Instructors
Soke Richard Petronelli
 Soke
Richard Petronelli has devoted over forty years of his life to the
study of the martial arts. As a young child he was enrolled in his
first martial arts class under Sensei John Lee in the art of Jiu
Jitsu. Sensei Lee was a dedicated instructor who instilled valuable
knowledge into the impressionable martial artist. He taught a young
Petronelli not only the basic concepts of Jiu Jitsu, but also the
importance of hard work and dedication. In 1962, five years after
commencing his training in the martial arts, Soke Petronelli switched
martial art disciplines to train under Master Peter Deblaiso in
traditional Karate.
During Soke Petronelli's tutelage under Master
Deblaiso, he was introduced to an instructor named Peter Rogers.
After a brief conversation, Petronelli became intrigued by the hybrid
style of martial arts that Master Peter Rogers taught. Embedded
with a strong desire to expand his knowledge of the martial arts,
Petronelli started training in the art of Koba-Ryu, an eclectic
style that mixed Korean, Okinawan, Burmese, and American fighting
systems. Throughout his fifteen years of dedicated training under
Master Peter Rogers, Petronelli learned trust, discipline, respect,
and harmony between life and the martial arts.
Continuing on in his quest for knowledge, Soke Petronelli initiated
further training with former world's strongest
man, Professor John Wooten in the art of Miyama Ryu Combat Jiu Jitsu.
Learning and formulating his own ideas and methods, Soke Petronelli
continued training with Master Peter Rogers, Prof. John Wooten,
and Kung Fu instructors Master Shoon Yip, Master Charlie Hu, and
Master Chong L. Woo. From 1957 through 1987, Soke Petronelli's martial
arts knowledge included Combat Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Kung Fu, Wing
Chun, and Judo.
In 1987, Professor John Wooten introduced Petronelli to the late
Professor Florendo M. Visitacion, known to his students as “Professor
Vee. After an initial and in-depth discussion of the martial arts,
Professor Vee took the seasoned Petronelli under his wing. Drawing
from his vast knowledge of Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Kuntao, Aikido, Gung
Fu, and Filipino Stick and Knife fighting, Professor Vee showed
Petronelli how he blended all of these systems into one effective
fighting system, which he called Vee Arnis Jitsu.
While training directly under Professor Vee, Petronelli was given
insight on how a true Grandmaster thinks and works. "Professor
Vee taught me much more than how to punch or kick. I was taught
about life and how to give unselfishly these pearls of wisdom to
my students. Martial arts is my way of life, and it is a devotion
of love. Just like Professor Vee, I hope that the dedication and
devotion that I show to art of Kuntao Jiu Jitsu will impact and
inspire my students. I owe it to Professor Vee and my other fellow
instructors to expand on their teachings.
The thirteen-year relationship between Professor Vee and Professor
Petronelli grew into a close bond that lasted until Professor Vee's
passing on January 4th, 1999 . Professor Petronelli made the three-hour
drive to return to the Bronx , New York , where he had first learned
the art of Vee Arnis Jitsu, to pay tribute to this great man. On
November 5 th, 1999 , with the passing of his mentor still on his
mind, the inspired Petronelli presented his newly created system
of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu in front of the same World Head Martial Arts
Council that approved Professor Vee's Vee Arnis
Jitsu. The overwhelming approval of Richard Petronelli's
street orientated Jiu Jitsu style, earned him the validation of
his own system and the title of Soke (Founder of a martial art system).
Soke Petronelli's accomplishments in the martial arts include inductions
into both the United Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the Vee-Arnis-Jitsu
Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Head Family Board of the International
Society Head Founders, and is an elected executive officer of the
Kokon Ryu Bujutsu Renmei Federation. Soke Petronelli has also been
inducted and elected Executive Chairman on the board of the World
Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
In addition to teaching selected black belts, Soke Petronelli conducts
seminars across the United States , teaching along side martial
art masters such as Danny Inosanto (Bruce Lee's student), Paul Vunak
(Jeet Kune Do), and Prof. Walley Jay (Small Circle Jiu Jitsu).
Soke-Dai Marc Bochner
 Marc
Bochner started his martial arts career at the age of eight under
the tutelage of Professor Richard Petronelli in the system of Koba-Ryu.
Under Professor Petronelli, Bochner learned the basic fundamental
kicks, forms, punches and stances that are prevalent in all traditional
karate based systems.
At the age of eleven, Bochner followed Petronelli to his Vee Arnis
Jitsu School, where the focus shifted from traditional karate to
a more effective and realistic form of self-defense, taught to Professor
Petronelli by Professor Florendo Visitacion. After five years of
dedicated training, Bochner earned a black belt in Jiu Jitsu under
Petronelli and Sifu Albert Borino. At the age of thirteen, Bochner
started to assist in teaching the children’s classes. Three
years later at the age of sixteen, Bochner started to assist in
teaching the majority of the adult classes along side Shihan Bruce
DiTraglia and Professor Petronelli.
On November 9, 1999, Bochner was the personal Uki (person who gets
demonstrated upon) for Professor Petronelli when he successfully
tested in front of the Head Founders and Head Family Board of Directors.
In this examination, Professor Petronelli presented his reality
based self-defense curriculum and thus validated his own system
of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu. As a result of this approval, Professor Petronelli
was now known as the Soke (Creator of a System) of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu.
For all his years of dedicated training, Bochner was effectively
named Soke-Dai of the system (sole inheritor of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu)
and became the youngest person to ever hold that title.
In March of 2000, Soke-Dai Bochner was inducted into the World
Martial Arts Hall of Fame for instructor of the year. In March of
2001, the Cranston Herald published a news article about Soke-Dai
Bochner and the adaptive art of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu. The article describes
how Soke-Dai Bochner modified the system so that Brian Baccaire,
a man with Spina Bifida, could still be able to effectively defend
himself.
In the summer of 2001, Soke-Dai Bochner assisted the Rhode Island
Justice Program as one of the local instructors who participated
in the Kick Drugs Out Of Delinquency Program for the inner city
children. In this program, Bochner and other martial artists demonstrated
and explained the mentality behind martial arts to these youths.
Bochner is the designer of a 12-class “Nucleus” crash
course that teaches instinctive reactions and defenses against common
street attacks. Bochner’s creation of the Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu
children’s curriculum provides children and teenagers with
the proper knowledge of how to realistically defend themselves and
prevent possible abduction.
In March of 2004, Soke-Dai Bochner tested and passed his 5th degree
black belt test. (An excerpt from this test can be found at www.KuntaoJiuJitsu.com.)
In May 2006, Soke-Dai Bochner received his Bachelors Degree in
Exercise Science from the University of Rhode Island. He is
continuing his studies, working towards his Doctorate in Physical
Therapy at the University of Rhode Island.
In March 2007, Soke-Dai Bochner produced the official Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu Six
DVD Training Set; Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu: Your DVD Guide To Realistic Self-Defense and
Street Survival. These are the only DVDs showing the effective techniques within
the art of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu. In September 2007, the 2nd edition of Kuntao
Jiu-Jitsu: Your Guide to Realistic Self-Defense and Street Survival was
published. In March 2008, Soke-Dai Bochner plans to release his third book
geared toward children.
Currently, Soke-Dai Bochner holds self-defense and rape prevention
seminars at the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College,
Salve Regina University, and Bentley College. He is president and
co-founder of the University of Rhode Island Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu club
and is currently the head instructor at the Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu academy
in Johnston, Rhode Island.
Professor Bruce DiTraglia
 At
the age of nineteen, Professor Bruce DiTraglia began training in
the martial art style of Kumiuchi Jiu-Jitsu under Peter R. Marro
Jr. Professor DiTraglia trained for twelve years and achieved the
rank of 1 st degree Dan (Shodan). He continued local and private
training with law enforcement agencies and various martial artists
over the next ten years. This resulted in his mastering of many
martial art styles including Jiu Jitsu, Kumiuchi Jiu-Jitsu, Combat
Jiu-Jitsu, Vee Arnis Jitsu, Judo, Aikido, Arnis, Re System Te Jiu-Jitsu,
and weapon techniques.
In 1987, Professor DiTraglia was introduced to Soke Richard Petronelli
and began studying Vee Arnis Jitsu under the direction of Professor
Visitacion. This created the foundation of a new style dimension
of martial arts. While teaching and continuing to study over the
next fifteen years, Professor DiTraglia achieved the rank of seventh
degree black belt under Soke Petronelli. He also assisted in the
development of the new hybrid Art of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu.Professor
DiTraglia's thirty-seven years of experience has taught him a vast
degree of knowledge and character that he willingly shares with
all of his students.
Currently Prof. DiTraglia teaches our weapon survival class and completes his
tasks as Assistant Mayor of East Providence, R.I.
Sensei Brian Baccaire - 3rd Degree Black Belt
 Born
with Spina Bifida and confined to a wheelchair, Sensei Baccaire
had extensively investigated various martial art systems to see
if any were adaptable and effective for his situation. In 1999,
Brian Baccaire was introduced to Soke Petronelli and Soke-Dai Bochner.
Baccaire immediately felt comfortable with the two gentlemen and
discussed his interest in the martial arts.
Soke-Dai Bochner then worked with Baccaire extensively to develop
an adaptive version of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu. The result has proven to
be an effective and realistic means of self-defense for Sensei Baccaire.
In addition to Sensei Baccaire's modifications, he was required
to learn the complete system in order to assist non-disabled students
with the standard techniques. Sensei Baccaire's martial art training
began in 1999 and four years later in 2003, he was tested and he
received his black belt in the art of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu. As a Sensei,
Baccaire teaches youth and adult classes in Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu. He
also teaches a specialized Nucleus crash course designed for self-defense
and rape prevention. Sensei Baccaire also has a degree in psychology
from Rhode Island College .
In July of 2007, Sensei Baccaire was promoted to third degree
blackbelt in the art of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu.
Dr. Matthew Mendillo - 3rd Degree Black Belt
 Matthew
Mendillo, 25, has been a student of the martial arts since he was
eight years old. He has been studying Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu from Soke
Richard Petronelli since its inception in 1999. Prior to that, Mendillo
was a student of Aikido, Jeet Kune Do and Kali/Arnis.
At the Academy of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu, he met Professor Bruce DiTraglia
and Sifu Albert Borino, two men from whom Mendillo has received
an immense amount of knowledge and discipline. Sensei Mendillo earned
a black belt under Soke-Dai Bochner and is now currently an instructor
in the Children's Realistic Self-Defense programs. He also regularly
assists Soke-Dai Marc Bochner in teaching the adult classes and
is Soke-Dai Bochner's personal uki (training partner) in any and
all demonstrations and self-defense seminars. Sensei Mendillo has
given several lectures himself on the human body’s nervous
and skeletal systems in the hope of explaining how knowledge of
the human anatomy will allow for self-defense with maximum effect,
yet using minimum effort. He has given these lectures at several
locations throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Sensei Mendillo also assists Soke-Dai Bochner with the specially
designed “Nucleus” program. This program was developed
with the intent on teaching rape prevention techniques to women.
In addition to these specialized classes, Sensei Mendillo has taught
numerous seminars on rape prevention to college sororities and campuses
across New England.
Mendillo received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the
University Of Bridgeport College Of Chiropractic in December of
2006. Beginning in 2007, Dr. Mendillo plans on opening chiropractic
offices throughout Rhode Island . These offices will focus on injury
rehabilitation for athletes, dietary advice, nutritional supplementation,
and stretching and exercise protocols. His Bachelor of Science in
Biology was attained at the University of Rhode Island.
He currently lives in Rhode Island where he continues to study
and teach Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu to all those who wish to learn.
In August of 2007, Sensei Mendillo was promoted to third degree blackbelt in
the art of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu.
To Contact Sensei Mendillo: SenseiMendillo@kuntaojiujitsu.com
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