Author: Bret Gordon
Beginning his martial arts journey in 1972 under Richard Barathy, Hanshi Joseph Slonski has had a long and prosperous career in Budo. In 1973 after relocating to California, Slonski began training in Shuri Ryu under Pete Rabino (a direct student of Robert Trias). There he stayed until 1978 when he moved back to New York, dabbling in other arts and training across Long Island.
In 1984, Slonski moved once again to Florida. By chance, as a young and high spirited brown belt, Slonski caught the eye of Hanshi Charles Bridgewater. Mr. Bridgewater first trained under Phillip Koeppel before training with Robert Trias directly, even becoming Mr. Trias's bodyguard. Eventually, Mr. Bridgewater broke away from Trias and established the Shorei Ryu system as a refinement of Trias's Shuri Ryu (Shorei Ryu was one of the original names Trias used for his art before settling on Shuri Ryu), drawing on his experiences in Kajukenbo and Shinto Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu (Mr. Bridgewater served in Law Enforcement alongside Shinto Yoshin Ryu founder Douglas Grose). Hanshi Bridgewater took Slonski under his wing and from then on, Mr. Slonski became his personal disciple and adopted son.
In 1984, Slonski moved once again to Florida. By chance, as a young and high spirited brown belt, Slonski caught the eye of Hanshi Charles Bridgewater. Mr. Bridgewater first trained under Phillip Koeppel before training with Robert Trias directly, even becoming Mr. Trias's bodyguard. Eventually, Mr. Bridgewater broke away from Trias and established the Shorei Ryu system as a refinement of Trias's Shuri Ryu (Shorei Ryu was one of the original names Trias used for his art before settling on Shuri Ryu), drawing on his experiences in Kajukenbo and Shinto Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu (Mr. Bridgewater served in Law Enforcement alongside Shinto Yoshin Ryu founder Douglas Grose). Hanshi Bridgewater took Slonski under his wing and from then on, Mr. Slonski became his personal disciple and adopted son.
Over the course of the next three decades, Mr. Slonski competed all over the country taking home numerous Regional, State and National Championships. Under Hanshi Bridgewater, Mr. Slonski studied the Shorei Ryu system as well as Kajukenbo and Shinto Yoshin Ryu.
On August 11, 2018, Hanshi Bridgewater officially retired as headmaster of Shorei Ryu and passed down the art to Hanshi Joseph Slonski with the rank of 10th Dan after 34 years of dedicated study. Hanshi Slonski currently resides in Maryland and oversees the instruction of only the top level practitioners in Shorei Ryu, running the organization with a strict hierarchy. He's developed a reputation for maintaining old-school, hardcore training while adhering to high quality standards.
Because of Hanshi Joseph Slonski's dedication to the preservation of true Karatedo and in recognition of his promotion to headmaster of Shorei Ryu, the US Association of Martial Arts is proud to feature Hanshi Slonski in this Instructor Spotlight with the highest respect. Omedetogozaimasu!
On August 11, 2018, Hanshi Bridgewater officially retired as headmaster of Shorei Ryu and passed down the art to Hanshi Joseph Slonski with the rank of 10th Dan after 34 years of dedicated study. Hanshi Slonski currently resides in Maryland and oversees the instruction of only the top level practitioners in Shorei Ryu, running the organization with a strict hierarchy. He's developed a reputation for maintaining old-school, hardcore training while adhering to high quality standards.
Because of Hanshi Joseph Slonski's dedication to the preservation of true Karatedo and in recognition of his promotion to headmaster of Shorei Ryu, the US Association of Martial Arts is proud to feature Hanshi Slonski in this Instructor Spotlight with the highest respect. Omedetogozaimasu!
