Joe Adornato began his martial arts training in 1973 studying Isshinryu Karate for 3 years.   In 1976, he began his study of Jujutsu and achieved the rank of Shodan in 1988 and Nidan in 1994.
Since 2002, Sensei Adornato has been studying at Suigetsu Dojo and achieved the rank of Yondan in Hakkoryu Jujutsu in 2010.
Sensei Adornato has also been studying Iaido since 2003 and achieved the rank of Shodan in 2007.
In addition to teaching classes at Suigetsu Dojo,  Sensei Adornato gives seminars on self-defense at Long Island University and has been the instructor of the Half Hollow Hills Adult Education Self-defense Program.
He has attended numerous martial arts seminars and conferences, which has given him the opportunity to meet and train with many prominent martial artists.  Sensei Adornato is a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation and Jujitsu America.
Sensei Adornato is a professor at Long Island University where he has been teaching mathematics since 1979.

Nick Wuertz started his training at the age of 15. He received his Shodan rank and Instructor Certification in August 2002. He was promoted to the rank of Yondan in 2010. Sensei Wuertz is a member of the Suigetsu Dojo staff and teaches several classes for both children and adults. Sensei Wuertz's second love is the sword. He has trained in Iaido since 1998 and holds the rank of Nidan in Soshio Ryu.

Sensei Wuertz has lived in the Greenlawn area his entire life. He attended Elwood-John Glenn High School and graduated from SUNY Farmingdale with a BA in Manufacturing Engineering in 2004. He is employed as an aerospace Quality Assurance Engineer at ITT Exelis. As a hobby Sensei Wuertz has also flown over forty hours in R-22 Robinson helicopters.

Kira Lom, Sensei

Kira Lom began her martial arts training as a young teenager in 1997. She received her Shodan on August 21, 2004 and her Nidan on December 15th, 2007. In 2009 she received her certification in Koho Igaku Shiatsu massage. She was selected to teach at the National Women's Martial Arts Federation's Special Training Conference in 2006 and 2010.
She graduated from Haverford College in 2006, majoring in East Asian Studies with a concentration in Japanese Language. During her undergraduate studies, she travelled to Tokyo to study comparative culture at Sophia University. After Haverford she entered an international affairs work-study program at Bard College, through which she was hired at a non-profit foundation in New York City. She now works for a staffing agency on Long Island, volunteers for Mentoring Partnership of Long Island and plays beach volleyball with the Long Island Volleyball Association.
Currently she teaches adults, coordinates the Teen Class and runs children's birthday parties at Suigetsu Dojo. Sensei Lom is proud to be a resource for Japanese language and culture questions in her school.
Sandan: 18 Dec 2011

After watching his daughter train for 2 years, Gary Elgort joined the dojo in 2000. He received his Shodan on Fathers Day weekend, June 16th, 2006 and his Nidan on December 15th, 2007. Sensei Elgort also studies T'ai Chi Ch'uan and is participating in the Teacher Training program. He completed the basic course of Koho Igaku Shiatsu in 2006 and is a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation and Jujitsu America. He has attended numerous seminars including Gasshukus in Denver and the annual Jujitsu America conferences.
Away from the dojo, Sensei Elgort is the Senior Field and Design Engineer for the Steam Distribution System of the Consolidated Edison Company of New York. He loves hiking, biking, rollerblading and any chance to get out to water ski, jet ski, sail, and canoe on the pond by his home in Fort Salonga.
Sandan: 18 Dec 2011

Sandra Smith began her martial arts training studying Kajukenbo under Professor Gerald Chavez in Albuquerque, NM for 2-3 years.  She began training in Jujutsu in July 2000, transferring to Suigetsu in February 2005.  Sensei Smith received the rank of Shodan in April 2007. 
Sensei Smith is a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation, Jujitsu America, National Women's Martial Arts Federation and Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors.  She has enjoyed participating in various events for NWMAF and AWMAI.
Sensei Smith lives in Northport with her husband, three children, her dog and cat.  A certified hypnotherapist by training, Sandra Smith currently consults on end stage illness transitions as well as grief and bereavement issues.
Sandan: 18 Dec 2011

Christopher Litrel begain training in August 2000 after watching his son, Alec, train for a few months at Suigetsu Dojo. Chris received his Shodan in August 2006 - just one day before Alec achieved the rank of Junior Shodan. He is enrolled in the teacher's training program and loves working with children. Chris is admitted to the practice of law in New York, Georgia and before the United States Supreme Court.

Sydney Luethi started training at the age of 5 in 1997. She tested was promoted to Jr. Shodan on December 4, 2005, almost exactly 8 years to the day after beginning her training. She received her adult Shodan rank June 13, 2008.

Sempai Luethi enjoys her training and especially appreciates that you don't have to be bigger than your opponent in order for the techniques to work.

Daniel began training in 1998 earning the rank of Jr. Shodan March 9th 2007, adult Shodan June 13th, 2008 and on August 28th, 2009 achieved the rank of Nidan. Daniel believes that his study at Suigetsu has helped him develop greater patience and the importance of focusing effort to reach ones goals.

Ethan Bernardone, Sensei

Ethan began training in 1998 earning the rank of Jr. Shodan March 9th 2007, adult Shodan June 13th, 2008 and on August 28th, 2009 achieved the rank of Nidan. Ethan feels his study at Suigetsu has helped to give him the focus and discipline to maintain his active schedule and plans to study martial arts for life.

Sensei Hickey began training in Hakkoryu JuJutsu at Suigetsu Dojo in January 2000. He received the rank of Shodan in October 2007 and was promoted to the rank of Nidan on 18 December 2011. Sensei Hickey also trains in Aki Toho Iaido and was promoted to the rank of Shodan in September 2009. He is a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation and Jujitsu America. He has attended numerous seminars including the HMAF Gasshuku both in Denver and at Suigetsu Dojo also the annual Jujitsu America conferences.

Sensei Hickey is a U. S. Navy veteran and a former licensed deck officer in the U. S. Merchant Marine. He returned to college in his thirties and earned a B. S. in Computer Science at L.I.U/C. W. Post. He is currently working as a Software Engineer and has worked in the telecommunications and defense industries.
Nidan: 18 Dec 2011

Anthony Gallo, Sensei

Anthony Gallo, a former Brooklyn-based amateur ranked boxer, turned to training in JuJutsu instead in November of 2001. Drawn to the versatility and effectiveness of Hakkoryu, he was awarded his Shodan in December of 2008, after years of steady training. Sensei Gallo is an accomplished attorney practicing in the areas of entertainment, bankruptcy and civil litigation.
Nidan: 18 Dec 2011

Suzanne Johnson, Sensei

Suzanne Johnson began her martial arts training in 2004.  She received her Shodan rank in American Kobe Jiu Jitsu in 2008.  Soon after, Sensei Johnson began training at Suigetsu Dojo and joined the instructor training program.  She received her Shodan rank and teacher certification at Suigetsu Dojo in February 2010.

Sensei Johnson is a member of the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation and of the Hokkoryu Martial Arts Federation.  She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Ithaca College and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from Stony Brook University.  Sensei Johnson lives in Oakdale with her family (who all train at Suigetsu Dojo) and is a Professor of Psychology at Dowling College where she has been teaching since 1988.
Nidan: 18 Dec 2011

Ken Meyer, Sensei

Ken Meyer began training in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate in 1976. In 1982 he earned his sho-dan black belt. Ken continued training and went on to achieve the rank of Yon-don in 1992. He started his study of Jujutsu in 2005 at the Suigetsu Dojo and earned a sho-dan there in 2010.

Ken runs an internet health supplement business in Farmingdale and lives in Cold Spring Harbor NY with his wife and two children.
Nidan: 18 Dec 2011

Alec Litrel began training when he turned 6 years old. He received his Junior Shodan in August, 2006 a few months after his 12th birthday. He loves training with a sword and is an Iaido student at Suigetsu Dojo. Outside the dojo Alec enjoys violin, guitar, chess and lacrosse.
Nidan: 18 Dec 2011

David Roberts began his martial arts training at Suigetsu Dojo in 2004. He received his rank in Shodan February 2012. David's love for martial training began with high school collegiate wrestling. In 1994 David ranked number one in New York City, 132lb Weight class. He is participating in the teacher training program and is learning the best methods of how to share the knowledge of martial arts to future generations.

David's Son Savien Roberts is also training in the martial arts at Suigetsu Dojo as well as grade school collegiate wrestling.

David has a Bachelor's in Manufacturing/Electrical Engineering and has been working in his field since 1999. In his free time he enjoys spending time with family & friends, participating in sporting activities and playing the guitar.

David Hendler started training in the dojo at age nine in 2003. He tested for his junior shodan on June 11, 2010. David is also training in Aiki Toho Iaido, which he has been enjoying since May 2007.

Outside of the dojo, he plays the tuba and didgeridoo, and loves backpacking and climbing.
Jr Nidan: 18 Dec 2011

Robert Hendler began training at the age of 7 in 2003 and reached Jr. shodan on June 12, 2010, at the age of 14. He has also been part of the teacher training program in 2010 with his brother, David, and wishes to someday teach his own class at Suigetsu Dojo.

A student at Harborfields High School, Robert plays the trumpet and reads in his spare time. He is also an amateur magician.
Jr Nidan: 18 Dec 2011

Daniel Friedman, Sensei

Daniel Friedman began his martial arts training at the age of seven. He received his Jr. Shodan in September 2007, a month before his 14th birthday. He also enjoys training in Iaido and has been an Iaido student since 2004. Daniel is a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation.

Daniel is an honor student attending Half Hallow Hills High School East. He is a member of the debate team and plays the tenor saxophone in the high school marching band. Additionally, he has received an outstanding rating on piano by the New York State Music Association. Daniel also enjoys competitive swimming and playing golf.

Jennelle Reilly, Sensei

Jennelle Reilly started training on May 8, 1998 at the age of 16, after much encouragement from her good friend Sensei Matt Groveman. Although being away from the dojo during college made training difficult, she would come back to train when home on break. She received her Shodan on July 12, 2008.Sensei Reilly has also been training in Aiki Toho Iaido since September of 2005. A member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation and Jujitsu America, Sensei Reilly is also a life time member of the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation as well as a life time member of the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors. Sensei Reilly has attended many seminars across the country, such as: Suigetsu Dojo’s Camp Suigetsu, NWMAF’s Special Training, the Jujutsu America Annual Convention, and the Annual AWMAI “Teaching the Teacher” Conference.

Sensei Reilly graduated from Siena College in May of 2003 with a BA in English. She received her MA in English Literature from Hofstra University in May of 2005 and her MSED in English Education from Hofstra University in December of 2006. Sensei Reilly is currently working as a substitute teacher and tutoring while pursuing a job as a tenure track teacher of English Language Arts grades 7-12.

John Penrose began his training after watching his oldest son, Sempai Sean Penrose, test for his Yellow Belt in March, 2003.  John has been training steadily ever since, and was promoted to Shodan in April 2010, the same weekend as Sempai Sean Penrose's promotion to Jr. Shodan.  Sensei Penrose's other two sons also train at Suigetsu Dojo.  John is a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation, and studies Aki Toho Iaido along with his sons Sean, Ryan and Kevin.  Sensei Penrose attends every seminar he can, the New York Gasshukus, and Camp Suigetsu.

Sensei Penrose has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Computer Science.   After many years as a Software Engineer and independent consultant, Sensei Penrose is currently Director of Engineering and Project Delivery for a Fortune 500 company.

Sensei Penrose lives in Northport with his wife and three sons.

Sensei Mechlowitz began training in ju jutsu in March 1999 and received her shodan in American Kobe Jui Jitsu in Oct 2003 and nidan in March 2005. In 2008 she began training at Suigetsu Dojo and received her shodan in July 2011.

She is a member of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation. In her free time she enjoys running and working out.

Gary G. Maher began training in Hakkoryu Jujutsu in November 2003. He received the rank of Shodan in August of 2011. Early in his training, Gary joined the Teacher Training Program and has been assisting and teaching the children's class for years. Along with his Shodan Promotion, he received his Suigetsu Dojo Teacher Certification.

Sensei Maher is a graduate of SUNY – Oswego '86 with a BA in Communications, and minor in Education. He received Paralegal Certification from Adelphi University in 1995. Currently, Sensei Maher is employed with for the Law firm of Tromello, McDonnell & Kehoe, (in-house counsel at CNA Insurance), doing insurance defense work. In his spare time, Sensei Maher is a member of the Board of Directors of Sigma Tau Chi Alumni Association and the Oswego State Alumni Committee. Sensei Maher and his wife Elizabeth live in Holbrook, New York.

Sensei Amy Waldhauer began training in May 2003 and transferred to Suigetsu in October 2005. She tested for Shodan on October 14, 2011, one day before her son tested for Junior Shodan. Sensei Waldhauer is a lifetime member of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation, having served as Registrar for the NWMAF Special Training conference, and she is a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation. She also trains in Aiki Toho Iaido at Suigetsu Dojo.

Sensei Waldhauer is a consulting actuary in private practice. A Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of American Academy of Actuaries, she currently serves on several educational committees of the Society.

Alexandra Smith, Sempai

Alexandra Smith started training at 5 years of age in 2001 and tested for her junior shodan on August 2, 2008 andhas also been studying Tai Chi since the summer of 2007. She is a member of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation and regularly attends Special Training.

An honor roll student and avid musician, Alexandra enjoys playing flute in her school band and Long Island's Gemini Youth Orchestra. She also sings, plays rhythm guitar and keyboard for a small local band. In her spare time she enjoys composing music, as well as reading and writing.

Hannah Kaufman, Sempai

Hannah began training at Suigetsu Dojo in 2001, when she was six. On March 7th, 2010 Hannah tested for her Jr. Shodan in Hakkoryu Jujutsu, and she continues to train in the martial arts.
Outside of the dojo, Hannah is an honors student at Harborfields High School. She enjoys playing the violin in her school orchestra and participates as a member of the volleyball team.

Marc Sapienza began his training at the age of four. He received his Jr Shodan on April 3, 2010. Sempai Sapienza enjoys assisting with the children's classes and hopes to some day become an instructor at the dojo with his own class.

Marc enjoys paying baseball and soccer. He attends St Anthony's High School.

Sean Penrose began his training in November 2002, and was promoted to Jr. Shodan the same weekend as his father, Sensei John Penrose, in April 2010. Sempai Penrose is an enthusiastic martial artist, and assists with the children's classes whenever he can. Sempai Penrose also trains in Aki Toho Iaido with his father and brothers.

Sean is an accomplished swimmer, swimming almost every day each week on a local team, and was recently named to the Junior National Honor Society. Sean plays piano, alto saxophone and bassoon, and has achieved an Outstanding NYSSMA rating in all three instruments. Sean plays in his school's band and jazz band, and plays keyboard in a local classic rock band.

Sempai Penrose lives in Northport with his parents and two brothers.

Charlotte Kaufman began training at Suigetsu Dojo in 2001, when she was four. On March 30th 2011, she tested for her Jr. Shodan, and continues to train in the martial arts with her sister Hannah.

Charlotte is a track runner, field hockey player, and honor roll student at Harborfields High School. She also plays the viola and enjoys reading in her spare time.

Derek Smith started training at age 5 in July 2003. He tested for his junior shodan on August 6, 2011.

Derek is an honor roll student at Harborfields High School where he participates on the cross country, winter track and spring track teams and plays trumpet in the school band. Derek also enjoys playing guitar.

Fred Tangerman began training at age 7 in September 2001 and tested for his Jr. Black Belt on October 15, 2011, one day after his mother tested for her Black Belt. He has trained in Aiki Toho Iaido since 2007.

Sempai Tangerman is a member of the National Art Honor Society, is a member of the editorial staff of his high school's art and literature magazine, and is an International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidate. He likes to read and draw in his spare time, and plans to study molecular biology in college.