Drew Serrano - President - Drew Serrano has been involved in the Martial Arts for over 30 years. He ran his first studio at age 23 when he was appointed to take over the Modern Self-Defense Center, previously the original Rossi Academy of Self-Defense, in the Brooklyn section of Waterbury, CT, by his instructors Master M. Byrnes and the late Grandmaster Joseph Rossi himself. He has since owned his own Martial Arts studio in

In the Martial Arts, he currently holds the ranks of 7^th Degree Senior Master Black Belt in Kun Tao and 10^th Degree Grand Master Black Belt, Hanshi, in Kar-Do-Jitsu-Ryu. Both of these Martial Art styles focus on Self-Defense training. He has also trained in other Martial Arts styles such as Tang Soo Do, Judo, Aikido, Capoeira, Stick and Knife Fighting, and Mixed Martial Arts.

He is a member of and on the board for a number of World recognized Martial Arts organizations- International Independent Martial Artists Association, Team Bergamo founded by Grand Master Ralph Bergamo, Kar-Do-Jitsu-Ryu Federation founded by Shidoshi John Manniel, ATERU Worldwide, United States Martial Arts Association, The International Independent Martial Arts Association,  San-Ryu-Do International founded by Dr. Robert Braff, and is the co-founder of the American-Filipino Kun Tao Federation and The United States and World Breaking Association. Drew has been involved in the fitness industry for over 20 years, and is AFAA and ACE Peer Fitness Trainer certified. He has helped to train "World Champion" Martial Artists.

His Martial Arts career has taken him half-way around the World; competing, instructing and learning. He has competed in some of the most prestigious events in the World (The Las Vegas Internationals and the US Open World Martial Arts Championships to name a few), is a World Champion in Martial Arts’ Breaking and National Self-Defense Champion. He has been featured on ESPN2, The Discovery Channel, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Late Show with David Lettermen.

Drew has instructed across the US and abroad. Some locations include: US- Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, Ohio, Arizona, California, Las Vegas and Puerto Rico; Abroad: Brazil and Trinidad, WI.

He is continually expanding his knowledge by training with Martial Arts Masters and Mixed Martial Arts fighters from around the World. He has also shared theories and techniques with professional law enforcement, correctional officers, security professionals, military personnel, and bounty hunters. Drew, has himself, acted as a personal bodyguard for Connecticut talent.

Physical fitness has always played a large part of Drew's weekly schedule. In fact, he believes his other profession requires this of him. Drew is a professional Fire Fighter for the city of Waterbury, CT. He follows a fairly strict regimen of healthy nutrition and regular exercise. His focus on fitness has led to his appearing in the CT State Firefighter's Calendar and The Waterbury Fire Fighter's Calendar.

Drew is also involved in film, both as an actor and as a stunt/fight choreographer on a number of projects ("The Agent", "Chi", "Break", "War of Attrition", "Copy"). He is a former partner in C&D Productions llc. with Christopher Vallone of Bright Eye Films. C&D produced a documentary titled “Breaking All Records” following the premier Martial Arts’ Breaking team in the World, “Team Bergamo”.

ESCAPE ALIVE™, STRIKE-FIT™, Kun Tao Combatives™, and ECTS FIT-LIFE™ are original programs created by Drew. STRIKE-FIT focuses on improving a participant's coordination, balance, and overall fitness level through a combination of Martial Arts, Boxing, boot-camp style calisthenics, and more.

ECTS FIT-LIFE combines exercise techniques to improve flexibility, balance and coordination, cardiovascular health, strength, and appearance. In the process the participant's mental well-being also improves. The program focuses on  basics; you don't need an expensive gym membership and a truck load of equipment. Your body and the motivation to increase your fitness level is really all that is needed.

ESCAPE ALIVE has been one of Drew's passions for the last 16 years. He believes that all decent people should have the tools to recognize dangerous situations and defend themselves if need be. He has taught the program, in various forms, to numerous organizations and individuals over the years (Jane Doe No More, Girls Inc., Curves Gyms, Black Belt Magazines Festival of the Martial Arts, YMCA, Sacred Heart College, Costco, Women’s Associations, Real Estate Agencies, Medical Professionals, Law Enforcement groups, wealthy business entrepreneurs, Martial Arts studios, and other private groups).

Click the images below to view full size. Use your browser's "Back" button to return to this page.

Drew in Action

Drew explodes a coconut during competition at the North American Breaking Championships, Mohegan Sun, CT. Coconuts are said to take between 1400-1600 pounds of pressure to break...	Drew posing with sticks.	Drew getting ready to shin kick through 2 baseball bats.	Drew making fire wood with a chop.	Drew executes a picture perfect drop elbow through concrete blocks at the US Open, Orlando, FL.	Drew and Team Bergamo on stage at the Arnold Martial Arts World Games, Columbus, OH
Drew demonstrates a finish to a takedown at a Kar-Do-Jitsu-Ryu seminar in NJ.	Drew demonstrates an elbow strike on fellow Team Bergamo member Eric Sousa for a photo shoot by Stace Sanchez in Los Angeles, CA.	Practice makes perfect. Drew practicing his break in a parking lot. Here he breaks 13 patio blocks.	Drew Serrano powers through a stack of cement with a palm.	Drew getting ready to break on stage at Beechers Madhouse, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV.	Drew Serrano in competition taking a closet pole across his abdomen at the Compete tournament in Pomona, CA.
Drew instructing Florida business entrepreneurs at their home in West Palm Beach.	Drew with a forearm break through some concrete.	Drew demonstrates a technique on fellow instructor Vincent Milo.	Drew executes a takedown on stage at the Cactus Classic, AZ.	Drew Serrano on the set of "The Agent" rehearsing a fight scene with World Record holder Leif Becker (left) and Eric Sousa (right).	Drew is on the bottom laying on a bed of glass, he has a bed of nails on his chest. Ralph Bergamo is laying on the nails and Clinton Murphy tops it off by breaking a stack of concrete on his chest. They have performed this unique break all over the World.
Drew executes a left hand palm through scalloped concrete blocks.	Drew destroying a stack of concrete patio blocks. Drew is the co-holder of the World Record breaking 16 blocks as televised on ESPN2.	Drew poses during a photo shoot.	Demonstrating the use of sticks during a demonstration in NY.

Friends, Celebrities, and Legends

Grandmaster Joseph Rossi, Drew's first Kun Tao instructor.	3 generations of Black Belts. Drew with Grandmaster Joseph Rossi (seated), M. Byrnes (center), and Jon Gentile (left).	Drew and Bergamo’s Martial Arts founder Ralph Bergamo.	Brothers in Kun Tao: Ronald Sullivan, Raymond Barquin, and Drew.	The Arnold Martial Arts World Games. Drew, Breaking Director, with promoter Grand Master Choi (center) and Breaking Champion Clinton Murphy (left).	Drew Serrano and Cedric The Entertainer on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Drew and Ralph Bergamo were invited to be on the show.
Drew and Ralph Bergamo with friends on the set of Jay Leno.	Drew and Doug, MMA fighter, on the set of "Fight Ring".	Drew and IFL coach/MMA Fighter Carlos Newton in Las Vegas, NV.	Drew with student Jose Lopez after Jose's win at a full contect kickboxing event in CT.	Drew training with UFC Champion Frank Mir in Las Vegas, NV.	Drew catches a photo-op with Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, father of American Tae Kwon Do at Las Vegas event.
Drew with Grandmaster Joon P. Choi at Frank Shamrock's Shoot Box event, CA	Drew with K-1 Kickboxing Champion Mike McDonald.	Raphael Velez and Drew Serrano on top a building in NY, NY during the filming of "COPY".	Drew with American Ninja Stephen Hayes at an industry event in Las Vegas, NV.	Working security for 95.7's Scott Papacurri. from left: Drew, Scott, Ted Grieder, and manager Andrew Martin (may he rest in peace).	Taking photos with action film star Wesley Snipes of "Blade".
On the set of Late Night with Jay Leno with singer Kelly Clarkson.	Drew with friends Dr Kevin Hufford, founder of Dragon Fire Martial Arts, and Dr. Robert Braff, founder of San Ryu Do International.	Having fun with Martial Arts Legend Bill "Superfoot" Wallace (front) and MMA fighter and coach Frank Shamrock (3rd from right).	Ralph Bergamo (left), Clinton Murphy (Center), and Drew at Mr. Murphy's Black Belt promotion.	Ralph Bergamo (left), Eric Sousa (center), and Drew at Mr. Sousa's Black Belt promotion.	Photo with action star James Lew holding up Schick Quattro Razors, former sponsor for Team Bergamo. From left: Clinton Murphy, James Lew, Drew Serrano, Ralph Bergamo, Leif Becker, and Peter DeMarco.
Drew Serrano, UFC Champ Chuck Lidell (center), Hvy Wt World Champion Breaker Clinton Murphy (right), Lt Wt World Champion Breaker Raphael Velez (front).

Group Photos- Competitions, Seminars, Events

Instructors from Bergamo's Martial Arts. From left: Clinton Murphy, Ronlald Sullivan, Owner Ralph Bergamo, Drew Serrano, Vincent Milo, and Eric Sousa.	Original members of World Champion Team Bergamo. From left: Ted Grieder, Drew Serrano, Ralph Bergamo, Vincent Milo, Clinton Murphy; front: Scott Casulo, and Eric Sousa.	The cast of "The Agent" at the premiere at Loews, NY. Drew and Daniele on left side, director Chris Vallone center	Group photo from advanced seminar at Bergamo's Martial Arts.	Group photo of seminar taught in Columbus, OH.	Drew on the set of WVIT Channel 30, CT, with Team Bergamo members Peter Demarco, Clinton Murphy, Ralph Bergamo, and Leif Becker.
Group photo from awards banquet: left- Matt LaPonne, 3rd from left- Michael DePasquale, Jr., 3rd from right- Hanshi Stephen Kaufman, Drew Serrano.	Team Bergamo at Compete 2001 in Pomona, CA. From left: Robert Anderson, Eric Sousa, Drew, Ronald Sullivan, Colin Thompson, Michael-lynn McKay; Front: Jonathan Hardwicke, Sean Anderson, and James Palmer.	Group photo from seminar in Las Vegas, NV.	Directors of the American Filipino Kun Tao Federation in Las Vegas. From left: Jon Gentile, Mel Hebert, Ralph Bergamo, and Drew.	Group photo of Team Bergamo at the Cactus Classic in Arizona. From left: Clinton Murphy, Eric Sousa, Seth Murphy, Ralph Bergamo, Ted Grieder, Drew Serrano, and Chad.	Drew with fellow Masters and Grandmasters of the Kar-Do-Jitsu-Ryu Federation, founded by Sedoshi John Manniel, at a seminar in NJ.
Drew on stage with other tournament directors at the Arnold Martial Arts World Games in Columbus, OH, waiting for the arrival of Arnold Shwarzenager.	Group photo from American Filipino Kun Tao Federation Fighting arts Workshop.	At a Kar Do Jitsu Ryu Tournament in Brooklyn, NY. Kar Do Jitsu Ryu founder Shidoshi John Manniel center.	After winning at Compete, Pomona, CA. From left: Ralph Bergamo, Ted Grieder, Drew, Clinton Murphy, and Raymond Barquin.	Group photo after demonstration in Madison Square Garden, NY, NY, at The Oriental World of Self Defense.	Group photo from the ISKA United States Breaking Championships at the Joe Weider Bodybuilding Expo in Las Vegas, NV. From left: Raphael Velez, Clinton Murphy, Ralph Bergamo, and Drew.
Group photo from a Conflict Management and Control seminar at Saint Joseph's College, CT.

Miscellaneous

Official movie poster for "The Agent" starring Drew Serrano and Clinton Murphy. Daniele also had a supporting role in the film.	Presenting a check to Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, from Cardio-Kick. Cardio-Kick was a feundraiser organized by East Coast Training Systems and Bergamo's Martial Arts to raise money for the local non-profit.	Commemorative poster from Team Bergamo's appearance on the Late Show with David Lettermen.