"True Martial Artists do not think of using their
skills in physical confrontations. They use their training and art to overcome obstacles and become better people."

BRIAN COLWELL
When Brian Colwell achieved the highest rank in Shaolin Kempo, a 1st degree Black Belt, he knew his true calling was to share the magic of Martial Arts with others. He wanted people to enjoy the same benefits he had enjoyed as a student growing up in Virginia...the confidence, the discipline and the passion.

Sensei Brian is unique amongst instructors as he constantly thinks about his students and looks for ways to better develop their skills and their own passions for the Martial Arts. He knows every student at Team Poway by name and could easily receite their accomplishments.

This is integral into Sensei Brian's teaching philososphy and demands the same from all the Team Poway instructors. All students, whether adults or children, enjoy the positive, encouraging family environment.

A former Eagle Scout and recipient of the prestiguous Vigil Honor in the Order of the Arrow as well as the Founder's Award, Brian always knew that his mission in life was to help people, to live a life of service.

Brian first came to Poway in 2002 to take over the existing USSD franchise and through lessons learned as a professional Martial Artist, a Boy Scout and a successful and valued teacher, has continuously provided the local community with a top flight training facility and a welcoming learning environment.

Brian is married to Kristen Colwell, who runs the USSD dojo in Carlsbad.

PROFESSOR CHARLES MATTERA FOUNDER-USSD
His journey in the martial arts began at the age of ten when he enrolled in the local martial arts program at the YMCA. As a young boy, he was asthmatic and on the advice of the family doctor, his parents got him started in the program.

Young Charles Mattera loved the martial arts. Growing up in the streets of East Boston in the sixties made him wise beyond his years as he had to learn very early the concept of “survival of the fittest”.

After several years in the arts, he began teaching part-time while he went to high school. Living in South Boston, he figured the only way to stay off the streets and out of trouble was to be in school or in the dojo teaching classes.

Dreaming to see more of the country but coming from a poor background, Charles Mattera worked his way through high school and then through college. He paid his way through school by attending classes during the day and teaching karate classes at night.

It was during this time that Professor Mattera began to formulate another dream: to elevate the status and prestige of being a martial arts instructor for the whole industry. He wanted the career of a martial arts instructor to be looked upon with the same respect as a doctor or a lawyer, with the compensation being just as high as those “professional” careers.

Professor Mattera began working and opening new locations in the New England area and in 1987, after a particularly harsh winter when he had to dig an hour just to get his car out of his driveway, he moved his family out to sunny Southern California.

Upon arriving in Southern California, he continued his journey in the martial arts both in training and in starting his own martial arts company.

In 1990, Professor Mattera was honored to receive the rank of Hachidan, Eighth Degree Black Belt from the Honorable Grandmaster Nick Cerio. This rank was the highest ever given by Grandmaster Cerio.

Eighteen years after he began in Southern California, he is the CEO of the largest professional martial arts organization in the world, with over 40,000 active students. He is also a principle in other martial arts related companies and has more projects in the works.

In 2001, he was adopted by the Head Abbot of the Shaolin Temple as a disciple and promoted to the rank of 10th Degree Black Belt, Grandmaster and Professor. He is one of only two non-Asians to hold this distinction in the world.

In 2004, he was inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame as Instructor of the Year.

In 2005, he was awarded the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.

He has been featured in Black Belt Magazine both as a contributing writer and on the cover.

The Professor is still very active in running his companies. He teaches a hand –picked group of martial artists and overseas the operations of his companies. He believes that he is getting closer every day to his goal of having a martial arts school in every major city in the United States and elevating the status of what it means to be a full-time Professional Martial Arts Instructor.