Walter Gioielli began his martial arts training with Jeet Kune Do at the age of eight, then shifted his focus to Kick Boxing.  He enriched his fighting experience and knowledge with years of intense training under prestigious professional trainers and participation in various matches.  At 17 years of age, he joined the Italian Army and successfully endured numerous courses and training sessions, furthering his development both physically and mentally.  It wasn't until his deployment to Kosovo, facing uncontrolled, real-world dangers when Walter realized that self-defence was essential to everyday physical security and more than just a sport.  He realized that civilian self-defence methods weren't enough or adequate for the various types of uncontrolled dangers everyone will face at least once in their lives.  Knowing this, he sought out military self-defence instructors including American colleagues who spent years in the world's hotspots and warzones.  Bringing with him this newfound knowledge on his tour in Macedonia (FYROM), Walter and his Hungarian military counterparts experimented with and developed new combinations of hand-to-hand combat techniques which were more suited to real-world situations.  This laid the groundwork for the development of Rough Program.  Upon his return to Italy, these new methods were met with great entusiasm by his colleagues and practiced thereafter.  Following the attacks on 9/11, Walter was involved with anti-terrorist security operations for both Italian civilian and military targets.  On his deployment to Bosnia Herzegovina, he participated in multiple joint training missions and courses with the American and British militaries.  In 2004, he received training in the field of Psychological Operations, a course run by a US Army Special Operation team from the Joint Special Operations Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  This was followed by another deployment, this time to the warzone of Afghanistan.  After returning to Italy, Walter concluded that military training methods were too harsh for the general public and began adapting his methods for civilian instruction.  Together with some American colleagues, he discarded all the traditional training methods and useless techniques, developing a system which remains both effective and devastating, but easy to learn.  Today, Walter and his team continues to improve and develop the system to ensure that Rough Program leads the way and to guarantee his trainees the best solution when it comes to self-defence. 

Walter is a collaborator and European Team Manager of Stephen Spivey's American Combat System and Maxdefense.

Violence and aggression are increasing daily, and the world is becoming more unsafe for us and our loved ones.  We have to be mentally and physically ready to face these threats.

Walter GIOIELLI is available for private lesson in Italy  and abroad. On going private lessons in Italy can be arranged around Walter's seminar schedule.   Private training outside of Italy can be arranged when Walter is conducting a seminar in your area.

Active International Branches of WOMA