Jeanne Camarda of Bedford uses her artistic talents in two very different arts.
She is both a stained-glass artist and a black belt in Small Circle Jujitsu and Shotokan Karate.
"They're both such ancient arts," Camarda said.
They both take discipline and care and both have great rewards, she said. Camarda earned her black belt at the New England Small Circle Jujitsu Academy in late 1999. She's also the mother of twin teen-age boys. She studied Shotokan karate for a year before her sons were born. She resumed her study when they were in kindergarten and earned that black belt after four years.
Camarda said it was a wonderful thing to learn. But it was even better when she found Small Circle Jujitsu.
Camarda wanted to be able to protect herself. She said Small Circle is oriented more toward street defense and is more practical for someone smaller, because strength and size are not as important.
She said that in Small Circle, people use leverage and pressure points and concentrate their whole mass on one part of an opponent's body.
"Jujitsu is such a wonderful martial art because it give you such confidence."
Camarda started Small Circle Jujitsu training almost six years ago. It varies from person to person, but generally takes a person five years if they train consistently, she said.
She said she's always been interested in stained glass and had her own business. Now Camarda works in South Boston at the renowned Lyn Hovey Studio on new and restoration projects.
Camarda gets to see 100-year-old stained glass and fix it to last another 100 years, she said. "I find that very gratifying."
Thanks to the Bedford Minuteman
Jeanne Camarda 
With Rick Alford [a March, 2001, black belt], Camarda owns Eastern Small Circle Jujitsu Academy in Wakefield, a studio started by people from the New England Small Circle Jujitsu Academy. The studio teaches martial arts to children and adults.
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