The Official Stance:
http://ussd.com/ussd-files-cross-complaint-against-former-executives-for-fraud-and-conspiracy
Embedding disabled by request:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk3tyDdctOo&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
Really USSD?
Godwined on the first video?
Who could they ever be talking about?
Ever so classy guys. What a good face for the kempo industry.
Rut ro !!!
Are u yelling at me Matt?
I haven’t looked at all that above……
ummm???… I clicked on the first highlighted link, above, and read the “USSD Complaint”….now check me if I am wrong.. but 1) Didn’t Fred Villari begin “United Studios of Self Defense” in 1968 on Moody St. in Waltham, Mass. (where there is still a Kempo school)?….2) Wasn’t Charles Mattera a Student of Fred Villari’s at that time or shortly thereafter, OR start “USSD” with Villari in 1968 on Moody st?….3) I looked at the “History of USSD”, under that link, and not one single mention of Fred Villare. He mentions Nick Cerio and George Pesare, etc….
Anyone have any imput?
What name is Fred Villari using now? I’ll have to look for/at his site, I forget?
What the heck was that 2nd thing?
Who the heck was that guy?
Who is “Nicky Mirrors”? Is he any relationship to “Nicky Pockets”?
___________________________
I never heard of this guy, Paul Taylor, who is he? I think I’ve heard of Larry Garron before, and Nesta guy (he a Nick Cerio guy), maybe he is/was on teh North Shore of Boston, I dunno.
So what is this “Z-Ultimate”? McDojo? McMarketing? McCon?
Why the 2 hot babes, wearing black belts which have never been tied before? Is that a selling point for Self Defense?
So who are all these “Masters”? Self Proclaimed? Like the recent “self promoted” 10th Degree Black Belt Grandmasters in Kempo we have around here.
I read some of the Defendant’s names in the USSD Complaint, I never heard of any of them. They probably STARTED after I did!!! Now they are “Masters”.. “9th Dan”???
Where does Steve DeMasco fit into all this?
Fred Villari?
How much are they trying to get out of people/students? Contracts? Etc?
http://ussd.com/a-letter-from-master-richard-black
I love the part where he talks about folks denying who gave them their start in the martial arts…
whn our organization was with USSD, paul Taylor, william Clark, and Master Ley were all very accomplished martial artists.
The rest haven’t heard or seen so cannot comment.
Master Ley was a very nice man, and, because of him, and my current master, really got me invoved into kempo, and made it addicting to learn.
As for what is happening now, to my knowledge, before cerio died, he promoted mattera and demasco to 8th, but taught all the techniques to them for 9th.
that was all.
At least paul taylor went and actually got his 9th from nesta and garron.
this is going to be interesting to see what unfolds, as i have heard that so far 55 “dojos” from ussd have left, and about 30 more are getting ready to leave within this year as well.
Short and sweet – Paul Taylor was Mattera’s right hand man. 3rd person tells me that Mattera did everything for him including giving him a pretty nice salary for basically doing — well lets just say – I would move out and take that job and wouldnt care if it was a USSD school or not. Just saying – the salary was nice. So the 2nd man wanted to be the top man.. hence the Zultimate experience. and we havent heard of many of these people because they are on the West Coast.
All this seems to be a Kempo tradition…If you look back over the years. lol
I happen to know Frank Ley and he is a good person. The problem here is that Mattera is a greedy money hungry individual. I started with ussd back in the mid 80’s and even then egos were all over the place. It didn’t matter how good the teachers were as long as they could open a school and generate cash flow. The problem is still here this very day. I will say first that there are some really good Martial Artist with USSD, that being said for the majority not so much. We have to remember that the Martial Arts was not intended to be a business. Walk into a USSD dojo and you will see things that you can’t beleive. Making it mandatory to only wear USSD apparell while in the dojo, yes right down to the socks on your feet. Having to pay extra if you want to come in and train on a Saturday. The Martial Arts is about family not wallets and how can I get into yours. I personaly know a mother that spent over $350 for sparring gear and a bag for her 4 year old son. And the horror doesn’t stop there allthough I will. I truly hope that this new orginization will be a lot better than that of USSD. More power to them.
same old song and dance, how many splits is this now?
Alright guys. It’s been two years whats happened? Mattera won but the students and instructors will end up paying. Mattera screwed over GM Fred Villari, now his guys did the same to him. I doubt any of them will pay the $7 million Mattera won in court.
The instructors would be better off opening their own dojo. No more expensive karate lessons. These instructors are being screwed over being 1099 no taxes taken out. No sick time 60 hour work weeks.
Think about it. If you have to talk to 10 people to get or two to sign up for $200 a month karate lessons, don’t you think your charging too much? $120-$150 a month is a lot better. I bet you only have to talk to 4 people then to get 2 sign ups.
Do a karate program and a mma one, cut out ussd/zult cults and keep the money for yourself. You’ll be a lot happier 🙂
Martial arts is about helping people not being a greedy ass#$le!
To vinny:
I have always said that they would be better off opening their dojos.
^own^ dojos.
It seems like too many martial arts greats are into ego-boosting.
USSD and ZULTIMATE has issues. I am a previous USSD Student, at Blue Advanced, which I made an attempt to return and train to be a black belt in Kenpo. I have a diverse background also in TKD. Long story short, after I had heard the issues of the split, ZULTIMATE and USSD, I was not well informed by Z about the split issues, and would not tell me what I wanted to know. I found on USSD location, and joined with them, but after the issues of USSD not providing other special training for the school to grow, or for future competitions, to perhaps help and re-expand USSD in Colorado.
While in time after 2 yrs of the split issues, the school located in Boulder, CO, without proper communications, and not fully informing the school, there were gaps that were not well informed of the whole issue. While attempted to train for the next rank level, the instructor had split from USSD permanently, since they would not offer more expanding training for the instructor to move forward with the school. So he split from USSD, and created his own logo, and renamed it to Boulder Karate, which left me a question to ask, what was to occur with my future training what I had visioned to perhaps run/own a martial art school. The fees were still to high, to even become an instructor, to be trained in the Instructors Academy, and was a complicated and difficult process to make that happen. While the talks of me to become an instructor with the school, The Instructor, he had split from USSD, and my plans were shut down to make my career path into running/owning a school of my own with USSD.
So I continued to stay a few more months later, before having to leave due to economics, until before I had to quit due to the job market, the instructor had selected a new grand master, Jim Brassard, of who I never heard of before, and he was never mentioned properly before the instructor decided to leave and permanently split from USSD. He praised the man, the new grand master, as if he was his real path towards what kenpo should be, and in the process of me continuing on with the training, the instructor decided to move me up to Brown Belt 2nd Stripe to perhaps jump to being black belt, due to my past martial arts training in TKD. I picked up the training very quickly with my past added experience in the martial arts. I was also currently doing WTF in TKD while attending USSD, and had trained TKD with other organizations in the past, as a 1st Degree moving towards 2nd Degree in WTF TKD. While in the process of training for 2nd Brown Stripe/1st Degree Black Belt, the deal was for testing, I was double charged to test to about $175.00 and $300.00, for 1st Degree Black Belt, which I had no choice but to agree. Or depending on what the GM JB would decide to have me be ranked up to since he was basically making the decision who should be ranked up to the required rank by his authority over the current instructor.
While selecting the new grand master, Jim Brassard, a similar situation happened, to train in Saturday Afternoon classes, that GM JB had 10 CD’s, students could buy from, and learn other detail info about his theories on Kenpo, and what he had been supposedly known for. Which I was quite impressed, but with the new changes to the school, to attend the class, you had to buy the 10 CD’s, which were ranged about $200.00 if I am correct. Later other changes were added or altered in the training, or in what was to be required to learn, such as weapons for a fee.
While I had attended, before I had to leave the school due to economics, I attempted to contact the instructor about having me the possibility to become an instructor, to be paid teaching other students, of what I knew I could do, along with my background in TKD over the years. While emailing him about my current situations, I informed him of my plans of learning other style in Hapkido, while doing WTF TKD, and wanted to acheive to at least 3rd or 4th in the school gradually as time pass by in the later years. I was looking forward to return, until all the split issues, and with my added experience what I could do, and being to intimidating with my added knowledge, while training in Kenpo with the school, the Instructor at Boulder Karate, got too political about my background, his belief system to crumble and change, to what GM JB would leave to teach the school, and being too skilled to return, as many would complain about my abilities, no one wanted to train with me, or rumors were spread about me and my abilities in the martial arts, or different perspectives did not agree to what they were taught, as I was being open minded to share what I had passion for in the Martial Arts.
I would have a complicated issue to train with ZULTIMATE, knowing their fees are higher or so as stated, or same as what USSD would charge, and now my goals of what I wanted in the Kenpo System I had learned through USSD, left me disappointed, and distressed, that I was not happy what I had visioned in the future, to run/own a school with USSD, to later change my plans, and to now forever stick with what and where I gained my knowledge about the marital arts, through Tae Kwon Do with World Tae Kwon Do Federation, being my 4th organization of TKD I am now in. Its where I belong now, and if Boulder Karate could not be open minded about my background, and what I was willing to share, and what I had trusted and had confidence in the Instructor about his vision about USSD, left me to feel deceived, and to feel used for my money, or so I thought I was there for a purpose to be part of the Kenpo family before the USSD/Z ULTIMATE split issues. I will forever be a Blue Advanced, and perhaps may not ever return to Kenpo, or a suitable school I can return to, and share my passion what I felt about USSD or what I saw about the organization, with the Z ULTIMATE issues, but I know I could have gained Black Belt Status to 1st Degree and beyond, an share my passion to other prospective students, about self defense and fighting. I knew what I wanted and had trusted the Instructor to later change my path and options to what I knew what I wanted to do under the USSD system before the issues with Z ULTIMATE. I dont know if I could return to Kenpo with Z, but knowing the reality of my past experiences, and my previous background, I knew what I wanted to do in the future, and what I could have offered with everyone else. Long story short, but discreet and honest, and straight to the point, from my experiences, with USSD.
Nicolas,
It seems, from what I gather, someone made you rather angry about your training situation.
Having done the research, I have found that USSD, ZUSDS, Boulder Karate, and Grandmaster Jim Brassard all teach the same Shaolin techniques. Some schools differ in the styles of Kempo, but overall, the fundamentals are the same.
It sounds to me like WTF TKD is probably working best for you, and I’d say – stick with it! If you’re having problems with a particular school, do what the rest of us do. Find another. There’s plenty of dojos in your area, as there are in mine.
Many of us are still on a quest to find the best dojos. If we find one that doesn’t work for us, we move on. But we don’t badmouth the dojo or the teachers; that’s just bad character.
I only wrote what was true to the heart. I dont hide anything whether anyone likes it or not and I just dont care what anyone thinks. It was my investment and money what I put into it. Many I am sure are having similar experiences as I am had. So I could care less what anyone may think from my post. Thank you for your thoughts regarding the USSD and Z ULTIMATE SPLIT ISSUES.
WOW!! This is messed up. I left years ago and things got worse for ussd/ now z.
I have to agree leave open your own dojo.
Here’s how ussd/Villaris/ Zcult does it
Step1. By cardboard contest boxes. 30 of them
Place them in restaurants any where.This is really all ussd does.
step2. Charge affordable martial arts. Dont give it away but dont charge $200 a month. Offer groups for$80-90 a month and unlimted groups1 private a week for $125 a month. At ussd we had to talk to 8-10 people before one would sign up. My $80 a month program I get 8 out of 10 to sign up. Do the math IT IS ABOUT THE $$$$$$ ussd lied. parents will tell other parents about you.
Step3. Find a location that is not in a huge strip center, they charge the most for rent
Part time in a dance studio or gymnastic studio is what i did.
step4. offer karate and mma classes. you then get 2 kinds of people come through the door instead of just kids.
Thats it in a nut shell. Dont rip people off and offer affordable lessons and people will come. I’m very happy
I forgot, 20 kids pays your rent. 1600 Mine 1500 a month 30 kids gives you a small salary. 50 kids gives you a nice salary. 100 kids gives you a nice life something the chain mcdojos never can do. when i ran a school for ussd 10 years ago it was 160-175 a month and i had 86 students but they only paid me $400 a week no taxes taken out.
thats right ussd made $13,760 plus testing fee’s which I never got a piece of and alls i got was $1600 a month ussd made $165,120 a YEAR!!!!!
No take off when i want and train with who i want no more working on christmas eve tell 500 or christmas week for that matter. i go in at 300 and leave at 8:30
Go to Bob White in Costa Mesa CA…american kenpo. He is the real deal and no one can claim otherwise and if if you find someone that talks negetive about Bob White walk away from them becasue they know nothing. This from a 2nd degree USSD black belt and 1st degree black from Bob White.
Villari, Mattera, who cares? They all teach and sell the same thing.
This is sad. Your better off now pal. Ussd, zult cult would never let u own your dojo 100% they give u 20% at best for $200,000
Open your own for less then $20,000
Better yet goto a dance or rec center and build your base of students first
Put out contest boxes do demos in schools, some will some won’t . But a lot of them will let you put flyers in!! Just have to get approved by school first.
From reading all the comments I won’t and can’t deny ussd and z ultimate both have some bad press between them. I was unclear as to why they split but got two stories.
1. Matera wanted to retire and all of the ussd schools on the west coast wanted to separate and go on there own. The schools were told they could buy the franchise off matera and did but matera at the last minute decided not to retire and denied Taylor and his instructors the sale. From that it goes into number 2.
2. Taylor and his team ditched the ussd name and formed the z ultimate brand. As a result they lost a lot of money, over 7 million from a lawsuit between them and ussd due to destroying financial e documents since they were separating from ussd. Ussd has an east coach branch as well, and I think some in the south.
From there, I was told Matera and his instructors contacted z ultimate instructors to side with him. He offered rank promotions and offered certain instructors there own schools as well. One instructor I met was a first degree and now he’s a forth degree and he and I worked under my teacher who was a third degree at the time and that guy is at least ten years younger and now they’re both ranked as masters. When I saw that it didn’t feel right to just promote someone for siding with you. Matera also contacted my teachers first assistant who is now a third degree and offered to give him his own ussd school but it would have been in the same location as his and my teacher. Matera was trying to muscle him out of that location since he’s been there for twenty years and has a lot of students.
Long story short, my teachers lineage is through z ultimate formally ussd. From what I’ve read, and I’ve done the complete lineage background check, Matera doesn’t mention Fred Vallari because Vallari has gotten lots of criticisms for his teaching and brand expansion on his schools. Vallari promoted himself to 15th degree which makes no sense. I don’t know who promoted Matera to tenth degree and am pretty convinced he promoted himself but Paul Taylor was recently promoted to tenth degree under the Nick Cerio lineage being the true lineage of there kempo karate style. And fyi, every kempo style in the United states originates from Hawaii from a man named James mitose. He was raised in Japan but born in Hawaii. The style was originally called koro-ryu kempo. Reason why no one mentions him is because he was convicted of murder after he instructed one of his students to kill someone and did. He wrote several books on philosophy and from reading his quotes he seemed pretty dangerous and unstable.
To sum it up, don’t go to any of these schools if they’re located in a strip mall. If it’s in a strip mall then yes it will cost a lot and you won’t get very much out of it. Most instructors placed there are pressured to sell memberships and when they don’t meet a quota they are replaced by someone else. My teacher owns his school and doesn’t charge nearly as much as 250. I pay 125 a month which includes one private a month to go over your material for tests and you have access to any classes. He also tries to get former special forces to come do knife defense classes and sometimes tells you to show up not wearing a gi just to make it casual but most regular classes you do where a gi.
Lastly, ussd and z ultimate are not the only schools who franchise them selves. Wing chun schools are all connected to each other as well as most bjj schools. They are not connected financially but if a bjj teacher is running a school, rest assure they got there black belt from either the Gracie’s or from someone trained by the gracies or family related to the gracies. Running a martial arts school is tough and many of them side together to stay in business.
Bottom line is both USSD and Z-Ultimate are poster children for the cult/McDojo mentality. The kempo they teach is absolute crap, filled with techniques and principles that will get you killed against any opponent with even half a clue how to fight. Don’t waste your time with these crap schools.