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State engineer Dave Schmeer of West Bridgwater and high school student Ray McAllister of Woburn are the school's newest black belts. They earned that ranking, and faced waves of ukes, volunteer attackers, in two hours of intense testing at the school. Wayne McAllister, Ray's father, was one of eight black belts among more than 20 ukes. Wayne was one of Sensei Melaugh's first students when the school opened in 1990. "I'm proud of them both," Melaugh said. "Dave and Ray are determined, smart and they don't quit. Ray has been with me since he was four and a half, coming up through Golden Eagles and Super Samurai. Dave is tough; he persevered for seven years, coming here twice a week even though he lives 40 miles away." Another reason to celebrate Schmeer, 29, has been studying with Melaugh for seven years. He and Kelly Ann Azevedo of Newburyport, a fourth-year psychology student at the University of New Hampshire, are planning a July wedding at St. Anthony's church in Taunton. Continued here, with photos 03/08   Dave Schmeer went from this . . . . . . To this

With just a download, you can have audio training highlights by Sensei Melaugh on your computer, Ipod or other mp3 player. Here's the first in a series -- breaking an attacker's balance. That's an essential element in Melaugh's street-smart self-protection system.

Determined Steve Rita fends off Larry Ruisi

After years of study, 17 advanced students earned black belt or higher ranking. Boston-area students - and students from Chicago, Bermuda, and New York - faced strenuous testing by Sensei Ed Melaugh April 29 at the New England Small Circle Jujitsu Academy. Many others, from lower-ranked to black belts, assisted as Ukes, volunteers who attacked again and again to test the candidates' skills. The rankings are led by veteran Small Circle Jujitsu student Chuck Boeri of Burlington. He earned a sophisticated sixth-degree black belt. Mark Tuthill of East Hampton, N.Y., earned a fourth-degree black belt. Tuthill is head instructor at Mark Tuthill's Martial Arts Center and Long Island Small Circle Jujitsu in East Hampton, N.Y Third-degree black belt rankings were earned by Paul Skiffington of Tewskbury, Larry Ruisi of Medford, John Carlson of Burlington, Joe Zuccola of Wilmington, Rick Alford of Burlington and Steve Rita of Seabrook, N.H. Alford operates the Eastern Small Circle Jujitsu Academy in Wakefield. Photo by Chuck Boeri

New first-degree black belts and Sensei Melaugh.

BROTHERS' KNIFE TRAINING — Joey Fay of Framingham, a Nashua NH police officer, lunges low with a training knife as Sensei Melaugh moves to strip the knife. Brother Jim Fay of Lowell, a Lowell police detective, observes.

SUPER — Kids in the Super Samurai classes are learning street-smart self-defense. Sophia Post, 8, of Stoneham works with Tom Elliott, 11, of Lexington.

ENCOUNTER — Red-haired Golden Eagle Hunter Hodgelan confronts Ray Pavone.

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With titles ranging from drills and fundamentals to knife defense, you can order comprehensive how-to training videotapes and DVDs from Sensei Ed Melaugh. The practical street self-protection videos were filmed with some of Melaugh's experienced black belts and other outstanding martial-arts figures. For example, the knife-defense video shows and explains street-practical ways of dealing with a knife mugging. "We're showing students how to take the power. I show how to recognize the weaknesses of the attacker, how to take him down, and how to get out safely," Melaugh said. The take-down video, which works with the Drills and Fundamentals tapes or DVDs, is produced along similar lines. "It's when you get in tight with somebody and use your legs and feet to sweep and hook them down." DVDs and tapes cost $39.95 each, plus shipping and handling. Melaugh made the training videos with black belts Sandy Lasa, Paul Skiffington, Rick Alford, Mark Tuthill and Chris Peterson. Some of the DVDs and tape titles are: • Practical Street Self-Protection — Fundamentals. • Practical Street Self-Protection — Drills. • Practical Street Self-Protection — Take Downs. • Practical Street Self-Protection — Knife Defense. DVDs and videotapes are available at the school or by mail for $39.95 each, plus shipping & handling. "They supplement regular training with advanced concepts and techniques," Melaugh said. "They also reinforce what students have learned in class and help fine-tune street skills." Students can work on particular skill sets until they are completely comfortable. The training-media order form is here.

FLYING – Caroline Finlay, (now working in Cambodia) top, seems airborne as Kathleen Kyle of Boston defends at an adult-jujitsu workout.

THIS WAY — Black belt Bruce Pekkala of Maynard, left, works on technique with Sensei Melaugh during an afternoon advanced workout.

Sensei Melaugh is a vice president of Jujitsu America. The honor came by election at the Philadelphia convention of the national organization established to promote jujitsu.

As part of his duties, Melaugh will teach at Jujitsu America clinics around the country. He has been a member since 1978, sponsored by his mentor, Professor Wally Jay. Olympic jujitsu coach Willy Cahill is the former president of JA.

Jujitsu instructors and students from Bermuda, Indiana and Tennessee made the trip to the New England Small Circle Jujitsu Academy to study with Sensei Ed Melaugh. Visitors Shawn Harvey of Hamilton, Bermuda, and Dave Rhodes of Bloomington, Indiana, have studied with Melaugh and brought Small Circle Jujitsu to students on their home turf. Peter Bobo of Nashville, Tennessee, has organized students in the Nashville suburbs to learn Small Circle. Melaugh has taught and tested at the three locations for several years. "They were here for more training, to bring it back to their home towns. They came to learn more and we learned from them too," Melaugh said. "They traveled thousands of miles for this knowledge." "We're trying to develop people around the country -- and out of the country -- to learn and teach Small Circle Jujitsu. It's a developmental program. "I want to be able to share what I've learned and then have them share it with new students. I'm doing it here, of course, but there's a whole world that's starting to look at Small Circle Jujitsu and realize how practical it is for street self protection."  

Small Circle Jujitsu student Nuri Shakir takes it to the extreme. You can see him here.