January 25, 2010

By Deirdra Dostou

Push ups to kicks,  jumping jacks to jabs, finding balance to learning to fall, Thursday night at Andrea Muccini’s Ultimate Self Defense and Performance Center is a new kind of girls night

“It hurts” announces a young attendee mid warm-up drill. “You’ll get used to it” responds Muccini.  

Thursday nights Andrea Muccini can be found at the Ultimate Self Defense and Performance Center helping South Boston girls learn fundamental martial arts and self defense principles. For the past three years, girls ranging from elementary to middle school ages participate in 12-week classes that run over two semesters.

Initiated by the South Boston Neighborhood House, the program explains, “The aim was simple and Andrea Muccini, owner of Ultimate Self Defense and Performance Center in South Boston, eagerly offered her time and expertise, as well as deeply discounted training fees and uniforms.   The Neighborhood House then reached out to the Boys & Girls Club of South Boston and the Laboure Center to invite both agencies’ girls into this opportunity.”

“Here it’s not about competition. They [the girls] can just be themselves and work at their own pace”. explained  Jennifer Lydon, social worker at the South Boston Boys and Girls Club . “It’s fantastic. The girls love it. It opened up for a great community partnership. There’s a lot of boy programs but not a lot for girls. Not only is it strengthening them but it’s increasing their self esteem.

Joanna Garcia’s daughter Destiny is in her second session. “I love it. It’s good exercise for her, keeps her out of trouble and she gets self defense to protect herself.”

Muccini, who holds a full time job outside of her time at the center, explained she founded the Ultimate Self Defense and Performance Center when someone asked for her help. “A teenager came to me and asked me ‘Andrea, can you help me get my black belt.’ I was working upstairs as a physical trainer. I asked the building owner, ‘Do you think I could use the basement?” Muccini began renovating the lower level of the building located on West Broadway. “I didn’t know how to put a wall up. And now it’s 12 years later.” She continued, “Giving back to humanity is wonderful thing”.

The Ultimate Self Defense and Performance Center has since served as a resource for children and adults to learn and practice skills ranging from judo and karate to self defense and Brazilian jiu jitsu. According to the center’s mission, “We will help you acquire effective self-defense skills and provide you with a comprehensive, personal development program. It is our goal to raise the quality of life for all our students in every way possible.” Muccini has since received help from several trainers, including Sandra Abbott, Valentina Perez, and Maria Dhami, who all volunteer their time on Thursday evenings.

Sarah Ryan, Director of the Girls Group at the South Boston Neighborhood House explained changes in participants have been demonstrable from past semesters. “The benefit of finding commonality and respecting differences in one another was truly produced through weeks of coming together in the self-defense setting.  Every girl came with a “clean slate” each week and found encouragement and acceptance that began with staff and was eventually mirrored by even the ‘toughest’ of our young ladies. “

Muccini explained the center seems to have drawn in members on its own. “We’re just down here in the basement. People find us down here for a reason”. 

For more information on the Ultimate Self Defense and Performance Center visit

www.boston-martialarts.com or call (617) 268-9893.