There are many great reasons to become part of United Studios of Self Defense. Besides all of the many great benefits that the Martial Arts offer, USSD Martial Arts students also enjoy many incredible opportunities by being part of such a large organization that they would otherwise not have access to. There are over 160 USSD locations nationwide, and they all teach Kempo as their main style. This means that if you move, you can resume training at your new location without having to pay a registration fee or start over from white belt again. Within the past few years in San Clemente, we have seen several new Martial Arts studios that have popped up and closed down just like that, leaving their students without a place to train or a refund. Since we are part of such a large organization, you probably have a better chance of being struck by a meteor than having us close down on you! Best of all, being part of United Studios gives our students exclusive access to Grand Championship Tournaments, exciting seminars, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like training with the actual Shaolin Monks at the Shaolin Temple in China!

Chief Instructor Richard Cespedes first earned his Black Belt in Kyokushin Kai Karate in Brazil in 1986. He also has a Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu. Once in California, he achieved Black Belt in Kempo, the main style taught at USSD San Clemente, under the Instruction of Master Richard Black, Master Jack Turner, and United Studios’ founder Professor Charles Mattera. Sensei Richard personally trains and promotes his Instructors until they reach Brown and Black Belt levels, at which time all of their rank promotions are conducted and overseen by Professor Mattera and members of the USSD Board of Directors. To begin Instructor apprenticeship, all future-Instructors must graduate from the S.T.O.R.M. program (Special Team of Role Models) with honors, which follows the curriculum and guidelines of the United Studios of Self Defense Instructor Academy . To learn more about the Instructors, see our Instructors page.

Our kids' martial arts program starts at five years old. Every child develops at their own pace, so we encourage parents to have their child try a few group or private lessons before enrolling to ensure a fun and rewarding experience.

The amount of time it takes to achieve Black Belt varies from person to person. A dedicated adult student can expect to reach black belt within 5 to 7 years, although many factors can affect how long it will take. For example, some people just learn faster than others, while other students may be naturally more flexible or have better balance and coordination, although any of these things can be developed and improved with training. Obviously, those who are more consistent with their training by attending as many private and group lessons as they can and practicing outside of the Dojo tend to achieve Black Belt sooner than someone who takes fewer lessons. And remember, students should not feel pressure to get Black Belt within a certain time frame or before another individual. A Black Belt is only a piece of cloth, after all, and it is what it represents— that the student has mastered the basics of his/her style and grown as a Martial Artist—that matters. What matters most of all is that the student has not just learned some moves but feels that he/she has really earned his rank, and can take great pride in his accomplishment.

Our children’s programs are designed to teach kids potentially life-saving self defense while also instilling in them the important values of the Martial Arts. One of the first things we teach is self-control both in and outside of the Dojo. In the Dojo, kids learn how to control their behavior by focusing on a particular activity or demonstration and following directions; they must also learn to control their kicks and strikes during sparring and partner drills so as not to hurt one another during training. All of our Instructors have “mat chats” with students, both one on one and in group-settings, to make sure that our students understand when it is appropriate to use Karate on others, and the consequences for using it inappropriately. If a student does use his/her skills unnecessarily against another, Instructors will have a conference with that student and his/her family in order to decide what the consequences should be for the student’s actions and how to prevent it from happening in the future. It is, however, rare that our students use the skills that they learn at the Dojo inappropriately. In fact, many parents have enrolled their children in our programs to help them learn to control their aggression and channel it in a positive direction to help them stay out of trouble and be less stressed.