Official Rebuttal Regarding False Claims and Misrepresentations of Professor Sam Lonewolf’s Legacy
By Barron Shepherd
1. False Inheritance Claims
After the passing of Professor Sam Lonewolf in January of 2013, Gary Lee claimed to have inherited Lonewolf’s Kenpo system for years after his death (see picture left). These claims were entirely false and without foundation.
Lonewolf did not leave a will and never named Lee as a successor, nor did he authorize Lee in any capacity.
2. Fabricated Certificates
Gary Lee fabricated a tenth-degree black belt certificate purportedly issued by Professor Lonewolf, granting himself rank and authority that was never given.
In addition, Donald Miskel and leading members of the Black Dragon Fighting Society also created false certificates claiming recognition, cross-ranking, or affiliation with Lonewolf.
Both Gary Lee and the leadership of the Black Dragon Fighting Society sold these fake Lonewolf certificates and to exploit Professor Lonewolf’s name and legacy for financial gain.
3. Exploitation of Lonewolf’s Personal Items
Immediately, following Lonewolf’s death, Gary Lee, at the urging of Donald Miskel and senior members of the Black Dragon Fighting Society went to the home of Lonewolf’s widow. He obtained some of Lonewolf’s personal martial arts items under the pretense that they would be displayed in a sport karate museum.
These items were never displayed in any museum. Instead, they were left in Gary Lee’s garage for several years. In 2022, 9 years after Lonewolf’s passing, the Lonewolf family requested the items be returned immediately. Lee inturn informed them that he would burn the items before he returned them. Shortly after Lee told the family he had burned them after their conversation because he did not like the way he had been spoken to by the Lonewolf family.
Gary Lee’s burning of Lonewolf’s items demonstrated profound disrespect to Lonewolf’s memory and his family.
4. Misleading Articles and False Histories
Donald Miskel authored articles and a “online eulogy” about Professor Lonewolf for USA Dojo as well as other websites. In these articles Miskell implied that he knew and trained with Lonewolf. These writings are false, untrue, and not indicative of what Lonewolf taught or represented. These online articles mischaracterize his teachings, his actual rank and system.
Additionally, other inaccurate information has been published online, further distorting Lonewolf’s actual Martial arts history.
5. Closing Statement
My connection to Sam Lonewolf is rooted in a direct and formal teacher–student relationship in Kajukenbo and Kenpo. I trained under Sam Lonewolf in Florida from the early to late 90s, learning Lonewolf’s integrated martial art system, which blended Kajukenbo, Tracy Kenpo, and his tomahawk fighting methods. In 1998, I earned my black belt from Lonewolf and was the last one that he promoted. I am one of two direct legitimate black belt students under Sam Lonewolf and the sole person left in charge of his system, granted by the Lonewolf family and the council board of elders that Lonewolf put in place years before his passing.
Any claims of inheritance, recognition, or rank from ANYONE else are entirely false.
The fabrication and sale of fake certificates for profit, together with the publication of misleading articles and the exploitation of Lonewolf’s personal items, represent a deliberate pattern of misrepresentation and abuse of his legacy. The true lineage of Professor Lonewolf’s Kajukenbo–Kenpo system lies with his family and myself. Out of respect for his memory, teachings, and the integrity of what he taught, his system should be preserved accurately and without distortion. —Barron Shepherd
