Hi my Name is Hector Arvelo and this is just a little Background.
I started my training in PFS in 1995 under Sifu Joe Maffei
a Full Instructor under Sifu Paul Vunak. Before 1995 I trained with Vic Phonsisang in Thai-Boxing (1985-87) He was Vietnamese
and did not know English very well so the majority of the time we just sparred and conditioned our bodies (elbows,shins,fists).
Sparring was done on a daily basis with minimal equipment most of the time just boxing gloves 14oz.
From their
I enlisted in the Army. Mostly because I was headed for real trouble for fighting and being wild.(Jail) So I enlisted at 17,
delayed entry program. I had to graduate from H.S. than I was shipped out to Basic Training. My MOS was 19 Delta Cav. Scout.
stationed out of Germany From 88-91. Long story short allot of drinking and fighting.The Military showed me allot of
good things and allot of bad things. I was Honorably Discharged in 1991. As a kid I always wanted to learn Bruce Lee's
JKD, but no-one in my area taught authentic Jkd so I boxed for a while out of the Uptown Gym in Southbridge Mass. Under Al
Robidoa and Dave Digregorio. In 1995 I found a JKD training center in Waltham Mass. as stated above.(Joe Maffei). I was
also looking into a Law Enforcement Career. I was hired by the Hampden County Sheriff's Dept.(1995) I continued to study
with Joe off and on until '99'. My career with the Dept. started to take off, mostly because of my actions during
some major gang altercations within a Correctional Facility. I was sent to the State Defensive Tactic's Instructor School.
From their I became a FireArms Instructor,Baton,Cell-Extraction,Restraints Instructor. Thru the dept. I learned how to teach
in a Tactical and non-tactical setting, I was teaching to Officer's and to civilians, I than was promoted
to Corporal and became the 4/12 shift Trainer for Special Operations (I trained and led officer's to respond
to and control all Major Incidents and Disturbances) I was their for 4 Years, I was than promoted to the rank
of Sergeant.
I also had an opportunity to teach a Edge Weapon's class for the Dept.'s Tactical Response
Team (TRT). Which due to it's success I was asked to teach the Tactical Team a mandatory block of instruction on our Rapid
Assault Tactics program, and also to the Regional Tactical Academy of the Mass. Sheriff's Association.
I still
Instruct for the Dept. and the Mass. Sheriff's Association also for Homeland Security (Weapon's Of Mass. Destruction
Awareness). I'am also a member of the Dept.'s Gang Unit, Apprehension Team and Criminal Investigation Unit. During
all this I continued my training with Sifu Paul Vunak and the following Instructor's:
Guro Dan Inosanto
Sifu Joe Maffei (IMDTC)
Eric Paulson (C.S.W.)
Tom Cruse (PFS Senior Trainer)
Sensei Randy Haskins (Underground
Allaince)
Marco Alvan (Links BJJ Team)
I would like to Thank All of the mentioned Instructor's. They are
by far world class Instructor's and more Importantly World Class People.
I Especially Thank my Sifu Paul Vunak
President of PFS.