cpw

Yes, I train w/ USSD (as does my 4 yr old daughter). If you read the current Black Belt magazine, you'll see an article by Mattera where he decribes DeMasco as his East-coast counterpart and makes reference to him several times in the article. If they were really at odds w/ one another, one would expect Mattera to make little or no reference to DeMasco. What supposition(s) are you basing your post on? I'm not some USSD fanboy but I have to wonder where some of the unsubstantiated crap comes from (this is not directed at you ninjamac). I'm not against a reasonable discussion of the facts. There just doesn't seem to be a great deal of "factual" discussion here. Just my $.02, once again. CPW

there's a pretty good explanation of the various kempo styles here: http://www.urbin.net/EWW/MA/KF/3D.html#Styles CPW

LOL! Definitely not. Just a lowly yellow belt who couldn't do 15 pushups 2 mos ago. No aspirations to be anything other than in better shape. If I learn something useful in the process, so much the better. CPW

I agree w/ most of these points. It's the reality of business. There are always people (especially on the internet) who think that any business that is making a profit is, by definition, ripping them off. Wake up and realize that you live in a market-driven world! The beauty of the market is that if people don't perceive value, they give their business to someone else. Contracts are just a tool for a business; if you don't like 'em, give your business to someone willing to take your money w/out one. I train at a dojo that has contracts and a billing svc but I avoid both by prepaying 3 mos at a time. That's where my comfort level is. I also support the dojo by ordering my supplies there. I could probably get the stuff cheaper somewhere else but I like the place and I want it to be around- unlike all the businesses described in the OP. There's no such thing as a free lunch folks. Expect to pay for what you value. As to the contention that the most expensive places offer only mediocre instruction: by all means go somewhere else. I'm happy w/ my dojo even though it's more expensive than others because I think the instructor is great. You might not but, guess what? It's my money! CPW

What about the three Chief Instructors? Is that hearsay? You've stated a lot of things in this thread as fact which seem in reality to be suspicion and supposition. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to defend these actions. As I said, they're reprehensible. It's just hard for me to believe that those three instructors would still be listed as the Chief Instructors on the USSD website if they'd been convicted of what you'd suggested. The deal w/ the car is also a big jump to make. I just think you should be careful what you state as fact because people in this forum will likely take it at face value. Better to be more factual where people's reputations and careers are in play. My $.02. CPW

Were those people suspected? arrested? charged? convicted? Would be interesting to know. CPW

Okay so you posted some names, now you'd better post the police reports; otherwise it looks like a smear. If these things really happened, it's reprehensible. (Almost as reprehensible as the spelling in this thread!) CPW