Making Strides with Villari’s Martial Arts Centers
Published June 2025
Villari’s Martial Arts Centers, with a location in Union since 1985, is celebrating 50 years of empowering students through Martial Arts classes. Villari’s current owner, Master Brad Rogers, became interested in Martial Arts at a young age and, at the age of 20, started his journey into Martial Arts with Villari’s as his dojo. Twenty-eight years later, Master Brad purchased the business and focused his programming on personal growth through the Martial Arts.
Tell us a little bit about Villari’s Martial Arts Center!
Villari's Martial Arts Center is a Martial Arts School with a fun, family atmosphere whose main focus is the personal development and growth of each individual student. Our goal is to be a resource for the community and to provide every person with the highest quality of martial arts training. By doing so our students become empowered to live richer, more rewarding and meaningful lives and contribute to a stronger community. We do this by creating leaders through our 5 Life Skills, or Agreements: Effort, Etiquette, Character, Sincerity, and Self-Control.
What inspired you to start a business? How did this feeling grow once you actually started your business?
The business was opened by a man named Master Steve Pappas and then sold to my instructor, Master David Leggeri. I bought the business from Master Leggeri in April of 2014 because Villari's Martial Arts changed my life, and it inspired me to help others transform theirs as well.
What aspect of your business makes you most proud to be a business leader in our community?
I love watching my students grow into the high potential leaders they have always been, but did not see in themselves. I help them chisel away at the habits and qualities that have been holding them back. This helps them create healthy habits so they can realize their dreams and create the great lives that they want.
How do you #LoveUnionSquare?
I #LoveUnionSquare because there is so much to do and so many diverse people. Everywhere you look there are great places to eat, activities like ours, a great Charter School and Community School. There is so much here and so much more coming! Of course there is also #UnionSquareMainStreets helping businesses and organizing immensely fun events.
If you were to plan the perfect outing in Union Square, where would you go and what would you do?
I would start with a 1st Black Belt Lesson at Villari's Martial Arts, of course. Then I would head over to Siam Ginger for the best Thai food I've ever had, head over to Gracie's Ice Cream for dessert, and of course see some live music at Sally O'Briens!
Do you have any "behind the scenes" or fun facts that a customer might not know already?
Here's an interesting fact I've learned: Most people, especially those who have not looked into it, think Martial Arts is about fighting or self-defense. While you WILL learn self-defense, that's not really what Martial Arts is about these days. In fact, I ask at every 1st lesson what people are looking to achieve and for most people self-defense is last on the list. Most people come for confidence or discipline; some for fitness, but few for self-defense.
Martial Arts is really about personal growth and development. There is a great quote by Gichin Funakoshi, widely known as the founder of Shotokan Karate, The ultimate aim in Karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.
Is there anything else you think a Square customer would like to know?
All Villari's Martial Arts Centers have a welcoming and supportive family atmosphere that encourages growth and empowerment.
Find Villari's Martial Arts Centers at 54 Union Square and online here, open Mon-Fri 10am-8pm & Sat 9am-6pm.
Connect with Master Brad & Villari’s on Facebook.
