Shaolin Kempo KarateShaolin Kempo Karate is a martial art style that combines the Five Animals of Shaolin, Kempo Karate, Jiu Jitsu, Chin Na and western boxing. Founded by Grandmaster, Fred Villari, it comprises four methods of fighting.
HistoryHere is an excerpt from Black Belt magazine in 1975: ‘Villari’s martial arts training started early in his life. After being introduced to Western and Chinese boxing by his father, Villari went on to study jiujitsu and wrestling with the LeBlanc brothers in his middle teens. By the time he was 18, Villari realized his martial arts training was stagnating and sought out Nick Cerio as an instructor of Chinese kenpo. After completing his requirements as second degree black belt with Cerio, Villari traveled to the West Indies where he traded his techniques for karate and kung-fu training. While in the islands, Villari also studied under a Chinese-Australian instructor Soo, and gained his third and fourth degrees. After working with another master Len Chou, Villari received his fifth degree and soon decided to open his own school.’The original Shaolin Kempo Karate school was United Studios of Self Defense, later becoming Fred Villari’s Studio of Self Defense. It was under this name that the Shaolin Kempo Karate style spread across the northeastern United States. Over the years, several students have left the organization and opened up other schools. Shaolin Kempo Karate is now taught around much of the Northern United States. Grandmaster Frederick J. Villari's induction as the "Grandmaster of the 20th Century" into the World Masters and Black Belt Federation was held April 21st, 2006 at the Connecticut Convention Center. Please go to Villari's Hall Of Fame Dinner Gala for all details.
ControversyNot surprisingly, a great deal of controversy has been stirred up by Villari and his schools. Shortly before press time, Villari announced, much to the consternation of the New England martial arts community, that he had promoted himself to tenth degree black belt-“…the tenth dan style of my own creation Shou Tung Kwok, which draws from all my martial arts training and includes speed movements I have developed myself. I teach this system to only a handful of my top black belts…,” he emphasized.’ Villari declared himself a 10th degree Grandmaster, despite the fact that no one bore witness or has come forth to prove the veracity of his claims.In his online biography he states that he teaches Mongolian and Tibetan Chin Na. This claim leads many to discredit Villari as no records of him training in either country or with any Tibetan or Mongolian national can be found or verified. Furthermore, Chin Na is wholely Chinese and while Tibet and Mongolia both have grappling martial arts, neither are called Chin Na, and resemble more Shuai Jiao or Greco-Roman wrestling in appearance and application.
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