Senior Master Drew Serrano

Senior Master Drew Serrano started his Martial Arts career in 1977 in Judo. He later started training in Tang Soo Do/Moo Duk Kwon under Master Robert Dunlap. In the mid 80’s he joined Rossi Academy of Self Defense in Waterbury, CT under Grandmaster Joseph Rossi and has been a practitioner of American Filipino Kun Tao ever since. Rossi Academy later changed to Modern Self Defense Center under Master Michael Byrnes and SM Serrano would take over studio operations in the early 90’s. He continued to run the studio at various locations until 1998 when he joined Bergamo’s Martial Arts and helped form Team Bergamo. In 2007 he left Bergamo’s to further his already established business East Coast Training Systems with his wife Daniele.

Some of Senior Master Serrano’s personal accomplishments include:

  • USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Champion- Heavyweight Power Concrete Breaking- USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships, Wallingford, CT- 2017
  • USBA/WBA European Breaking Champion- Heavyweight Power Wood Foot- World Power Show, London, England- 2016
  • USBA/WBA European Breaking Champion- Heavyweight Power Concrete Foot- World Power Show, London, England- 2016
  • USBA/WBA European Breaking Champion- Heavyweight Power Concrete Elbow- World Power Show, London, England- 2016
  • USBA/WBA European Breaking Champion- Heavyweight Power Concrete Hand- World Power Show, London, England- 2016
  • ISKA World Champion- Heavyweight Power Concrete Breaking- US Open World Martial Arts Championships, Orlando, FL- 2016
  • USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Champion- Heavyweight Power Concrete Breaking- USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships, Wallingford, CT- 2016
  • USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Champion- Heavyweight Power Concrete Breaking- USBA/WBA and ISKA North American Breaking Championships, Fairfield, CT- 2015
  • World Record- Most Concrete Patio Blocks broken in 10 seconds with three strikes (hand, elbow, foot)- 34 blocks- 2014
  • World Champion- 3 Directional Power Wood Hand- US Open World Martial Arts Championships, Orlando, FL- 2014
  • Appointed to the Board of Directors for the International Independent Martial Artists Association- 2010
  • Appointed Breaking Coach for the United States Martial Arts Team- 2010
  • Featured on Discovery Channel’s “Time Warp”- 2008
  • Featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno- 2007
  • Featured act at Beacher’s Madhouse variety show- Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV- 2006
  • Named International Breaking Director for ATERU Worldwide Association- 2006
  • Named International Breaking Director for The Arnold Martial Arts World Games, OH- 2004
  • Featured on ESPN2 during the airing of The US Open World Martial Arts Championships
  • Featured on the Discovery Channel special “Extreme Martial Arts”- 2003
  • Grand Champion BB Heavyweight Power Breaking- Martial Arts World Games III, Columbus, OH- 2003
  • 1st place Black Belt Creative Breaking- Martial Arts World Games III, Columbus, OH- 2003
  • 1st place Black Belt Self-Defense- Empire State Nationals, NY- 2000
  • 1st place Black Belt Creative Power Breaking- Compete Nationals 2000, CA- 2000
  • World Champion- Creative Power Breaking- USA International Championships, Las Vegas, NV- 2000

Together with his Wife Daniele, SM Serrano operates a successful studio in Waterbury, CT- http://www.eastcoasttrainingsystems.net . They also are the creators of the leading women’s self defense program in CT, Escape Alive Survival Skills- http://www.escapealive.org. He is also a founding member of the American Filipino Kun Tao Federation.

Grandmaster Ralph Bergamo

Grand Master Bergamo started his Martial Arts career in 1970 under Grand Master Rossi in the “Brooklyn” section of Waterbury, CT. The “Hard” style of Kun Tao was the only style that was taught, and many of Grand Master Bergamo’s fellow students never made it to the Black Belt level. Grand Master Bergamo also trained in the art of Tai Chi Quan and Ta Chi Quan Sword under Grand Master Chun-fang He, in 1990.

In the late 90’s GM Bergamo formed a team, Team Bergamo, made up of Black Belts and upper ranks from his studio. They competed extensively in all aspects of martial arts, in particular Breaking, an area that they excelled in. They won many National, International, and World Championships and performed numerous live demonstrations at events across the USA and abroad. They were also featured on ESPN2, Discovery Channel, Late Night with David Lettermen, and more. At one point the team was sponsored by Schick Quatro razors.

Some of GM Bergamo’s personal accomplishments include:

  • World Record on ESPN2 US Open of Martial Arts with 6 coconuts broken with a chop in 10 seconds.
  • Featured on the Discovery Channel series Time Warp.
  • World Record on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno Show with 9 coconuts broken with a chop in 20 seconds.
  • 2nd place Black Belt Lightweight Power Breaking (concrete) at the Martial Arts World Games III, Columbus, OH.

GM Bergamo is the owner and head instructor of Bergamo’s Family Martial Arts and owner and lead trainer at Bergamo’s Personal Training and Wellness in Cheshire, CT. He is also a founding member of the American Filipino Kun Tao Federation. Visit his website at http://bergamomartialarts.com .