What was Shidokan’s relationship with Swiss Budo?

Sempai Albert Selimi, Branch Chief of Shidokan Switzerland, was Co-Promoter at the scheduled event "Fists of Fury 4", which was supposed to be a part of the event "Action Night", including several Show-Acts, a Movie Casting, several Thai- and Kickboxing Fights and the Fights of "Fists of Fury 4". You can find the website of the Swiss Shidokan Branch at www.shidokan.ch

What was The German Top Team’s involvement with the event?

The German Top Team/Shidokan Germany was responsible for the matchmaking for the fights of "Fists of Fury 4": Four Title Fights in SHIDO MMA and One Title Fight in SHI KON Thaiboxing, with fighters from USA, Japan, Brazil, England, France and Germany.

Who else was involved?

As far as we know, Swiss Budo A.G. had several contracts with other parties involved in the event "Action Night", e.g. with the Movie Production Company, fighters of the Kickboxing Prestige Fight etc.  We cannot foresee who else was involved in the event "Action Night", but we have signed a contract with the Swiss Budo A.G. concerning the event "Fists of Fury 4", which guaranteed the expenses of all fighters, their purses, hotel, etc. With this contract we gave a licence to Swiss Budo A.G. represented by Mr. Patrick Güntensperger, to host the event "Fists of Fury 4" under our rules, guidance and support.

Could you tell us a little more about the Swiss Budo company?

All we know is that Swiss Budo AG worked for several years for the Budo Scene in Switzerland, hosting a web-portal at www.swissbudo.ch and supporting all styles and organizations in Switzerland. They also offer a wide variety of services to Promoters and Fighters as well...

When did you begin to get the feeling that something was wrong?

We have experienced some communication problems in the past two weeks prior to the event, but this is only natural when you look at the size of the scheduled event. Mr. Bruno Rico and Sensei Peter Wenzel travelled two times to Switzerland to solve these problems and we have managed to clear all questions on the phone with Mr. Patrick Güntensperger and his wife Mrs. Barbara Güntensperger. So far we thought it will be a great event until we have arrived in Switzerland...

When did you find out for sure?

The weigh-in for all fighters was on Friday night at 8.00 pm in the Hotel "Allegra", where most of the fighters stayed. All fighters have weigh-in and there was no word from the Promoter, Mr. Patrick Güntensperger, at this time, that they have experienced any problems. After the weigh-in the German Top Team went to Diner and I met Mr. Patrick Güntensperger in the Restaurant. He told me that he has to talk to us, because there would be some problems. He then had a meeting with Mr. Bruno Rico and Sensei Peter Wenzel. After that meeting, Sensei Peter Wenzel came to me and told me, that we have to talk.

I followed him to the conference room on the first floor, where Mr. Patrick Güntensperger, Mrs. Barbara Güntensperger, Mr. Birol Yildiz (Producer of the Movie Project "The Tough Guy"), Sempai Albert Selimi (Shidokan Branch Chief Switzerland), Mr. Bruno Rico, Mrs. Birgit Bosch (Press-speaker of Shidokan Germany) waited. Mr. Patrick Güntensperger gave me a newspaper from Friday with the Headline "Trouble for the First Swiss Action Movie". In this article was reported, that the movie project "The Tough Guy", which was a project of Mr. Birol Yildiz, experienced some major financial problems due to faked contracts etc. and that the movie maybe will not be able to be produced. Mr. Patrick Güntensperger then informed me that the Swiss Budo A.G, who was involved in this movie project, suffered drastic financial losses, so they can not guarantee the expenses of the fighters an the purses. Mr. Güntensperger also informed me, that he will declare bankruptcy on Monday after the event. We then tried to find a solution for the problem and after about one and a half hours of discussion we suggested, that the fighters of the German Top Team may fight for free, if Mr. Güntensperger will guarantee the expenses and purses of all foreign fighters. I spoke to all fighters of our team and they agreed, if this would be a way to keep the show running and to be able to fight for the titles. We explained Mr. Güntensperger, that the GTT will help him to save the event, even when this means, that the fighters of the GTT and Shidokan Germany will lose money. Mr. Güntensperger appreciated this solution and we agreed to fight. I left the conference room at about 12.30 am, thinking that we will fight on Saturday.

About 15 minutes later Sensei Peter Wenzel came downstairs and told me that he will leave immediately, because he was offended by Mr. Güntensperger right after I have left the conference room. Mr. Güntensperger demanded, that the German fighters also have to pay for their food during their stay in Zurich! After Sensei Peter Wenzel tried to discuss with him, he was asked by Mr. Güntensperger "Are you stupid?" This was the behaviour of a person, who we tried to help in a bad financial situation to save his event is simply not acceptable and all of us felt offended by his demand, to pay for our own food (food, accommodation etc. was guaranteed by contract...).

I then spoke to my colleague Sempai Albert Selimi and explained to him that if they (he and the staff of Swiss Budo) will not find a solution for the entire situation, we will not fight at the event. I also demanded that ALL fighters, coaches and staff will be informed properly about the entire situation. We then came to the point, that a meeting with all fighters and coaches will be held Saturday morning at 9:00 am right after breakfast and that the Swiss Budo A.G. should be able to find a solution for this entire situation until then.

Can you tell us what the problem was in your own words?

The Swiss Budo. knew on Monday or Tuesday, that they have big financial problems and that they are not able, to pay for the expenses of the fighters and the purses (the fighters of "Fists of Fury 4"). Anyway they signed the contract and waited until all fighters have arrived in Switzerland.

Is it true that the Swiss Newspapers reported that the event would not be going ahead on the Thursday before the event?

This is not true. There was an article in the newspapers on Friday and another article on Saturday, about the fight between Azem Maksutaj and Björn Bregy, which informed the readers, that both athletes were tested positive for the illegal use of drugs Cocaine and Steroids.

Then when they arrived, Swiss Budo refused to pay for most of their International Fighters travel expenses or purses. The fighters were told that they would be refunded as soon as they arrived. How did they think they could get away with this?

Swiss Budo A.G. was bound by contract that they will book and pay for all flights and travel expenses. As far as we know now they asked some fighters to book their tickets by themselves and agreed to refund it after arrival in Switzerland. We know, that Mr. Brian Gassaway, Mr. Brian Talarek, Mr. Iran Mascarenhas and other fighters and coaches were not reimbursed until now. We have already ordered our lawyer to start civil and criminal lawsuits against Swiss Budo A.G, so the fighters and all parties involved will get their money.

What happened at the event it’s self. Is it true that the event went ahead with only two fights?

Mr. Bruno Rico and Mr. Jochen Gieb from Shidokan Germany accompanied Kancho Yoshiji Soeno to the event. The event showed about 1.000 – 1,200 spectators (estimated number) and the spectators were not informed by the promoter, that the fights of "Fists of Fury 4" will not be part of the show. The "Action Night" showed a total of four fights: two Thaiboxing bouts with students from Sempai Albert Selimi fighting each other, one European Title Bout in Kickboxing between a fighter from Greece and a student of Sempai Albert Selimi and the controversial Kickboxing Prestige Fight between Azem Maksutaj and Björn Bregy.

How did the fans react?

Most of the fans went to the event to see the five title fights of "Fists of Fury 4".... You can imagine that some of them wanted their money back! Nobody pays 30-100 $ to see a movie casting and only four "fights"....

What is happening in the aftermath of the event?

Our lawyer is currently sending a written statement to Swiss Budo AG and demands full payment of all expenses PLUS the purses for all involved fighters of "Fists of Fury 4". Otherwise we will strain criminal prosecution against Mr. Patrick Güntensperger and Swiss Budo AG.

You have worked hard to bring the name of Fists of Fury up how do you feel having the name tarnished by Swiss Budo?

I think everybody can imagine that this is a very bad situation for us. We have worked so hard in the past years with national and international shows and only two years ago we have started the event series "Fists of Fury", with worldwide respected fighters from USA, Japan and all over Europe. But we will go on! We have already spoke to all fighters and we promised, that we will host "Fists of Fury 4" finally in Germany with ALL fights from the fight-card. And in Germany the fighters know that they can trust us and our reputation - and at least that everybody of them will get their money.

You mentioned that Kancho Yoshiji Soeno, the head of the whole Shidokan organisation, was present at the event. This of course was a great honour. How did he react to the goings on?

Well, he was not very happy.

Is there anything you would like to add?

We ask all foreign fighters to get in touch with us and send us the exact amount of expenses they have had at "Fists of Fury 4". We need that information for our lawyer to ensure that we will do the best possible so they will get their money.