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 art 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, Profressor 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 5th, 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 alongside martial art masters such as Danny Inosanto (Bruce Lee's student), Paul Vunak (Jeet Kune Do), and Professor Walley Jay (Small Circle Jiu Jitsu).