Steve M. Zalazowski, Sr., Sensei
Ni-Dai Soke (2nd Generation Headmaster) & Senior Teacher, PJMS
Hachidan & Sensei, YDMA
Steve Zalazowski Sr. studied formally with Hanshi Everett Rodriguez from December 1998 until Hanshi retired in December 2015. During his time studying with Hanshi Rodriguez, Steve held several formal positions for the organization including: Webmaster, Keeper of the Archives, Graphic Artist, and Videographer. He was also the last Uchi-Deshi Hanshi would train, holding that position from 2000-2005.
Steve is the highest ranked and most senior active student of Hanshi Rodriguez. Along the way to becoming the second person to complete the official YDMA Sandan and Sensei exams in 2006, Steve was assigned a reorganization and reassignment project to learn all of the required kata in the YDMA syllabus and reassign them by rank in a progressive teaching order. Steve developed the YDMA Kata Charts to account for the new teaching order after purple and yellow belt were added into the lineage, as well as several methods for teaching specific movements found in each kata in a progressive manner. Steve was promoted to Hachidan in December 2017 and entrusted with the future of the lineage.
In 2009 Steve Co-Founded the PJMS Project with Rick Cathey in the effort to further codify the material in addition to the kata as a long term training and knowledge sharing project. This eventually led to the formal founding of PJMS as the continuation lineage of YDMA.
As NiDai Soke, Steve is well aware that his actions set precedents for the lineage, and has opted to focus his energies for the immediate future on development of coursework and development of future instructors and teachers for the lineage. Together with his Board of Directors, Steve’s goal is to create a place for the lineage to grow and continue into the future. The Foundational Documents contain the rules and procedures that will guide our lineage as we move forward. Any and all future PJMS lineage promotions for Steve will be governed by the provisions set forth by the Foundational Documents.
Steve has chosen to use the title of “Senior Teacher” for his formal designation within the PJMS lineage, which is inclusive of his Sensei title. His Official Seal reflects many values that are meaningful to him as well as his formal title.
Steve Z Seal