None of it -- the work, study, business, building and learning -- seems to slow down black belt Devin Kinneen.

Kinneen, who earned his first-degree black belt in Small Circle Jujitsu at the N.E.S.C.J.A. last fall, has been a Salem, N.H., police officer for 15 years. He was a patrolman in his hometown of Bedford, Mass., for two years before that.

Black belt Devin Kinneen says Small Circle Jujitsu aids him on the job.

In addition to his Small Circle ranking, Kinneen, 37, has black-belt certification in shotakon karate and kenpo karate.

He and his wife, Tracy, own and run Kinneen's Martial Arts Academy in Salem. "Devin is one of these guys who always wants to learn and is open to new things. He keeps the learning curve going and doesn't rest on his laurels," said Sensei Ed Melaugh.

"He's a talented martial artist who has been with me 5 or 6 years. Because he's such a joker, I didn't take him so seriously in the beginning. But he is serious. When he teaches for me, I can see that he really understands."

Semi-automatic

Kinneen, 5 foot 4, uses his Small Circle Jujitsu training much more than the Glock semi-automatic pistol on his belt.

"Probably three quarters of the stuff I've gotten from Ed [Melaugh], I've used on the job,” Kinneen said.

“I use Small Circle much more than karate. That's because you can't beat people, but you can control them."

Finger locks

He said he mostly uses finger locks and arm locks. "There's not a week goes by that I don't use it,” he said.

“If I have someone in handcuffs, say, I'll be guiding them as I'd do normally. And I'll have a finger lock in place,

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even if they don't know it. I don't apply pressure unless there's trouble."

Kinneen normally works his police shift, then, from 4 to 8 p.m. four nights each week, joins Tracy in teaching at their school. She is a second-degree black belt in kenpo karate.

Their daughter, Nicole, is 4 and in kindergarten. Son Justin, 10, is a fifth grader who has earned a junior black belt at his parents' school.

Judo, too

Kinneen has earned his yellow belt in judo at Olympian Jim Pedro's judo school in Andover. He trains there weekly.

And, as if they wanted to make sure there is enough to do, Devin and Tracy are building their own new home in Salem. They’re the general contractors.