Shaolin Kempo Karate

[Gufbal1982]

Originally Posted by Mariachi Joe

I'm a current ussd student and can't speak for all SKK but at my studio I have not had much training in Chi development

That's because that's not a focus of those schools. To study that, I would suggest finding a taiji instructor that teaches for the love of it and not money. I just attended a rad seminar from a Chen style GrandMaster and I must say, it's awesome. He didn't speak any English, but, you could get it.

[Gufbal1982]

Originally Posted by SK101

The story as told to me was Professor Mattera wanted to run West Coast Operations independently. GM Villari pointed out that studios Called Fred Villari's Self Defense Studios wouldn't seem right if there was no longer a Fred Villari. Mattera agreed and they exchanged a million dollars in a secret business deal.

The next day Villari held a meeting in which he announced he was firing Professor Mattera. After that lawsuits were filed using according to USSD the same money that had just exchanged hands and Professor had to borrow heavily to fight the legal battles. Things happened behind the scenes in what can be described as a business war that occassionally got out of hand.

In the days when I was with USSD it seemed more like an annoyance than a real problem. Things would happen such as the Villari guys picking up USSD.com and other internet names that the company would eventually need in an effort just to a make things difficult. I am sure there are Cillari stories about United doing things as well, but at the end of the day who knows.

An interesting story from years ago. After the FVSDS name had been sold and both companies were trying to keep the California instructors in their own camps Villari was planning a tournament to show he was still in control. United was trying to serve him with cease and desist papers, but his location was kept secret. He made the mistake of leaving a business card with a note on a good looking women's windshield saying he was a movie producer named Fred Villari who had a role that would be perfect for her. Unfortunately she had a roommate who had a boyfriend who was a USSD instructor. They talked her into calling and pretending to be nervous about setting up a date with him. She agreed to meet him at a bar in Los Angeles. He unfortunately was served with the cease and desist papers instead.

Um, you're a little mistaken. it was Fred Villari's USSD when they came to CA. CM took off the FV and that's what started the war (this is from a guy that was here at the time and went with FV). I don't know where you got your story from, but I've seen the court documents from CM. Ask him and he'll show them to you. There was no secret deal. I doubt your story about the tournament thing...considering that there are still FV tournaments in CA.

[shaolin ninja 4]

Originally Posted by Gufbal1982

He is awesome. Honestly, if you listen to the Fred Villari side, Mattera got greedy. If you listen to the Mattera side, Villari got greedy. It's always going to be he said/he said. Here's what I got from the Villari side it's that Mattera went out to the west coast to open schools and never sent Villari his money, so Villari opened up his own schools under the Fred Villari name and shortly after the USSD split happened. Mattera sued for the USSD name and won the name. That kind of co-insides with the Mattera story and that's that. I'm done.

Well if you look at how much a villari's school and than a Mattera school is there's a big difference.

Villari's is $50,000 and you pay $100 a month to GM Villari for licensing fee and you keep all the rest.

Mattera's ussd you pay $250,000 for half a dojo AND YOU PAY $750 FOR MANUALS A MONTH. Plus ussd keeps all the green and brown belt testing fee's at Villari's you keep it.

[Gufbal1982]

Originally Posted by shaolin ninja 4

Well if you look at how much a villari's school and than a Mattera school is there's a big difference.

Villari's is $50,000 and you pay $100 a month to GM Villari for licensing fee and you keep all the rest.

Mattera's ussd you pay $250,000 for half a dojo AND YOU PAY $750 FOR MANUALS A MONTH. Plus ussd keeps all the green and brown belt testing fee's at Villari's you keep it.

Not saying a word...

[14 Kempo]

Originally Posted by Gufbal1982

Not saying a word...

Awww ... come on ... LOL

[Iron Leopard]

It does cost a lot to own and run a USSD school but the profits, benefits and support are second to none. Some of the business practices in the old Villari schools were a bit shady, but....as in all things there is change and things might be different now.

[Gufbal1982]

Originally Posted by Iron Leopard

It does cost a lot to own and run a USSD school but the profits, benefits and support are second to none. Some of the business practices in the old Villari schools were a bit shady, but....as in all things there is change and things might be different now.

It all depended on who you learned the business from. I learned from a great person and there was nothing shady in the way I was taught to run my school. In fact, I took business classes and they all were in agreement with my instructor's practices...so, once again, it all depends on the person you learn from. I could say the same thing you are saying about old V schools and apply it to a lot of current USSD schools and how they are told to be run, but I won't. Not because I'd be lying, but because I'd get hostile...and I don't want that.

[Iron Leopard]

I'll agree here that there are good and bad with both systems and there are very good ussd instructors and schools and very good vilari instructors and schools as I've been associated with both. I've also seen instructors at both make tons of money and have many happy students!

[Mariachi Joe]

I like my instructor and don't think he is dishonest at all, but I do think ussd overcharges.

[MeatWad2]

Originally Posted by Iron Leopard

It does cost a lot to own and run a USSD school but the profits, benefits and support are second to none. Some of the business practices in the old Villari schools were a bit shady, but....as in all things there is change and things might be different now.

How can it be a good thing to run a United studios school when over half the money goes to ussd?

Do you have any stories or first hand experience?

I've heard a lot of shady business practices about ussd and mattera but I wont post them.

[Iron Leopard]

I have extensive history with both USSD and FV and a few other studios and styles, mainly with USSD and FV split down the middle.

I'll limit this argument to only the business benefits to running a USSD studio.

You get support from thier marketing, (something leopard I think) It's good and ready made and support from the other studios in your area. Basically if you run your own studio and aren't affiliated with anyone and some one tries to bully you...you are on your own or your friends may or may not help you..with USSD or FV the other studios will show up at your door with help. That's nice.

A lot of money does go to USSD and out of pocket of the instructor or investor but...come on...go to their HQ and count the hummers, corvettes, mercedes, BMWs, and lexus etc. it's crazy.

I hung out in a circle of FV guys who were the same way.....if you have support and training like that..you can't help but make money and the money you pay out is like an investment that you get back ten fold. It's worth every penny, those that fail were not giving a 100% or were bad with people.

Period. it is a great thing..business wise. I happen to also beleive that it is a great thing martial arts wise too but...that's only my opinion and I've been wrong before.

[Hand Sword]

It is a double edged sword. On one hand, you're right. Tons of people are getting involved in the Martial arts, which is a good thing. On the other side, the Art has suffered badly, with the watering down of training, and less calibur practitoners.

[MeatWad2]

Originally Posted by Iron Leopard

I have extensive history with both USSD and FV and a few other studios and styles, mainly with USSD and FV split down the middle.

I'll limit this argument to only the business benefits to running a USSD studio.

You get support from thier marketing, (something leopard I think) It's good and ready made and support from the other studios in your area. Basically if you run your own studio and aren't affiliated with anyone and some one tries to bully you...you are on your own or your friends may or may not help you..with USSD or FV the other studios will show up at your door with help. That's nice.

A lot of money does go to USSD and out of pocket of the instructor or investor but...come on...go to their HQ and count the hummers, corvettes, mercedes, BMWs, and lexus etc. it's crazy.

I hung out in a circle of FV guys who were the same way.....if you have support and training like that..you can't help but make money and the money you pay out is like an investment that you get back ten fold. It's worth every penny, those that fail were not giving a 100% or were bad with people.

Period. it is a great thing..business wise. I happen to also beleive that it is a great thing martial arts wise too but...that's only my opinion and I've been wrong before.

You talk about ussd being there if someone bullys you, I've read on other MA forums ussd does that to people who leave them?
You have been with them a long time is this true?

Do they really take half the money from the dojo?

[Hand Sword]

Different people have different experiences. I think the whole USSD thing has been beaten to death. They are who they are, and do what they do. Don't like it? Don't join their organization. There's plenty of other dojos to train at. Let's please stay on topic of the thread.

[CTKempo Todd]

Originally Posted by shaolin ninja 4

Why did you leave Villaris?

Sorry SN...
Missed your question..

Here is the cliff's notes version of my history within Villari's and beyond..

http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/sho...&postcount=357