Fred Villari’s Studios of Self Defense

I have been training at Fred Villari’s for twenty two years. That says something right there right? Master Heroian and the seven Dragons are incredible Masters. I had trained in other styles previously and none were so complete as far as self defense for all situations and getting in great shape. The classes are fun, up paced and tailored to each students needs. Grandmaster Villari created Shaolin Kempo Karate in 1968 and deserves all the respect.. When you want the real deal, please take the time to find a Villari’s studio or self defense center near you. You will be glad you did.

I came across Fred Villari’s Kempo Karate when I wanted to cross off martial arts off my bucket list and started with couple of friends in hopes of learning self-​defense. I thought I would stay for the month or until the first belt but fell in love with the art and the people there and now 4 years later, I got my black belt. It was an indescribable experience and a great feeling of accomplishment. What made me stay was how the other classmates were so supportive and encouraging. In addition, Master Armen is patient and makes the class fun and practical. As a woman, I think it’s important to learn self-​defense and he focuses on this for me. I can truly say through my four years I have seen myself grow, feeling more empowered and confidant. I highly recommend Fred Villari’s Kempo Karate, especially to women who want to learn self-​defense.

I’ve been with Villari’s Self Defense Center in Glendale for over 10 years, I just tested and passed my 5^th Degree Black Belt test, very proud of that. Master Armen has been a wonderful Teacher, Mentor and Friend. His knowledge of Martial Arts is unparalleled in this field. He can bring out the best in a person, from the age of a child to a senior citizen. Some recent health problems have popped up in my life, Master Armen has worked with me on that and has helped me through it by building up my confidence, strength and by eliminating a lot of stress in my life. Add to this that fact that I can also defend myself and my family, if needed. The knowledge of Martial Arts, the friendships formed, the outer and inner strength I’ve acquired, all are beneficial to anyones life. I would highly recommend the Glendale Villari’s Self Defense Center to anyone who wants more out of life, combined with the ability to overcome a lot of life’s problems that we all seem to face at one time or another, as it has with me. On a side note, I also met the woman that I’m married to in a class at this school as well as having had 3 of my children go there.

I started taking lessons in 1989 and continued through the graduation of my high school. I obtained my black belt and had the most exhilarating experience in doing so. Fred Villari’s Studioss and Master Armen Heroian have impacted my life in a way most people would hope to experience. I am a 5’3 female age 28 living in Los Angeles, and because I went to Fred Villari’s and learned martial arts and self defense, I can walk through the any street alone at any time of the day confidently without fear, ready to take on anything that comes my way. I have visited other states where I knew no one, and have come face to face with creeps and strangers, and have been able to look them in the eye and without saying a word let them know I’m not the person to mess with, and experience their facial expressions change and see them walk away. I am a black belt and am thankful to have had the opportunity to learn how to defend myself in a world where suck sick and twisted people exist. I just wish I had the time to go back and learn some more! I was in the best shape when taking the classes and had so much energy. Aside from the lessons learned, the atmosphere is extremely friendly. You see how long people have been part of the Fred Villari family when no matter what, they all seem to go back.

I have been involved with third dojo since 1990. After I joined my dad joined and he was followed by six more family members joining and obtaining their black belts. Master Armen and his charisma with his knowledge makes this dojo the best one around. I have personally seen the changes in kids of all ages that attended this dojo, even if they don’t achieve their black belts, but many of them do. A black belt achieved here is genuine. Many martial arts schools come and go, but the longevity of this dojo only proves how great Master Armen is and how practical the system works.

I am a first degree black belt and I have been going to Fred Villari’s Studios since I was six years old. The lessons I have learned from Master* Armen, both in self-​defense and in character, have been invaluable in shaping the person I am today. Apart from just instructing us in forms and strikes, Master Armen teaches us the psychological attitudes that are needed to protect ourselves. In fact, one of the first lessons that the younger students learn is that if they need to fight an attacker, they are to poke him in the eyes (or kick in the groin, etc.) and *run away*. They are taught the valuable lesson that while they are not invulnerable, they are able to protect themselves long enough to get away, and this gives them self-​confidence.
I am a tall, skinny, nerdy guy with glasses. When I first started taking classes here, I was being bullied almost constantly. However, the self-​confidence that I gained through these classes began to show through in other facets of my life, and since then, although I have never gotten into a fight, I have never been bullied again. The simple air of self-​control and self-​confidence has been enough to discourage bullying, and for that, I cannot thank Master Armen enough.
Finally, I wish to address the concerns of the other reviewers about the black belt test. The test given by these Studios are a minimum of 10 hours long. They start out with 2 – 3 hours of basic strikes and exercises. After a short break and drive to the beach, the rest of the time is taken up with forms, running, and sparring. Complicating this is that forms are done in the surf, you may be required to run whilst carrying seaweed, and, yes, you may be bombarded by watermelon seeds during a sparring match. However, the point of this test is NOT just to test knowledge of forms, or even to test endurance/​fitness (although this does play a role). The black belt test is also a test of psychological resilience. Yes, you are forced to endure some fairly humiliating things during your test. I, for one, was dragged through chocolate soft-​serve ice cream (such a waste: P) and squirted with what was ostensibly toilet bowl water. But if you do not have the self-​discipline to endure a little humiliation, you do not have the self-​discipline to earn the rank of black belt. It’s no different from boot camp in the military. You must earn the responsibility and respect that is afforded to you when you wear the rank of black belt. But when you DO earn that rank, it is a powerful thing. You know that you deserve the honor of your rank, and the gravitas of such is not lost on you. You made sacrifices to earn that belt, and as such, it is not something you take lightly.
If you want to feel like you have earned something, if you want respect for YOUR accomplishments, this is the place to go.
* «Master» is an honorific title, given to a fifth degree black belt and above.

I am a credentialed teacher and hold a doctorate in education. I have been going to this studio for several years. I started back in 1997 when I witnessed my students who had been attending improve in their academics and classroom participation. Their self-​esteem shot through the roof.
I worked all the way through to my second degree black belt over the years, taking time off to have a daughter and work on my doctorate.
What I observed over the years, and as my own daughter has taken several classes and is moving up the ranks, is a dojo with discipline, ethics, and heart. I have personally observed Master Armen Heroian working with children at many different levels and ages. He has had tremendous success with children with special needs, including with children I have personally referred. I have also witnessed Master Armen living the tenets of the dojo: effort, etiquette, sincerity, character, and self-​control. He has done so with his own children, and treats my own daughter like family.
He has extremely high expectations, yet meets everyone where they are. He gives each individual exactly what they need to grow. Sometimes, as we all know, some people do not like to be pushed to seek out their limits. That is an unfortunate mistake on their part. Sometimes, as parents, we
coddle, our children need to know they can stand alone… to find success. We stunt their growth when we interrupt the process. Whether they learn it through the dojo, through taking tremendously rigorous courses in college while supporting a family, or whatever life has to throw at them, they need to know that they may be pushed to their limits, BUT THEY WILL NOT BREAK.
That is the GIFT I have been given by Master Armen, and the gift that he gives to my daughter and my current and former students.
The testing IS rigorous for black belt. As it SHOULD be. (The teens working toward their first degree black belts, by and large did tremendously well, and did us proud. Though, one or two of those especially coddled ones pouted a bit.). The test includes several hours of basics, and other exercises of endurance. There is sparring as well with equally ranked black belts. There are times, just as in running a marathon (which I have also done), when you want to give up. The higher ranking black belts work to cheer us on. Push us. At one point I needed to stop, because I had maxed out. I was told to sit out for a little bit. I had given it my all, and we all knew it. I was not chastised or ridiculed for it. When I was ready, I went back to it. Halfway through the test, we went to the beach, and got to do our combinations in the waves, which was so welcome considering the sweat we all built up. We did our forms and several other feats that created a team amongst those of us testing. We also did other fun and silly creative things. I even walked a lower ranking male student as he crawled in front of me using his belt. The whole time both of us had huge smiles on our faces. We played leap frog in the sand. And played with the sea weed. The whole time, my daughter walked along with us and observed us and cheered us on.
Nearly 11 hours later, I was victorious. We ALL were.
Thank you Master Armen and everyone else who has had such a tremendous impact on my life.

I have 3 children enrolled here for the past 6 years. My goal in this review is to alert parents to ask many questions regarding what exactly takes place during the testing and every parent should sit through testing to observe what takes place during testing. My 17 year old daughter took the black belt test one day ago. She was subjected to degradation and humiliation at the hands of Master Armen and the other instructors from the Lake Forest facility. Some highlights: after getting her period unexpectedly, the female instructor said to me sarcastic remarks about my daughter getting attacked and saying to the attacker: sorry, it’s that time of the month, Armen called the 2 young girls dogs and made them tie their brown belts around their necks as they were walked by the older men in the group through crowds of people on Laguana Beach then tied to a pole with threats of leaving them their for 45 min to an hour. Basically, they broke the kids down physically first for 5 hours then preceeded with humiliation exercises for the next 7 hours: 12 hours in total. I arrived to the test about 2:30 as the hazing began. My daughter just wanted to finish. As a educator for over 20 years, this method is counterintuitive to teaching self confidence and building self esteem. I wish other parents had told me that this is how they test children: through fear, intimidation, and humiliation. Go look at other programs! We are removing our kids from this environment immediately. If your child has special needs or a low self esteem, do not send them here! The only thing I ask for is transparency and full disclosure regarding testing procedures.

Studied at this school in the late eighties to early nineties. Good place to workout but it’s a mix system, little bit of this and that. If you want traditional, this is not the place for you. The only thing bad was paying for the test every two months. To me it felt more like it was more money driven. If you want to get in shape and pick up some self defense techniques, this is the place for you but don’t expect to learn traditional hardcore kung fu etc. You will need to go elsewhere for that.