(PCM+) BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Combat Syndicate: Here to Help

Story by Chelsea McConnell / Staff Writer

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Sam Lionelli has always been passionate about helping people. That passion is evident in the way he runs his business, Combat Syndicate. At its core, Combat Syndicate is a martial arts and weightlifting facility. However, the training taking place on the mat has deeper implications than the physical capabilities being taught.

Jiu-Jitsu is defined as “an art of weaponless fighting employing holds, throws and paralyzing blows to subdue or disable an opponent.” Its literal translation is “gentle art.” Lionelli became interested in Jiu-Jitsu in 2019, when he heard about local black belt James Morgan. Lionelli was adamant that Morgan train him in this art, even though Morgan wasn’t training anyone at the time. Eventually, due to Lionelli’s persistence, Morgan acquiesced and began training him. With Lionelli’s enthusiasm for the art, others began to join in on their training sessions.