BHMA HISTORY:
Meet Sensei Douglas Veronesi who started the Brotherhood of Martial Artists in March of 2002. Mr. V is usually what his students call him, and the martial arts community. He ran a profitable school called Mr. V's Kempo Jujitsu, Inc until December 2010 when he turned over his school to Shihan Pauliks. Now he just teaches at the Dighton Fitness Center in their martial arts program. He did this to create a Home, Work, and Martial Arts balance that works best for his family. He openly admits that he is not one of the best martial artists around, but in his 20's he was one of the best bench pressers and arm wrestlers though. At a weight of 198 lbs he was almost benching 500 pounds, and he won numerous arm wrestling tournaments including the American Novice Arm Wrestling Championships held in Taunton Massachusetts. Mr. V turned to martial arts more as heavy weight lifting and arm wrestling takes a toll on your joints.
The BHMA was started as Mr. V found himself without a school due to his wife changing jobs making $7 an hour less. He could no longer afford to go to attend his old school and take classes with his family. His kids were devastated. So as a second degree black belt he started teaching to his family and friends in his basement, then in his garage, then into a commercial location, then incorporating his business in a second location where he is now to this day. He found himself without an organization like so many. So he started looking online for one, but they all wanted one thing. Your money. So he decided to start one of his own called The Brotherhood of Martial Artists in early 2002. Mr. V vowed to make it a FREE educational network so that no one could question the motives of the newly created network. When he left his old school he was a 2nd Dan Black Belt. While going to his old school he was also taking private lessons with Douglas Betts of Douglas Betts' Kenpo Karate until his instructor passed away in 2006.
The BHMA has members in over 10 countries and many states in the USA. Through the BHMA many other organizations have been started up just like us for FREE. Everything we do we make no money off of. We don't care what your rank is only what can we learn from you. We have FREE seminars, online magazines, message boards, we as instructors give FREE memberships to needy families in our areas. The BHMA has been a great learning tool for all of our members. Knowledge is power not rank.
MR. V'S BIO
MR. V'S MARTIAL ARTS STUDIED
Some of you have asked for this so here it is.
Mr. V takes a core curriculum of Kempo and has added to it Jujitsu, Judo, Grappling, Chin Na, Knife Defense, Basic Filipino Arnis Stick & Hand Drills, Concepts and Ideas of various Martial Arts
MR. V'S RANK HISTORY
Some of you have asked for this so here it is.
2000: Received first degree black belt in Kempo from SKIP ELLS MARTIAL ARTS INSTITUTE
2001: Received second degree black belt in Kempo from SKIP ELLS MARTIAL ARTS INSTITUTE
2003: At the end of my three hour 3rd Degree Black Belt Test, in 2003, Douglas Betts told me he was proud of me. This was a big deal as he does not hand out compliments. Mr. V was also was training with Professor Art Lapham of Raven's Kenpo Jujitsu who gave him his material for his 3rd Degree Black Belt Test. Mr. V tested in front of a board consisting of 5 local schools including Mr. Betts in 2003. Mr. V also trained with Grandmaster Smith in Chin Na for about 3 years until he became very ill. GM Smith also passed away in 2006. At this time Mr. V was visited by the late Hanshi Craig Brooks out of New York who ran an Amerian Goju Kempo school. Hanshi Brooks came to Mr. V's school and evaluated him and his students. When he found out that others were going to test me he asked me to contact him after the test to see how it went. His intention that day was to promote me if I was worthy in his eyes, but he didn't want to step on anyone's toes. Upon telling him of my passing he told me that he also had a 3rd Degree Earned black belt for me as well. This night his wife told me that he was very sick and should not have come to see me, but you reminded him so much of himself when he was younger. Even the way you write too reminds him of himself. Hanshi Craig Brooks passed away just one month after promoting me to 3rd Degree Black Belt, and my official title of Sensei/Teacher.
2005: In 2005 Mr. V was given an earned 4th Degree by many US and International Schools for his time in rank, and knowledge of martial arts. Mr. V being thankful for his rank wanted to also send them a Jujitsu DVD that he had made, and said he would only accept the rank if after viewing it they still felt he earned it. Mr. V made this DVD available to all BHMA members who wanted it for FREE. Mr. V was not afraid to put his knowledge out in the public. This was a timely and costly task. Who else that you know does this? All in the name of education. A lot of them already knew Mr. V for years and knew the knowledge that he held. Also Mr. V was given the rank early, so he refused it until he had the proper time in grade. Most would have just strapped the new rank on their waist. So Mr. V was a 4th Degree Black Belt in September of 2005 officially. This rank is backed up by the Diversified League of Martial Artists, Master Bill Dixon of the Tang Shou Society, GM Sonny Gascon of Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu of Hawaii, Jim Mahan of American Combat Arts Federation, International Black Belt Organization, and from Sensei Richard Williams.
2007: Grandmaster Brewer out of Texas heard of the BHMA and found out that Mr.V was in Massachusetts. He was curious about who Mr. V was so he sent a friend of his down to evaluate him. Upon his friends evaluation Mr. V was given an earned 5th Degree Black Belt, but once again he did not have the proper time in rank so he is holding on to the certificate until September of 2007. At that time Mr. V is an earned 5th Degree Black Belt in Kempo Jujitsu. All these were given to Mr. V for FREE, and no money was ever exchanged. Mr. V has decided to not accept rank higher than 5th Degree Black Belt as rank is not what is important. Knowledge is, but you need rank if you run a school. This is what the BHMA is all about. Mr. V now wears the official BHMA Black Belt. Black on one side and White on the other. Even though he is a black belt he realizes he will always be a student. It also represents total opposites coming together as one just like what the BHMA has accomplished. Enough said. Also Mr. V was given an Honorary 5th Degree Black Belt Rank by Steve Takamoto of Keibijitsu in Canada. He said if he had to pick people to stand next to him it would be Mr. V. Thanks for your kindness.
Through the BHMA many Grandmasters and Masters have come personally to teach or train at his dojo and seminars, and speak with Mr. V personally. Why have they all came to teach at this small school? Because they believe in what the BHMA stands for.
Some claim that lineage is important and knocks those who come up with their own systems, but not Mr. V as he values both traditional and non-traditional martial arts. Mr. V's own lineage goes back to Grandmaster Sonny Gascon who formulated Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu in 1958 after leaving Kajukenbo. So please educate yourself on that lineage. Mr. V is the only martial arts instructor who has been given permission to use the trademarked logo of Grandmaster Sonny Gascon the Sijo of Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu on his school patch. Mr. V also claims the lineage of Cain and Able. The first fight of mankind of whom which we all come from. I am humbled by the generosity of GM Gascon who gave so generously and asked for nothing in return, but to promote martial arts in a positive way. I am forever grateful.
