Where the Gridiron Meets Martial Arts

Petrus Melo, a local Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor who recently opened up a school in Medford, has been working with the Mustang football team for the past several months. Melo, a.k.a. “Master Buffalo” because of his considerable size, has provided free classes every week since mid-March to the players in an effort to help them develop better balance, stamina and technique.

“He has been an invaluable asset to the program this off-season providing our kids with a bit of differentiated workouts that the kids have enjoyed,” said Head Coach Rico Dello Iacono.

In addition to the weekly workouts, Master Buffalo has opened up his gym on Mystic Avenue to the players free of charge for those who want to continue to study the martial arts.

“Master Buffalo has given many of our kids confidence and a break from the traditional off-season conditioning program. His work has been a valuable tool for the kids to learn how to use leverage and to build stamina in their training,” said Coach Rico. “It has been a pleasure to have Master Buffalo and some of his students come in and teach our guys. Master Buffalo is a teacher and gentleman and has provided my players with the invaluable tools that are needed to help us be a competitive program.”

The football team recently presented Master Buffalo with a football signed by each player to thank him for all of his work with the team.

Melo’s school, Wild Buffalo Team, is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Tai training academy located on Mystic Avenue in Medford. Headed by Master Buffalo, who has a second degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and who has trained in the sport for over twenty years, the academy provides training for men, women and children from ages four and up.

– Information from Coach Rico and www.medfordpublicschools.org