United Studios of Self Defense

A lot of their schools Dont have good teachers. Some just know how to run businesses and Dont know how to provide quality teaching.

I am a former instructor for Ussd and I may not necessarily agree with some of the pitching that goes on in some schools but I always taught great quality in my school. I am only making comment on this old post because of the only buy their gear post. I used to think it was marlarky until I saw a student get their eye almost knocked out the socket. By a simple defect in the gear that wasn't ours.

Our insurance company at least at the time only covered certain manufactures of products and we know that all products from Bushido martial arts are insurance approved. Would you want me to knowingly allow your child to spar against someone with weighted gloves. Or if the open face mask gear that was bought from the karate school down the road was defected and your child got a broken nose. Who would be liable.

The gear issues is definitely for the safety of your child and our liability. But you are absolutely right about quality of teachings. Because USSD has 300 schools if you want good application training you need find a school with a master in the school. If not your only learning techniques.

White , yellow, orange and purple are technique levels. You Dont really have to know how to use it to get promoted you just need to know the technique. However a master will be picky and start your application early. I didn't learn my applications until blue belt and I didnt really learn anything until after I got my black belt.

Its when you get your black belt and realize that you still know nothing. That you begain to actually learn that your still a white belt. The purpose of the first five belts is so that you feel accomplishment. People are lazy and want to move up the rank system.

The color system of Chinese martial arts does not exist.

When your white belt turned black from all your sweat and blood then you were a black belt. First thing someone should ask though is what is Shaolin Kempo Karate?

I used to be a teacher for USSD I had one instructor that told me to pass a student all the way up to blue belt however when I moved into a school with a master in it. I never saw that happen.

This is the break down and should work this way. A student should be able to go from white belt to yellow belt in 2 to 4 weeks. Keep in mind the white belt was given to you. It was not earned.

However I been in some USSD schools where you had to earn your white belt. Mine was one of them. You actually wear the belt your earning. For example when you get your yellow belt or not really a yellow belt .

you completed your white belt and now working on the yellow belt . your always one belt behind. The USSD system is not designed to teach you application at the lower belt levels. USSD is about teaching g instructors.

That's their survival. There looking for instructors. That's why they have the blue belt / black belt academy that cost an arm and a leg. So its not uncommon to see a student go from white to yellow in two weeks and then 4 to 6 weeks later orange and then 3 to 5 months later purple.

You should be a purple belt by the end of the year. Most of my student quit because they were an orange belt too long and went to other schools because they weren't advancing in my school. So some people just want a belt. So here here is one to keep you here.

That's how it goes.

it's whether or not we pass you pass the purple belt. When you have purple belts that beat up your green belts something's not right.

Try finding an American Kenpo school. Ed Parker's American Kenpo, as well as dojo's that teach the related Tracy System, have always been very welcoming, accommodating, affordable and professional.

They usually won't push you into believing that they are the original true source of real martial arts or any of the other tactics USSD tries. In fact, if you have an AKKI or IKKA sponsored dojo in your area, it is well worth it. And, because all Kenpo/Kempo evolved out of the Chuan-Fa system, there are common roots, principals and concepts that you'd adapt to very easily.

Advancement should come easier for that very reason.

There is a reason they split in half and the other half became zultimate. If you want good beginner training take jijutisu or goto the community center.

Find an instructor not motivated by money. Ussd has over 300 schools . there is no way they can keep a handful of quality instructors . some schools are good some schools are bad.

If you were in my school you would have a check list and when you knew the material you could test. If you failed then younshoukdnt have told me you were ready.

My son Brennan goes to the Dojo in Santa Barbara Ca, could not be more happy. All this ragging on USSD is a joke.

Parents will not get ripped off year after year, that simple. Most people post *** and don't leave an e-mail or anything if you want a great school ussd is great, not to say there are some that are not but im 100% satisfied mware14343@***.com

WAHH! :cry USSD only cares about money?

AMERICA only cares about money! And all your in-effective complaining only serves as further proof of your ignorance. If you don't like how your money/country is being run, or how the money is handled, get off you *** and DO SOMETHING about it instead of whining like a bunch of little squealing piggies on the internet blaming a company like USSD or Z Ultimate for only trying to survive like every other American Co. in this hellish American economy.

I have dealt with these companies plenty, and I can tell you that most of the complaints on here are from people who probably didn't read the contract they signed when registering. If the instructor didn't inform you of these policies when you started, well then, they suck. THAT'S STILL NO EXCUSE FOR YOU NOT READING THE "FINE PRINT". THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SURE THING.

Grow up people.

Christine I am sure they told you that it was not their doing that it was Advantage Billing or something like that. The problem here is that thats the billing company.

By law I cannot call advantage billing and speak on your behalf and unenroll your child. I can only notify advantage billing that your no longer taking classes. However advantage requires a 30 day notice from you. If you did not fax them or send them a cancelation notice they will charge you until you do.

Its not USSD. Ussd Dont bill you they get a big check from advantage. If they had to be on the phone with advantage or take payment in the office all day then there would t be anytime for teaching.

There really is not any teaching g going on in group class anyways. Group classes are for practice and the private lesson is for learning.

Worst mistake of my life was walking into a ussd dojo and getting dupped into paying astronomical prices for a average product. I have learned my lesson though.

I go to the USSD in San Anselmo. I have been going for the last 8 months and have had an amazing experience.

My son also goes. The Head Sensei who owns the Dojo is incredible as are the other Sensei's.

The students and the place in general is fantastic. I get my money's worth and more with all that is offered here.

I owned a USSD dojo for almost 10 years, and while it is true that the quality of training will always depend on the instructor, I found the instructor, as a group, to be highly well trained.

There we a number of comments in the blogs above complaining about the cost of USSD training. I have to say that I never saw a lack of MA business competition in my town, so people certainly has their choice of locations and prices. If my prices were too hign, or if the quality of instruction were poor, I would lose business, but my studio was successful. I will add that my prices were generally higher than my competitors, and yet I rarely had a shortage of students, so we muct have been doing something right in order to sign up new students, and more importantly, to hold on to existing ones.

I was also a USSD student at a different dojo and found the training to be effective.

Did some instructors cross ethical lines? Clearly some did, and most were weeded out. Some were never caught. I find it difficult, however, to imagine any system where that might not be the case.

Is Kempo/Kenpo the best MA system? If you know anything about MA you know that no system is the best. I believe that USSDs Kempo system could be improved my a greater emphasis on ground work, because most fights end on the ground, but it is hardly the only system that places greater emphasis on stand-up fighting.

USSD has been criticised for operating McDojo's, and yet this criticism must stem from people who have an issue with successful business practices. To me, the term McDojo represents a system that offers quality and consistency across the spectrum of studios. My hat is off to USSD for developing a system with such effective quality control that a student can move from one USSD school to another and continue his/her studies without a hitch.

I don't have the time to answer all of the criticisms noted in this blog, and USSD has enough faults to go around, but all-in-all, it is a good company, led by highly respected martial artists who have a demonstrated ability to teach and to run successful businesses.

...and by the way, the teaching of martial arts is a business. Doesn't it make sense that you would want to be as successful in your business endeavors as you are in your martial arts?

I,unfortunately, had a bad experience at a USSD dojo. The instructor knee I was having physical problems but he constatly berated and put me down. Its sad, I think the instructors teaching at any dojo should be required to have a license or be registered with the state, so if one has a complaint.one has somewhere to go.

I think it is absolutely necessary to place cameras within these studios. This is a business where adults, young adults, and children train! It's not to be used for your personal pleasure!

Ok.....I know some will think that much of these individuals are former instructors who have been weeded out or competetors wanting to place negativity on a name, or some *** who hasn't even tried the Art (which may all be true)...BUT I honestly am someone who has been a parent, a student, and a friend to the USSD family. I used to believe in this company.

I WAS amazed to see how it affected my children in a positive way. I THOUGHT that the instructors were knowledgable, helpful, and caring. I USED to be in awe when meeting all Masters and hardworking instructors. Most of this has changed.

Before I continue, I do want to say...there are a FEW instructors that DO care. There are a FEW who have the love for the Art. And there are a FEW who work there butts off to build what they have started, have the dojo grow, and who really care for the well-being of others to be able to protect and defend themselves. But this is a company.

This is a business. And much of it is about the $$$. Yes, it is true, if you find that dojo who has an instructor who really cares, it's all worth it. But honestly most of them aren't that way.

My main gripe is they teach you about RESPECT, DISCIPLINE, HONOR, LOVING YOURSELF and OTHERS, KNOWING YOUR SELF WORTH, and trying to build YOUR SELF CONFIDENCE. But what does that matter when you DON'T practice what you teach? How can you teach someone to live their life with these characteristics and values when you yourself don't follow them? I know of instructors who are alcoholics, drug users, have had trouble with the law, have had affairs with other students and other instructors which have resulted in families broken and children hurt.

How can you teach my daughter to respect herself and have self confidence and self worth when you as an instructor have done nothing but sleep around from dojo to dojo???

The ART is a beautiful thing that should be shared by all but it will cost you with them. Just BE AWARE looks are deceiving!!!

As a former USSD Instructor I can tell you point blank. The system does work however, the company as a whole is a MONEY MAKING VENTURE.

Not to say that this is unusual for any and all martial arts schools,but ussd has unfortunatley taken advantage and really started to goudge people. The red belt asst. instructors are students themselves and are NOT BLACK BELT INSTRUCTORS. They are in actuality, FREE LABOR for the Instructor.

USSD insists that you buy ALL uniforms and equipment from them. They will then charge you in excess if $120.00 for a $40.00 uniform and $50.00 for $15.00 karate shoes. And so on,and so forth. I became disheartened when I felt more like a car salesman than a Sensei.I love the arts, and loved teaching however, I am not in the business of ripping people off.

They apparently are. Buyer beware!

As for the "Child Molestation" comment, There was no proof and by all accounts the accusation was made by a disgruntled patron. As Per Amy's comment about not letting your kids train there because of this I only have this to say. In my dojo there were cameras,multiple cameras.

As a father, my own kids were there constantly. And I always invited parents to stay or pop in continuously during lessons.

Further more,by your logic perhaps no one should go to a catholic church either because if one preist perhaps maybe molested a child, they must all do it.Right? Dont be a fool.

as a former instructor of USSD I\'ll tell you this, they dont care about the student unless you are willing to pay the ripoff fees and put up with the illusion that they are so great. Being fair; there are some good instructors that really do care about the art and take the time to really teach.

That though is a small handfull. Most of the instructors have big heads and think they are all that. USSD is a business....not a martial arts change. They art of Kempo is good and they do have a good martial art...if they would learn to teach it right.

They burn out instructors and students. Matt - Pinan #1 (all 5 Pinans) are from Karate. Pinan #1 itself is taught in the many different styles of Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Kempo put more of a Kung *** spin on it; that is why the moves are mor circular and soft.

The 5 Katas I believe were of Karate descent excpet for Kata#6 which (from what I have heard) was created by Mr. Fred Vallari. They forms taught at Black Belt are of a more Shaolin Kung *** style. Amy- that is a very hefty comment, that should be backed up with where you saw that.

I know that a lot of those instructors are drunks and drug abusers and really dont have that great of moralsBottom line is this...USSD is like Starbucks, they are everywhere, they know how to market and are smart in business. They charge way too much (they have to find some way to pay for those massively exspensive cars) and dont put to much care into the students or instructors. If you now or plan on signing up at a USSD, be very careful, ask a billion questions about the instructor (how long has he/she been a black belt-certificate should be hung, how long has the school been there?

what equipment is used? Yes all the USSD dojos are clean....dosent mean they are good dojo\'s.