Business Profile: Brewster USA Karate MMA, Brewster
A popular martial arts instructor is expanding his reach. John Carlo, who has been teaching the USA Karate Martial arts program in Patterson and Pawling for the past 15 years, opened the doors to a dojo in Brewster last weekend. The school is located at 278 North Brewster Road.
“We opened in Brewster because we have a bunch of students from Brewster and Carmel coming to our Patterson school [which is held at the Patterson Recreation Center],” said Carlo, who lives in Carmel with his wife Barbara. “Brewster residents have been showing a lot of interest over the last few years and I bumped into a nice store front one day and decided to make a move and give USA Karate Mixed Martial Arts a home.”
In addition to the Brewster and Patterson locations, Carlo also teaches the MMA program at World Gym in Pawling.
Carlo has been training in martial arts since 1975 and has been doing mixed martial arts since 1994. He is a fifth-degree black belt under Master Rich Church founder of USA Karate and earned his black belt in Gohoryu Jiu-jutsu under Professor Carl Papparlardo. In addition he has a two-stripe brown belt as a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu instructor under third-degree black belt Master Luigi Mondelli.
At 50, Carlo is also a retired professional boxer and trainer and former golden gloves champion who has a 14- 2 pro record. He has also competed in both judo and wrestling and was invited as an alternate to the UFC in Buffalo in 1997.
“Marital Arts has been a constant in my life,” Carlo said. It is a fun way to keep in shape, maintain my weight and stay healthy.”
At Brewster USA Karate MMA, Carlo will be offering multiple martial art disciplines within the one dojo.
“We will have Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, boxing, Thai Kickboxing, MMA as well as an outstanding kids karate program from ages 3- 13,” Carlo said. “I enjoy teaching the kids and watching them develop confidence, goal-setting skills, self-discipline and a love for fitness with their martial art training.”
The school also offers wrestling programs, women’s self-defense and yoga classes.
Carlo designs the program so that the average person can learn to get fit and experience the fun of MMA.
Since Carlo is interested in people pursuing martial arts because they want to, and not because they have to, he does not force students to sign a contract or pay a registration fee.
“Our Mixed Martial Arts program enables anyone to fulfill their physical goals, whether you are looking to learn realistic self-defense, get in top shape or to actually become an amateur or pro MMA fighter,” said Carlo. “Students can also train in full MMA style without getting hurt by learning realistic fighting techniques in a light contact format.”
Carlo’s school is the only accredited and experienced school to instruct and train MMA students in Putnam County. It has already had students compete in actual MMA Events.
In fact Darrick Espinal, who will be training at the Brewster location, defeated Ryan Mack at the Aggressive Combat Championships Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Danbury Pal Building. Espinal won the 205lb Division and took home the title belt to Team USA Karate.
Carlo’s wife Barbara, who is a former personal trainer, teaches the preschool kids karate /jiu-jitsu program for ages 3-5 and 4-7, as well as women’s cardio kickboxing, fitness and toning classes.
“Her classes is the closest thing women can get to personal training in a class setting,” said Carlo.
For class schedules, call 845-279-4262 or visit www.brewsterkarate.com.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
