Leonard M. Brassard, Ph.D.

 

Our Studio Director, Dr. Len Brassard, is a licensed Psychologist with over 34 years of clinical experience. He has trained staff, social workers, nurses and physicians in the development of behavior treatment plans in medical facilities in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mississippi, and Arkansas. In his private practice Dr. Brassard has treated children and adults with diagnoses such as: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Down's syndrome, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder and individuals with intellectual disabilities. He has also provided psychological assessments and recommendations as the Psychologist on a multidisciplinary team assisting children and families involved with the Department of Social Services (D.S.S.).

In addition to providing clinical training and treatment, Dr. Brassard has trained professional and line staff in medical facilities throughout Massachusetts, including Psychiatry residents at UMass Medical School in Worcester, MA. in appropriate methods of containing and restraining physically aggressive clients and inpatients. His method of defense and restraint has been part of staff training at Worcester State Hospital in Worcester, MA since the late 1980s.

Dr. Brassard's academic teaching career began in 1978 at Mississippi State University as the Head Teaching Assistant in the Psychology Department. He has held faculty or adjunct faculty positions at Mississippi State University, the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He has been on the faculty of the Psychiatry Department at the UMass Medical School in Worcester, MA. Dr. Brassard has also taught wellness classes at the North Central Charter Essential School in Fitchburg, MA. In the mid-90's, he served as a member of the School Board at Crocker Elementary School in Fitchburg, MA.

Dr. Brassard's martial arts training began in 1966 when he joined a Judo class at a local YMCA. With a growing interest in self-defense martial arts he began a study of Chinese Kenpo Karate, and was promoted to instructor status at two Kenpo studios in Massachusetts. In 1977, as part of a senior class project, he taught a self-defense class at the University of Lowell (now UMass Lowell) in Lowell, MA. In 1978, Dr. Brassard began studying Clinical Psychology at Mississippi State University (MSU). With the encouragement of one of his Psychology professors, he began teaching a university course entitled: "Self-Defense for the Mind and Body." As he developed the course curriculum, Dr. Brassard integrated the art of Kenpo Karate with the science of behavioral Psychology, providing students with self-defense instruction in addition to elements of relaxation training, assertiveness training and principles of cognitive and rational emotive therapy.

By the early 1980s, Dr. Brassard had opened two full-time martial arts studios, one part-time club and had an associated senior student teaching classes in Florida. To involve his students in the national martial arts community, Dr. Brassard contacted Mr. Ed Parker and he and his students were invited to join the International Kenpo Karate Association (IKKA). In 1985, as part of his Psychology internship, Dr. Brassard taught a Kenpo Karate class at the University of Arkansas. As enrollment grew he formed the Arkansas Kenpo Karate Association, and these students also became members of Mr. Parker's IKKA. By establishing these two Kenpo Karate groups, Dr. Brassard became the first IKKA representative in Mississippi and Arkansas. With Mr. Parker's approval, Dr. Brassard became a contributing writer for the martial arts magazines: Black Belt, Inside Kung-Fu, and Tae-Kwon-Do Times. In fact, following Mr. Parker's passing in 1990, Dr. Brassard wrote an article for Black Belt Magazine introducing Mr. Richard "Huk" Planas, the (then) Vice-President of the IKKA, to the martial arts community.

Today Dr. Brassard and his son Lenny own and operate the Family Martial Arts Center (FMAC) in Fitchburg, MA. providing a comprehensive curriculum that couples the art of Kenpo Karate with the science of behavioral Psychology. He also continues to counsel individuals and families at the New Beginnings Counseling Center in Fitchburg, MA. 

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