head instructors (dojo cho) and co-owners

Dara Masi began her study of the martial arts in 1986 and is a direct student of Dennis Palumbo, Menkyo Kaiden Shihan San Dai Kichu in Hakkoryu Jujutsu. Both Shihan Masi and Suigetsu Dojo are members of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation. Shihan Masi is proud to be an instructor of Hakkoryu Jujutsu, learning and passing on the true techniques of this art. She received the rank of Menkyo Kaiden Shihan San Dai Kichu in Hakkoryu Jujutsu (equivalent to 8th degree black belt) in 2008 from Dai Sensei Palumbo. Shortly after that he passed to her the mantle of responsibility of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation naming Shihan Masi as Director. The HMAF is an organization dedicated to furthering the study of Hakkoryu Jujutsu and passing its teachings throughout the world.

Shihan Masi is a student and instructor of Iaido. She is ranked at Nidan in both Aiki Toho Iaido founded by Shoji Nishio, Shihan and Soshoryu Heihodo Iaido, founded by Masakazu Tazaki. She currently trains in Aiki Toho Iaido as a student of Joji Yoshida, Shihan and Michele Benzamin-Miki, Sensei. Shihan Masi is one of very few martial arts instructors training and ranking children in the art of Iaido.

Shihan Masi is a life member of and instructor in Jujitsu America. She along with the members of Suigetsu Dojo hosted the Jujitsu America 2002 Convention. She has taught Jujutsu seminars throughout the United States for schools and large organizations. She served on the Board of Directors of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation for four years as its Treasurer and served a six year term as President of the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors, which she co-founded in 1998.

Melanie Fine began her study of the martial arts as a graduate student in 1976. She studied Tae Kwon Do for 2 years, then began an 18 year study of Tang Soo Do under Master Maynard Stanley in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received her Shodan in 1982, Nidan in 1985, and Sandan in 1991. She was Head Instructor of Karate Temple in Columbus, Ohio, for 7 years during that period. Upon moving to Corpus Christi, Texas, she continued teaching Tang Soo Do, and began studying Aikido and Arnis.

In 1994, she met Shihan Dara Masi, became her student in Jujutsu. The following year she moved to New York and joined Shihan Masi at Suigetsu Dojo. She received the rank and title of Shihan (5th degree black belt) in 2007. In addition to Jujutsu, she studies T'ai Chi Ch'uan with Master Wasentha Young.

Shihan Fine is a lifetime member of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation, the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors, and JuJitsu America.She has actively supported the women's martial arts community for more than 25 years, serving on the Board of the NWMAF for 7 years - 2 years as Chair and 5 years as Treasurer, and serving as its Archivist for many years as well. Currently, she serves on the Web Committee, helping to administer the organization's website. Shihan Fine was a Board member of the AWMAI during 2004 and has actively assisted that organization since its inception.