Ryan Chamberland – Owner / Shihan

Before becoming a business owner, Ryan spent time in the Sheriffs Department & Real Estate.

Shihan Ryan Chamberland has been studying in the martial arts for 35 years. He has trained in a wide range of systems like: Kosho Ryu Kempo, Shaolin Five Animal Kung Fu, Jiu Jutsu, Daito Ryu, & Sala De Armas Diestro Escrima.

Shihan teaches all over the continent & has been proudly serving Winthrop since 1998 & Augusta since 2011.

River Coron – Manager Winthrop

Sensei River Coron has been training in Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo since 2006.

Member of the Leadership Team from 2011-2019. Chief Instructor of Youth Martial Arts since 2019. As of 2021, holds Third Degree Black Belt in the Kosho Ryu Kempo system.

Employee from 2016 to 2022, became a Facility Manager in 2022.

Under Shihan Ryan he is also studying Majapahit Escrima & is currently teaching Beginners Escrima in our dojo.

Chip Sager – Manager Augusta

Chip Sager retired from active duty in the Navy after 24 years of service and continued working for the next ten years in the Navy as a Survival Instructor & Command Fitness Leader/Coordinator.

Chip is a Certified Personal Trainer of over 30 years, has been an employee since 2019 & became a Manager in 2022.

Allen Cognata – Front Desk Associate / Personal Trainer

Allen has been around Winthrop & United Fitness for well over 20 years!

After retiring from a 29 year career with United Airlines he has become our newest full time employee.

Joining in June of 2023 & Obtaining ISSA Certification in December 2023 Allen has established a presence at both facilities!

Alyssa Griffin – Front Desk Associate / Coach

Alyssa began as a Summer Camp Coach with us in June of 2022. After Summer Camp she stayed on in our AfterSchool Program & after another year of Summer Camp has become our Media Lead!


In October of 2023 she expanded hours to also work the Front Desk!

Ian Sheehy – Front Desk Associate / Coach / MA Instructor

Sensei Ian Sheehy is currently a 2nd Degree Black Belt in the Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo system. He has been training since 2009.

He currently teaches half of the Youth Martial Arts classes & has been a member of our Leadership Team since 2017!

In 2020 Ian began working our After School & Summer Camp Programs as a coach. Shortly after he began working the Front Desk. Finally, Sensei Ian is also one of the coaches for our Kosho Warriors competition team. He plans to expand his competition to the K.R.A.N.E. and N.A.S.K.A. circuits soon.

Laura James – Front Desk Associate / Trainer

Laura has been training in Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo for 8 years, currently a Brown Belt.

All while training & working a full time job, Laura obtained her NCSF Certification in Personal Training & Sport Nutrition. Shortly after she approached us to begin teaching classes! Since late 2023, Laura has been leading a good chunk of the Augusta Programs.

You’ll find her at many of the classes United Fitness has to offer in both locations. Thinking about joining one of our classes? Begin with us any time!

Colin Chamberland – Front Desk Associate / MA Instructor

Angela Robinson – Front Desk Associate / Trainer

Ang has been a dedicated member of United Fitness since before Social Media. While working full time, Angela earned her certifications in Personal Fitness Training & Primary Group Exercise with AFAA in 2017. She now also holds her NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist certification, as well as a NASM Conditioning Programming Certification.

You can find Ang most mornings & evening leading a class in the Winthrop Facility!