United Studios of Self Defense - my experience

[darksoul]

I've been thinking a lot about this recently and whether or not I should make a post about it. I'm still unsure, but here I am typing... so here goes.

Since I've started training under Master Paquette, a few things have struck me about my previous dojos... those that were United Studios of Self Defense (USSD) and even the latest one who was USSD and severed ties with the "company." The style that I have been taught at USSD is... weak. Not SHAOLIN KEMPO, but USSD's version of Shaolin Kempo is weak.

I was lucky that in my final steps to black belt I was with Master Chryssolor who, unlike the others in USSD, saw the problem and broke free of the corporate entity. He trained me well, but he still trained me in the USSD style.

USSD throws the word Shaolin around to grab customers, but the style they teach (even though it is roughly base on Villari's Shaolin tyle) is watered down. For example - the bow is a standard bow, not a Shaolin salute. They bow to the American/Canadian flag, which, to me, is dumb - there is no need to bow to a piece of cloth. Many for the Defensive Maneuvers (or combinations) are simpler, and from my experience less effective.

After only a few training sessions with my new Dojo, I feel I am a much better martial artist. I have to relearn things in a new fashion, but somehow, this is making me fall deeper in love with Shaolin Kempo while at the same time, realizing where USSD lacked.

I would honestly recommend Shaolin Kempo as a martial art to anyone who is interested. I love it, I think it's powerful, balanced, effective, and fun... but I don't think I would recommend USSD as a means of learning it. USSD doesn't make bad martial artists, quite the contrary, but I don't think they make the best in Shaolin Kempo. If all there is available for Shaolin Kempo in your area is USSD, I would suggest it, but only if it's the only school teaching the style. By all means, do your best to find a non-franchised school, they will give you better training at a fraction of the price.

Be weary of USSD and, if at all possible, avoid it. There are better choices out there and it will save you a lot of money.

I hope this post is helpful to some.

[FangPwnsAll7]

Thanks for this, it was useful. Sadly, there are only 3 styles taught here, where I live. Those are TSD, TKD, and Kung Fu. I wish there was more of a variety, but if there was Shaolin Kempo, I would try it out.