Black Belts

Receiving a black belt at Suigetsu Dojo is both a privilege and an honor. These students trained steadily for an average of 7 years to reach the rank of Shodan (first degree black belt) or Jr. Shodan (15 years of age and younger). Once a student earns the rank of first degree black belt, he or she has obtained solid understanding of the basics. While many may see Black Belt as an end goal, we believe at Suigetsu Dojo it is the beginning of a deeper study of the art of Hakkoryu Jujutsu.

All black belts (Yudansha) at Suigetsu Dojo assist the staff in many ways from teaching classes to mentoring beginner students and provide encouragement and support for all students in our school. Many of our black belts have also obtained Instructor Certification at Suigetsu Dojo.

Joe Adornato, Sensei

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 Sandan in Hakkoryu Jujutsu in 2007.
 
Sensei Adornato has also been studying Iaido since 2003 and achieved the rank of Shodan in 2007.

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.

In addition to assisting with classes at Suigetsu Dojo, he gives seminars on self-defense at Long Island University and has been the instructor of the Half Hollow Hills Adult Education Self-defense Program since 1989.

Sensei Adornato lives in Hauppauge with his wife and daughter and is a professor at Long Island University where he has been teaching mathematics since 1979.

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.

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. She graduated in the top ten percent from Harborfields High School in 2002 and graduated from Haverford College in 2006, majoring in East Asian Studies. During her undergraduate studies, she travelled to Tokyo to study Japanese language and culture. After Haverford she entered an international affairs program in New York City, taking classes and doing a full time internship at the International Center for Tolerance Education. She now works for a private non-profit foundation as a grant manager. When she is home, you will always find her at the dojo assisting with classes and continuing her own training.

Erika Elgort, Sensei

Erika Elgort began her training in 1998 at the age of nine. She became the first person at Suigetsu Dojo to move through the children’s class into the adult class and test for adult black belt rank, which she received in August 2005. The dojo has always been a big part of Sensei Elgort’s life- she averages at least 4 days a week of training. She achieved the rank of nidan on 25 August 2008.

Sensei Elgort is a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation, Jujitsu America, and the National Women's Martial Arts Federation. She has attended many seminars and particularly enjoys attended Special Training camps sponsored by NWMAF.

Sensei Elgort graduated from Saint Anthony's High School and now attends college majoring in forensic psychology. She competes on her colleges swim team and dresses as the school mascot for the basket ball games. During the summer, she works as a beach lifeguard. Upon graduation, she wishes to pursue a career as a police officer.

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.

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.

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.

Rachael Grandal Friedman received her Jr. Shodan in January 2006 following 8 years of training at Suigetsu Dojo. She has attended many seminars and in 2004 attended Special Training in Boston sponsored by the National Women's Martial Arts Federation. She is an honor student and enjoys Studio Art, playing the guitar, lacrosse and snowboarding.

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. Sensei Hickey also trains in Aki Toho Iaido. He is a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation and Jujitsu America. He has attended numerous seminars including the HMAF Gasshuku in Denver and 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. He is currently working as a Software Engineer and has worked in the telecommunications and defense industries.

Judy Farabaugh, Sensei

Judy Farabaugh began her training in November, 2001 at the young age of 42.  Judy received her Shodan in May, 2008, the same weekend her son, Brian, received his Shodan.   Sensei Farabaugh also trains in Iaido.  She is a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation, Jujutsu America, and National Women Martial Arts Federation.
Judy is a New York State licensed CPA and holds a Masters in Business Administration.  She has had her own accounting practice since 1987.  She lives in Northport with her 3 children, 2 of whom also train at Suigetsu Dojo.

Brian Farabaugh, Sensei

Brian began his training in August, 2001, when he was 9 years old.  He received his Shodan in May, 2008.  He also loves his training in Iaido.  Brian is an honor student., and is a diploma candidate in Northport High School’s International Baccalaureate Program.  He plays the tenor and soprano saxophone, and loves art and music.

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.

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 and partner in the firm of Gallo Litrel, which he co-founded with Sensei Christopher Litrel.  

Jeanne Morris, Sensei

Jeanne Morris began her training in December 2001, and received her Shodan in January 2009. Sensei Morris also trains in Aiki Toho Iaido. She is a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation and Jujitsu America, and is a lifetime member of the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation and the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors. Sensei Morris frequently attends many seminars across the country, including: Suigetsu Dojo’s Camp Suigetsu, NWMAF’s Special Training, the Jujutsu America Annual Convention, and the Annual AWMAI "Teaching the Teacher" Conference.

Sensei Morris holds a BS in Management from Adelphi University, and currently works as the Chief Financial Officer of the Financial Medical Systems group of companies. She is also a veteran of the United States Navy.  

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.

Daniel Friedman, Sempai

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.

Alexandra Smith, Sempai

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

She is an honor roll student, a musician playing both flute and piano, and also enjoys participating in many sports.  

Wesley Banks, Sempai

Wesley began his martial arts training at Suigetsu Dojo when he was four years old. He received the rank of Jr. Shodan ten years later in September of 2008. The rank of Jr. Shodan has been an inspirational accomplishment and Wes sees the benefits as maturation and focus in all aspects of his training, athletics and education.

In addition to his passions for Jujutsu, music and fishing, Wes is an accomplished athlete. While balancing honors level academics he plays football, lacrosse, wrestles, and was granted the Old Field Middle School Three Sport Scholar-Athlete Award. Wesley has been on several NFL Youth Football championship teams including a national semi-final. Prior to entering High School he was invited to play with the Harborfields Varsity Travel Lacrosse Team.