10/2008- Master Drew Serrano and Grandmaster Ralph Bergamo to be featured on Discovery Channel...When the producers of the new Discovery Channel series "Time Warp" were looking for the best Martial Arts Masters in the World to be part of their premier episode, they turned to World Martial Arts Champions Drew Serrano and Ralph Bergamo.

Over the Summer, the duo were contacted by the producers of this brand new series to display one of their unique Martial Arts' abilities, BREAKING! Both Drew and Ralph are known around the World for their expertise in generating tremendous power in their strikes and focusing their inner energy, "CHI", enabling them to do what most think is impossible. They are also the founders of the United States and World Breaking Association, the largest Martial Arts Breaking association in the World!

Drew was the main focus of the episode that will first air on October 15, 2008 at 8pm (EST). Surrounded by high-speed camera equipment, the show captures every reaction of Drew's body as it crushes concrete and withstands a closet pole to the stomach. The footage, the first of it's kind, is truly unbelievable! See for yourself what happens in slow motion.

9/2008- Kun Tao Basics- Volume 1...NOW ON SALE...ECTS is proud to announce the first in a series of DVD's focusing on Kun Tao. American-Filipino Kun Tao is a reality based self-defense martial art. Kun Tao Basics- Volume 1, focuses on the basics of Kun Tao:

• Basic Upper and Lower Body Strikes

• Proper Body Mechanics

• Increasing Power and Accuracy through Pad Work

• Creating a Flow of techniques

• Defenses against Punches, Kicks, and more...

This DVD is geared for the beginner, or the practitioner looking or a review and a new approach to defense tactics. Each technique is broken down and explained step by step. The main menu allows the viewer to jump directly to the desired technique. This DVD sets the base for future DVD's in this series.

Click here for secure online ordering.

9/2008- East Coast Training Systems to start 2 new programs at Sacred Heart University and Amistad Academy...ECTS is proud to announce it's involvement with 2 educational establishments at opposite ends of the spectrum. The first is Amistad Academy Elementary School in New Haven, part of the Achievement First Charter School program. Amistad Academy  provides unique opportunities to inner-city students to excel in academics and build important character skills. ECTS will be running two programs for the academy, Capoeira and Competition Martial Arts. Each program is unique, providing participants with the benefits associated with Martial Arts. The Competition program will culminate with participants competing at a local event.

Strike-Fit will be coming to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. ECTS will be bringing the unique fitness program to the students of the well known university. Strike-Fit will run every Monday from 6-7pm in the aerobics room of the William H. Pitt Health and Recreation Center.

7/2008- Drew and Daniele to start 2 adult Kun Tao classes...Drew and Daniele are working to start two adult American-Filipino Kun Tao classes in the greater Waterbury, CT area. The first will be at Gym Nation in Waterbury scheduled for Thursday evenings, 7:30-8:45pm. The second is at Charland Institute of Karate in Watertown, time and day to be announced.

Drew has been a practitioner of Kun Tao for more than 22 years, is a 6th degree Master in Kun Tao, and trained directly under the late Grand Master Joseph Rossi and his closest Black Belt Michael Byrnes. He also has trained with Master Ralph Bergamo for over 9 years and will continue his close relationship with Bergamo's Martial Arts of Naugatuck and Team Bergamo.

Daniele has been a practitioner of Kun Tao for over 15 years and is working toward her full Black Belt in the style. She is one of the top female practitioners in Kun Tao.

Drew and Daniele have also trained with the most respected Kun Taoists including Master Mel Hebert (owner of Realistic Training Concepts- CA, and the longest active practitioner of GM Rossi's Kun Tao system), Master Jon Gentile, Raymond Barquin, Ronald Sullivan, Vincent Milo, Clinton Murphy (owner of Academy of Fighting Arts- Brookfield, CT), Eric Sousa (owner of Blue Line Martial Arts- Waterbury, CT), Alan Stekloff, Raphael Velez, and Colin Thompson.

Drew is also a founding member and on the board of directors for the American-Filipino Kun Tao Federation originally formed by Grand Master Rossi to oversee Kun Tao and it's teachings.

Whether you currently train in another Martial Art or have decided to start, we invite you to come in and try a FREE class! It is not only a great workout, but it will be a positive influence in your life. CONTACT US for more information.

7/2008- Teenagers return as World Champions...Drew has been involved with Team Bergamo for 10 years. Two longtime students Kelly Pearce and Jonathan Hardwicke took the US Open World Martial Arts Championships by storm winning World Breaking Championship titles at 19yrs old.

The US Open is one of the largest Open Martial Arts Competitions in the World, drawing competitors from around the globe. There are 2 breaking championships at the US Open, USBA/WBA (founded by Drew Serrano and Ralph Bergamo) and ISKA (which is televised every year on ESPN2).

The USBA/WBA portion of the competition was a great success, with well over 100 competitors form across the US, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Trinidad, England, and others. Drew and Ralph run the event with the help of many others, including Daniele Silva.

The ISKA World Breaking Championships are televised on ESPN2 each year. It brings the top breakers from around the World and is an invitation only event. Drew Has been featured numerous times on the ESPN2 coverage along with his team mates from Team Bergamo. This year Drew took 6th out of a field of 20 with an unconventional palm heel break, all other competitors use an elbow for Power Breaking. Drew holds the record for the most blocks broken with a palm at 11.

Drew's teammate Larry Fields from Texas won the Heavy Weight division with an elbow strike through 14 patio blocks. Two of the youngest members of Team Bergamo, who have been mentored by Drew, Ralph and the other senior members of the team, were the real highlights of the competition. At 19yrs old, they are both the youngest World Champions ever to win the event.

Kelly Pearce won the Women's Creative Breaking division with a display that rivaled many of the male competitors. She displayed breaks through stacks of concrete, closet poles broken over her leg and stomach (she stole that from Drew), and a shin kick through a baseball bat...that's right SHIN THROUGH A REAL BAT!

Jonathan Hardwicke, also 19, won the Lightweight Power Breaking division with a solid break of 13 out of 14 patio blocks. It is only his second year competing at the event. He beat out favorite, and teammate, Raphael Velez who has been the champion 2 years previous.

See photos from the event in the "New Pictures" section.

6/2008- Drew Serrano and Ralph Bergamo to be featured in upcoming Discovery Channel series "Time Warp"...Drew Serrano and Ralph Bergamo just finished work on a segment of an upcoming Discovery Channel series named "Time Warp" to air this fall. This is not Drew's first appearance on Discovery. In 2003 he was featured, along with teammate Clinton Murphy, in the very popular Discovery Channel project "Xtreme Martial Arts".

Time Warp uses high speed cameras, up to 5000 frames per second, to analyze various everyday events, as well as a variety of sports and athletes. The things that can be seen when the motion is broken down at such a slow rate is absolutely amazing.

Drew and Ralph were brought onto the project, filmed in Boston, because of their recognition in the Martial Arts, specifically breaking. With 6 high speed cameras capturing their every move, the duo performed breaks that set them apart from others in their field.

Drew palmed, elbowed, and forearmed his way through stacks of concrete providing what the show's producers consider some of the best footage of the series. He also stood motionless as a 2" closet pole was snapped across his mid-section...3 times because of takes!

Ralph Bergamo displayed his signature coconut break using only his bare fist. As juice from the coconut splashed the camera everything was caught on film and broken down frame by frame.

The duo are planning a follow up with the producers using x-ray cameras to capture what happens inside the body during these amazing feats of power and will. Check your local listings for airing times.

See more photos in the "New Pictures" section.