well, not if these people have anything to say about it:
http://www.facebook.com/self.defense.company
And these people: http://www.theselfdefenseco.com/martial_arts_stories.asp

You're entitled to your opinion, listen if you don't piss anyone off you don't matter or the subject you're talking about doesn't matter. We process thousands upon thousands of orders per year and have only received a few complaints. Things happen and when we screw up, we take care of it. The problem with the web is that people like him can post anything about anybody. Rip off report doesn't care and as long as they don't edit the content, they are not liable. Imagine if Craigslist and google were liable for what is posted? In the end, it's up to you to decide what's right and what's wrong. We go through great lengths to allow you to get to know us. The forum, facebook, free trials. We put a lot out there hoping you do the right thing.

Hate mail is a guilty pleasure. I can't physically do anything to you so I guess I need to do something. I also was blocked from a few forums who were posting lies about me and my expertise.  In one case I had to create another identity in order to post. In the end those people are gone and I'm still here.

Nine years and counting. Oh, just had the 2011 training summit, that was a blast. Go check out the photos here: http://www.facebook.com/self.defense.company