Dara Masi Shihan began her study of the martial arts in 1986 and is a direct student of Dennis Palumbo Shihan in Hakkoryu Jujutsu. She received the rank of Menkyo Kaiden Shihan San Dai Kichu (8th degree black belt) in 2008 from Palumbo Shihan. He then passed the mantle of responsibility of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation to her, naming Masi Shihan as Director. HMAF is an organization dedicated to furthering the study of Hakkoryu Jujutsu throughout the world.
Masi Shihan is an 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.
Masi Shihan is also an instructor of Hojojutsu. This traditional Japanese martial art includes techniques to restrain a person with rope. Masi Shihan presents both capture and transport ties as part of an advanced study of Jujutsu in preserving the reality of takedown, control, and restraint.
Masi Shihan is a life member of and instructor in Jujitsu America. In 2002, she hosted the Jujitsu America Convention in New York. Masi Shihan 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.
In 1994, Masi Shihan founded Suigetsu Dojo in Long Island, New York. After relocating to Northern California in 2012, Masi Shihan continues to teach classes at her dojo, Suigetsu Dojo West, as well as continuing to travel throughout the country teaching seminars in Hakkoryu Jujutsu, Iaido, and Hojojutsu.