STEVE ZALAZOWSKI, SR. – Autobiography & Martial CV
Executive Director, UMASDA, Inc. a 501C3 Non-Profit Corporation
Senior Teacher, UMASDA
Autobiography of Steve Zalazowski, Sr.
As a kid I was always the smallest in the group, and with that came the requisite targeting as the easiest to bully on the block. As far back as I can remember visiting the library I was an avid reader, and once I graduated from the learn to read and easy to read style children’s books, I found out that there was a section in every library for sports literature – and contained therein were numerous books on martial arts. I read everything I could check out from my local libraries that had anything to do with karate, aikido, jujitsu, etc. long before I knew they could all help me learn self defense.
Luckily in high school I finally started growing, and by the end of my junior year I had actually reached the same height as my classmates. While I was no longer the target for bullying, the desire to learn to physically defend myself was still a major gnawing piece of my daily life. In December 1998 I had the opportunity to begin training at the bequest of a long time friend of mine, and since that day I can state unequivocally I have had something martial arts related going on every single day.
I have been immensely blessed to be in the right place, at the right time, to learn from and be smacked around when necessary by some absolutely amazing instructors and teachers. Never content with what I have this second in time, I have always pressed forward with every subject that holds my interest…when I was a kid they called that ADHD…today I see it as the ability to successfully multitask and store a ton of information.
At one point in my training I was simultaneously studying Yasashii Do, T’ai Chi, Jujitsu, Kenpo, and Tae Kwon Do, but I did have to deal with numerous injuries in my life that forced me to change paths too. Knowledge has no value unless shared, so it has long been important to me to share knowledge with people that are willing to help me learn.
My Teachers
Dr. Ron Chapél
Without a doubt, the biggest influence in my martial career has been Dr. Ron Chapél. I was blessed that wherever I was, I have always had the freedom to ask “why…how…show me more…”, but with Dr. Chapél I have the answers available in the manner that truly speaks to the deep recesses of my soul that yearn for information.
I am proud to be the first person he promoted to 1st Degree Black Belt in his American Chúan-Fa system of self defense science. I hold the title of Ambassador to MSU and the position of Sr. Director – Operations in charge of the digital presence for MSU as of 2024.
Hanshi Everett Rodriguez
Hanshi Everett Rodriguez from Yasashii Do Martial Arts gave me my start, with his senior student Brooks Cathey also giving me my first lessons in teaching. I learned so much from my history with Yasashii Do that the contributions to my career are immeasurable. I credit the time I spent as Hanshi’s Uchi Deshi as an explosive time of learning, and due to this experience I have been able to successfully learn and grow no matter what other art I have studied.
Almost everything I have studied relates somehow to a concept or principle or movement I learned in my early years of Yasashii Do training. I was honored in December 2017 by Hanshi making the statement that his students are now my students, effectively creating the position of NiDai Soke for his lineage and passing me the torch. Out of respect for Hanshi’s wishes that the brand name stay with him, the continuation lineage has been renamed to Peaceful Journey Martial Studies.
Senior GrandMaster Chuck Sullivan & GrandMaster Vic Leroux
Senior GrandMaster Chuck Sullivan & GrandMaster Vic LeRoux lit my kenpo flame, and provided me the opportunity to teach at an international seminar for several years. I owe the two of them eternal gratitude for allowing me to spend the years working for the IKCA and growing immensely as a teacher.
I was asked to be a Certified Video Instructor (#4 in the history of the organization) in the IKCA Distance Learning Program and part of the IKCA Advisory Board in June 2017. Today I serve as the senior CVI and have over 100 students assigned to me as part of the IKCA DLP, assisting our Sr. Director Bill Parsons and Director David Ghigliotty in numerous facets of the DLP.
In February of 2022, I was appointed to the position of Director – Information & Operations for the IKCA. In this capacity I run our online store at ikcastore.com and am the Co-Webmaster of our membership based website at ikcakenpo.com. This has been an amazing new opportunity for me and I am thoroughly enjoying being part of the team moving the IKCA forward into the future.
Kwan Jang Nim Alejandro Mora
Kwan Jang Nim Alejandro Mora of the Salinas TaeKwonDo Academy has been a part of my life since 2000 when I was introduced to him by one of his students and a mutual friend. I learned about managing a school when Master Mora put me in charge of his business as the Dojang Manager, and we built the school from 108 students to 255 before I resigned my position for a full time job opportunity.
Absolutely one of the most generous men I’ve been blessed to call my teacher and my friend. I am proud to be one of his black belts as well. To this day he and I visit and teach at each other’s schools, which I credit to his integrity and his kindness.
Sigung Dan Farmer
Sigung Dan Farmer was there for me at a time when I was very close to quitting martial arts entirely. Had it not been for his reaching out and providing a supportive voice and when needed a kick in the pants, I would not have been mentally ready to start UMASDA in 2005 when our founding students asked me to do so.
Sigung was there with counsel, humor, and served as the original Senior Advisor to UMASDA until his passing. Many times a phone call with Sigung was the catalyst to developments that are felt years later with the direction of our coursework.
I miss him terribly.
blank row cuz WordPress is dumb sometimes
Julio Toribio – Kancho
In January 2019 I had the amazing good fortune to meet Julio Toribio, Kancho of Seibukan Jujutsu during a seminar in Monterey, CA. After a truly astounding 4 days of training, I found my Sensei to guide the Japanese lineage side of my martial career. I have begun my Seibukan Jujutsu and Enshin Itto Ryu Battojutsu studies with earnest and look forward to continued development with this amazing person to whom I am jikideshi.
There are times in life when you meet someone for the first time, and feel as if you have known each other for eternity. The first time Toribio – Kancho and I shook hands it was definitely one of those moments. Since that first meeting, this part of my Journey has been amazing and I look forward to the future.
The Present
Who is Steve Zalazowski, Sr. at UMASDA? I serve as the Executive Director for both the UMASDA branch as well as the 501C3 Non-Profit Corporation, dedicated to the Research, Development, and Instruction of Self Defense methods, as well as holding various positions for other organizations.
And absolutely, completely I am humbled and grateful for the students I have been privileged to teach for the years since 2005 that UMASDA has operated. I have been blessed to work with some outstanding practitioners and several who have become outstanding instructors in their own right. Every single day we see improvement made, and in each student our school legacy is enriched. It is truly my honor to see this organization grow to where we are today and for the future.
My duties for UMASDA have included all facets of running the organization – from development of coursework to property management and everything in between. My greatest responsibility is also my most favorite, which is facilitating the instruction of our material to our students. Our standards are extremely high, and we accept no excuses; hard work is the only means of achievement for our students. I have watched our first generation students grow and become wonderful instructors themselves, and in the process motivate me to keep pushing our organization forward.
My wife and children are the most important pieces of my life, with my students, peers, and teachers running close behind.
To all those who have shared with me, past – present – or future – I thank you, and I look forward to the future.
Amended version of Steve Zalazowski’s biography that originally featured in the 2nd Edition of the Kenpo Continuum, compiled by Amy Long.
Featured in the following publications:
*Second Edition of the “Kenpo Continuum” compiled by Amy Long
*First Edition of “Who’s Who in Combat Hapkido”, published by DSI, Inc.
Master of Science degree, Leadership & Coaching – Bellevue University 2020.
Bachelor of Science degree, Professional Sales & Management – Bellevue University, 2011.
Steve Zalazowski, Sr.’s Martial CV
- IKCA Kenpo™ – SGM Chuck Sullivan
- 9th Degree Black Belt / Certified Instructor, Certified Video Instructor
- CVI – IKCA Headquarters – Sullivan / Schalyo / Boyd
- IKCA Director – Operations
- UMASDA
- 7th Degree Black Belt / Senior Teacher / Founder – American Martial Science™ – UMASDA Board of Directors + Advisors
- 5th Degree Black Belt / Sensei / NiDai Soke – Peaceful Journey Martial Studies
- Yasashii Do Martial Arts – Everett Rodriguez Hanshi
- Sandan – 3rd Degree Black Belt / Sensei (2nd person authorized with a teaching credential) – Rodriguez
- ISJA & IEIRBA – Julio Toribio Kancho
- 3rd Degree Black Belt – Enshin Itto-Ryu Battojutsu – Toribio
- 1st Degree Black Belt – Seibukan Jujutsu – Toribio / Thornton
- Seikendo (healing art) – Shodan – Toribio
- Assistant to Kancho
- Martial Science University – Dr. Ron Chapél
- Sr. Director – Operations
- MSU Ambassador
- 1st Degree Black Belt / American Chuán Fa
- 1st Degree Black Belt / ICHF Combat Hapkido – Pellegrini
- 1st Degree Black Belt – Tae Kwon Do – Mora
- Senior Black Belt / Administrator – Farmer’s Dynamic Kenpo Concepts – Farmer
- Blue Belt – Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu – Clement
- Yudansha Taigu / American Society of Kenpo Karate – Crouch
