| Hillcrest Academy of Martial Arts Instructors |
Master Sylvester Meola - 7th Degree Black Belt (1924-2005)
The late Master Sylvester Meola is the founder of Hillcrest.
Hillcrest Academy started in a room above the boxing ring at the
Alta House in Little Italy in 1976, and is now recognized as one of
the largest schools for Jujitsu in the Cleveland area. All told,
thousands of people (civilian, military, police) have been trained
by Hillcrest Academy instructors through the years. Master
Meola was promoted to master-level by Dr. Tetsuya Higuchi.
The late Master Sylvester Meola is the founder of Hillcrest.
Hillcrest Academy started in a room above the boxing ring at the
Alta House in Little Italy in 1976, and is now recognized as one of
the largest schools for Jujitsu in the Cleveland area. All told,
thousands of people (civilian, military, police) have been trained
by Hillcrest Academy instructors through the years. Master
Meola was promoted to master-level by Dr. Tetsuya Higuchi.
Master James Meola - 8th Degree Black Belt
Jim is the director of Hillcrest. He is also the founder of a system
of fighting called Combat JuJitsu. This system was created
especially for one of the US Army Special Forces (Green Beret)
training teams and taught personally by Jim and his select group
of instructors. Jim was the recipient of the Adjutant Generals
award for designing as well as teaching this program to the
special forces unit. The group of Hillcrest Academy instructors
who teach this system are called the M.A.L.E.T. team (Military
and Law Enforcement Team). Jim is an internationally recognized
master by the All Japan Jujitsu International Federation. Jim was
promoted to master-level by Dr. Tetsuya Higuchi..
Jim is the director of Hillcrest. He is also the founder of a system
of fighting called Combat JuJitsu. This system was created
especially for one of the US Army Special Forces (Green Beret)
training teams and taught personally by Jim and his select group
of instructors. Jim was the recipient of the Adjutant Generals
award for designing as well as teaching this program to the
special forces unit. The group of Hillcrest Academy instructors
who teach this system are called the M.A.L.E.T. team (Military
and Law Enforcement Team). Jim is an internationally recognized
master by the All Japan Jujitsu International Federation. Jim was
promoted to master-level by Dr. Tetsuya Higuchi..
| Master Bob Patete 5th Degree |
| Master James Longs 6th Degree |
| Master Dan Rozelman 5th Degree |
| Big Tony 4th Degree |
| Diane G. 4th Degree |
| Dennis Bova 4th Degree |
| Joe Stavec 2nd Degree, Emeritus |
| Chris T. 3rd Degree |
| Alan Steinberger 3rd Degree |
| David Zake 3rd Degree |
| Mike C. 3rd Degree |
Hillcrest Instructors - 250 years of experience!
In Memoriam: Victor Yafanero