A legacy of jitsu: Street, Art, Sport

Vee-jitsu. Sanuces Ryu. Kumite Ryu.

Visitacion. Powell. Davis. The core founders of the schools that make up VSK.

CT School of Survival is all about what works in the street, and we’re also all about maintaining the art in martial arts. The training has to be true to the original, and it also has to move with the movers. And we can win some trophies, too.

We celebrate the branches of this tree in our annual summer seminar. Get a taste below.

Dr. Moses Powell & Sanuces Ryu

Dr. Moses Powell, a 10th degree black belt and one of the true legends of the martial arts world, was born on January 13, 1941 in Norfolk, Virginia.
He is the founder of Sanuces Ryu, a fighting style that combines his over 45 years of experience in various martial arts. He is a member of both the Black Belt Hall of Fame and the World Karate Hall of Fame. Dr. Powell was the first martial artist invited to demonstrate martial arts at the United Nations and a featured martial arts demonstrator at the New York World's Fair in 1965. The following year in 1966, he was the first martial artist to receive The African Benign Arts Award. Between 1967 and 1968, Dr. Powell pioneered his craft by traveling overseas to the Caribbean. There, he introduced Sanuces Ryu Jiu Jitsu to the island of Jamaica and Trinidad and to Bermuda in the early 1970's. He was inducted into the International African Arts Festival's "Living Legend" Award, and he was also one of the first African-American martial artists to teach the fighting arts to U.S. law enforcement agencies including the Secret Service and FBI. In addition to these great accomplishments, the Benin Empire of West Africa awarded him the international Benin Award in 1972 for his community work and efforts throughout the world.Dr. Powell was deeply committed to sharing his knowledge and principles with all. He helped ex-offenders by teaching them self-respect, self-control and honesty through the martial arts. Dr. Powell was featured in "Masters of the Martial Arts", "Warrior Within" and other films. His Sanuces Ryu system is unparalleled in its combat effectiveness and brute simplicity.

In January of 2003, Dr. Powell said, "I have been called the Pioneer, the Missionary, and the Lumberjack of Martial Arts. When I think about it, I'd like to be remembered as the man I am...Moses Powell. It's not about making yourself anything; but it is about earning your rewards as you go along. Remember, there is no such think as a book master, you have to fight in the trenches or on the mat...I want young people to realize that there is a history to look up to, and a path of greatness to follow and further pave."...Sanuces Ryu teaches the "Art": the movement of an intelligent mind, controlling a disciplined body in a display of speed, form, technique, power and gracefulness…” -- - Moses Powell

Doctor Moses Powell departed on January 22, 2005.

Soke Lil John Davis & Kumite Ryu

Kumite Ryu Jujitsu literally means “Sparring Style,” is more often called “the school of Survival”. It is a style of jujitsu characterized by fierce fighting, grappling and self-defense. The Kumite Ryu Jujitsu School of Survival was founded in Harlem, NYC, by Soke Lil John Davis.

Soke Lil John Davis is the founder of Kumite Ryu Jujitsu, in which he is a 10th Dan. He is also a 10th Dan in Sanuces Ryu, which he studied directly under Moses Powell. He also has extensive experience in Judo, Aikido, Karate, and Arnis. Soke has over 40 years of martial arts training and is a member of the Martial arts Hall of Fame. He is one of the most feared competitors on the east coast. Soke is a Technical Advisor and member of the Board of Directors of the World Martial Arts Center. Soke has been an outstanding technician and is the creator of unsurpassed martial arts training of tactical techniques. He is on the cutting edge of realistic and applicable-tested and proven-self-defense skills. Though hard work and dedication, Soke has more than proven his commitment to providing superior martial arts training and has dedicated much of his life to teaching anyone who is willing to learn.

Kumite Ryu Jujitsu is a descended from the eclectic jujitsu lineage of Vee Jitsu and Sanucus Ryu Jujitsu. It contains the "Te" forms and broad range of integrated techniques found in Vee Jitsu, as well as the simplicity and survival mentality of Sanuces Ryu. Hence the combative trilogy of this style is known as VSK.

Kumite Ryu Jujitsu makes use of both "hard" and "soft" techniques. Its movements flow smoothly, combining power, simplicity, and grace. The system is characterized by its practical applicability to the street through a systematic approach to blocks, strikes, holds, grapples, locks, throws, falls, and kicks, and by its "follow-through" style.

Professor Vee

Florendo M. Visitaction- better known as "Professor Vee"—was born in the Philippines in 1910. He began training in Arnis (Filipino stick fighting) at age ten and continued to practice Filipino martial arts throughout his life. He joined the U.S. Army during World War II and became intrigued by the officers' hand to hand combat course, which represented a combination of styles from different countries. The idea of integrating techniques from a variety of martial arts appealed greatly to him.

In 1955, after devoting many years to the study of different fighting styles, he founded Vee Jitsu. In 1966, the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation awarded Vee the title of "Professor" and made him a 10th Dan in his own art.

Grandmaster Florendo Visitacion departed on January 4, 1999.

Grandmaster George Logan

George Logan began training in 1967 at Tremont School of Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in the Bronx. In 1972 he was part of the U.S. Olympic Judo team, and in 1973 won a New England Grand Karate Championship.  In 1969, he began studying with Moses Powell and dedicated himself to Dr. Powell’s Sanuces Ryu jiu-jitsu system and its companion Kumite Ryu system, developed by Soke “Li’l John” Davis. Making his home in Connecticut, Mr. Logan earned multiple state and region championships in judo -- the CT light title four times and the New England light title five -- building to a U.S. Jiu Jitsu Champion title in 1995 and his first World Jiu Jitsu Champion title in 1996. Since then, he has won World Jiu Jitsu Champion titles three times, and consistently won CT's  "Nutmeg State" National Championship in Jiu Jitsu/Self Defense from 2009-2014. 

Mr. Logan played several character roles in movies produced by Warrington Hudlin, most notably in House Party and Boomerang. Recently earning his 10th-Degree Black Belt in Soke Davis' Kumite Ryu system, he is a certified grandmaster in both Sanuces and Kumite Ryu systems of jiu jitsu. He founded his New Haven dojo, CT School of Survival, in 1977. GM Logan continues to teach a new generation of students the principles of this wide-ranging style. Students begin with a karate and judo base, and as they mature GM Logan introduces the principles and forms of Sanuces and Kumite Ryu. His diligent categorization of combinations created by Dr. Powell, Soke Davis and himself have served to keep Sanuces and Kumite true to their sources. CT School of Survival teaches in school, government and Yale University programs as well as private lessons, and GM Logan personally works his own hands-on, “Each One Teach One” approach so the techniques remain pure. As Senior Adviser and First Regional Director in the Family of Sanuces, GM Logan looks forward to bringing Dr. Powell’s mantra to a new generation: “Keep it simple, but keep it real.”

4 time Lightweight New England Judo Championship
• 3 time Connecticut Judo Championship
• 2 time Northeast Championship
• 1972 U.S Olympics Judo Competitor
• 1973 New England Karate Champion
• 1995 and 1996 U.S Jiu-Jitsu Champion
• 1996 World Jiu-Jitsu Champion
• 1996 Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2002 New York State Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2009 Nutmeg ChampionshipThe Following Accomplishment as a Jiu-Jitsu Instructor
• 1971 – 1976 Yale University Afro House
• 1982 – 1998 YMCA
• 1988 – 1991 Yale University
• 1991 – 1999 International School of Martial Arts
• 1999 – 2000 Q House
• 2000 – 2009 St. Pauls Church
• 2002 – 2003 Hill Corporation Center
• 2003 – 2005 Yale University/Nurses Program
• 2003 – 2004 Center For Youth/Sanchez
• 2004 Hartford Youth Camp• 2004 Southern CT University
• 2004 – 2005 Roberto Clemente Middle School
• 2005 – 2007 Girl Scouts
• 2005 – 2009 Salvation Army
• 2005 – Present Casella Program
• 2005 – 2009 Department of Health & Human Services- Youth Service Division
• 2007 – 2009 Pond House Center Day Camp
• 2007 – 2009 Kevin Anderson Center Day Camp
• 2007 – 2009 Kinsela Middle School
• 2007 – 2009 John Martinez school
• 2007 – 2009 Ross/Woodward school
• 2007 – 2009 Clinton Avenue School

Chief Professor Greg McCall

Greg McCall, born in Hartford, CT, has over 40 years of martial arts training and experience. In 1973, he received his Black Belt under Grand-Master Dr. Moses Powell in Sanuces Ryu Jiu-Jitsu, and he earned his 8th-degree Black Belt in 2004. Presently, he is a teaching partner with GM George Logan at the CT School of Survival, teaching students of every age and rank, from Shotokan fundamentals and Sanuces forms to street-tested defense combinations. 

For many years, Professor McCall actively developed training programs for youth in and around the Hartford community, while also implementing the dozens of after-school and summer programs associated with the CT School of Survival. CT School of Survival teaches in school, government and Yale University programs, and Professor McCall personally works his own hands-on, “Each One Teach One” approach so the techniques remain pure.

Prof. McCall has won awards and respect at many tournaments and seminars, and is a recognized authority on Dr. Powell's unique PIA forms. He states that his "greatest joy is to reach out to young people with the true values of the martial arts....It's not just the sport, but the inner peace and sense of discipline that it brings--that's most important!"  He resides in CT, where he continues to teach and guide youth in the community. 

As a Jiu-Jitsu Instructor, Prof. McCall has worked with these institutions in addition to his private practice:
• 1999 – 2000 Q House
• 2000 – 2009 St. Pauls Church
• 2002 – 2003 Hill Corporation Center
• 2003 – 2005 Yale University/Nurses Program
• 2003 – 2004 Center For Youth/Sanchez
• 2004 Hartford Youth Camp• 2004 Southern CT University
• 2004 – 2005 Roberto Clemente Middle School
• 2005 – 2007 Girl Scouts
• 2005 – 2009 Salvation Army
• 2005 – Present Casella Program
• 2005 – 2009 Department of Health & Human Services- Youth Service Division
• 2007 – 2009 Pond House Center Day Camp
• 2007 – 2009 Kevin Anderson Center Day Camp
• 2007 – 2009 Kinsela Middle School
• 2007 – 2009 John Martinez school
• 2007 – 2009 Ross/Woodward school
• 2007 – 2009 Clinton Avenue School