I got my start in a Fred Villari’s Studios of Self Defense. Most folks who come to this website got there start in a dojo that is or was connected to him in some way. Although I didn’t always agree with him, his impact on the Kempo community is undeniable, and his passing affects his family, friends and legions of students. He had the foresight to establish a leadership team for his schools, and his name will live on in them. Our condolences go out to those affected by this loss.
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Got my start with Mr. Villari in the 1970’s at the Dedham studio first training then training and teaching with Mr. Villari and Jim Bryant.
I’ve continued training all my life but my foundation, that got me through a 26 year law enforcement career was developed with Mr Villari and served me well. RIP.
I started my Kempo journey back in 1991 at the Villari’s studio in Westborough, MA. I was fortune enough to learn from not just my instructor, Al Gallo, but also from Mark Grupposo, David Leggerri, Jim Caruso, and the late John Fritz. I also attended multiple seminars that Fred Villari taught, and I still watch the videos I have for techniques and principles to pass on to my students.
Didn’t agree with all his business practices, but I am still learning aspects of his system after decades of practice. That is a worthy legacy.
True words Matt. He was innovative and ahead of his times.
I joined a Fred Villari school but before I tested for my yellow belt we “broke away”. My first certificate signed by him was my sixth dan a few years ago. Totally unexpected, and now even more a cherished and rare gift.
I started out at a Fred villari school n Keene nh under instructor Gary Davis. RIP great grandmaster Fred villari and thank you for teaching us all the art of Shaolin Kempo.
Started training martial arts at the Villari studio in Lawrence, Mass. in the early 1980s..met Grandmaster Villari at a few tournaments, but the one incident that stands out is that we had another Kenpo school right across the street (Bob Meserves) and students at both schools being kids during the Karate Kid era. Would engage in prank wars, trash talking etc. Grandmaster Villari heard of it somehow…called our instructor and put a stop to it before it escalated into some West Side Story action.
Another Loss in the Martial arts Community. My Instructor, the Late Master George Denson Spoke Of G.G.M Villari often. And I wish I had the chance to Meet him. Even though we have his Instructors, and his Video’s it’s still a Major Loss. RIP G.G.M Villari!
I almost don’t know what to say as he changed my life forever! I was a bullied teenager when I joined His studio in Dedham where I was lucky enough to see him and be taught lessons by him personally on a regular basis! I was also luck to see him Practice and saw some amazing feats of Martial arts by the great Master!
I hope his legacy carries on in all his student and his 7 DRagons! Raleigh
Studied in the SKK system in the early eighties.
Tested to 1st degree black in May 1985.
At the test GGM Villari stated, “If you end up penniless on the street, you will always have your art.
Never experienced homelessness, but to the contrary did quite well.
Still practice the art today to maintain physical fitness.
I start at the Nashua studio in the 70’s under his buddy, Rudy H. Awarded my Nidan by Fred in ’78. Rip, Fred.
I started villari’s studio in sarasota florida dojo in 1997 under 6th degree master john delorey. after 3-years i moved to PA and finished my 4th year in mechanicsburg PA dojo under colonel ray waity. i received my black-belt from master maddora 6th degree who tested us. I met fred twice, once at master doug piersons dojo in wellington florida at a villari seminar and again at a meet in N. miami civic-center ware i took 2-2nd place trophy’s for kata’s and pinons and a 3rd place for sparring. I was 46. I was a green belt, 1998. fred was talking to john delorey outside. he called us all wussies at dougs dojo so we step’d it up a bit. doug took our dojo out to eat and paid the bill. we had driven the farthest. sorry to hear fred’s no longer with us. I finished the coarse in 2001 and moved to gettysburg from dillsburg. now retired to holden-beach N.C. 69 and miss the arts terribly. 4-years. $60-monthly in sarasota and $72.50 PA group. can’t beat it. I gained 50-pounds right off after leaving. haven’t lost it since. I was the dojo rat in sarasota setting my own record of 9-class’es in a week. stayed for all the classes and always ahead of my class-mates because of it. I surely got my moneys worth. was a bridge-tender on the I.C.W. at the time, night shift. loved it that much.
i started at a fred villiris school taught by don spink . it was an amazing time in my life were i had total control of everything … i met the man twice and was amazed by his talent and just being a great man… don spink charlie mattera jimmy bryant craig lowe ,,,, just a few .. god bless you for your inspiriation
Rest in Peace. I too studied under Grand Master Fred Villari throughout the eighties and beyond (my whole life actually). Back then, he was criticized by the martial arts community for bringing SKK to literally anyone that wanted to commit to learning (anywhere) – think about online training today, this vision was WAY AHEAD of its time. Think of the millions of us that GM Villari introduced and influence our lives as students of martial arts. His legacy lives on in us as we train our students and influence people around us, and on and on….
And I completely agree with you. Though I don’t agree with a few of his business practices or wearing such flashy uniforms in my mind there was no doubt that he had skill, knowledge and experience. I attended many of his seminars here in New England and every time I picked up something new always he was an affable and knowledgeable teacher, and I think with regards to the distance learning, I think he was ahead of his time. At the time people criticized him for it, but But you see everybody doing it all the time now. For example, I think there are any number of apps that are dedicated to the Ed Parker system American kenpo and all these apps have all the techniques and forms in this and that. I believe there’s also one app that might be dedicated to Nick Cero’s kenpo as well. You see other apps that are for Shotokan or any of the other styles of of Okinawan karate that contain all the forms and the basic punches and kicks and blocks. How is this any different than what grandmaster Villari started doing early on? In my opinion it’s no different at all and you know God bless grandmaster Villari for having the vision and the love of a martial arts enough to try to reach as many people as he could.
I never met him personally but I was around 8 or 9 years old when I began, early 1980’s-Fort Myers, FL. I studied about 3 times a week and absolutely loved it. Not just the physical but the mental conditioning that came with it. I was a brown with 3 black stripes and was preparing for my Black belt test when the studio closed down. The nearest one was about a 2 hour drive and it wasn’t something my parents could afford so naturally I was kind of devastated. I didn’t blame him or anyone else and even considered it an early lesson on how the world can be. We had a family friend who was a pupil of a master in Taekwondo and in attempts to fill the void I gave it a try but just wasn’t the same.
I know the feeling. when we left sarasota dojo it eventually closed down also. so moving to dillsburg PA and continuing my 1-year left at mechanicsburg PA dojo half hour drive away. I finished my 4th year and black belt test. the new owner moved that dojo out of town someplace.there are several reasons i choose freds system. NO CONTRACT, several arts in one, shaolin kung-fu, chinese kempo, and japanese shorin-rye. good choice.
I received my black belt at the Medway, Massachusetts Villari Studio. His younger brother, Frank Villari ran it for a while. The most fun you could have in pajamas!!!!