Zosia Gorbaty

Zosia Gorbaty, Hanshi, was born 1949 in post war Europe to Holocaust Survivors. Her early years were filled with music, not martial arts, as her father was a concert pianist. Although the crib was right next to the piano, according to her parents, she slept quite soundly as her father played.  After emigrating to the U.S., classical musical training began at 5 years old and continued through her teens as she attended Music & Art High School in Harlem, NY.  “One of my greatest accomplishments was conducting the student orchestra.” As the result of her gregarious lifestyle, Gorbaty encountered a couple of experiences that incited the “Survivor” fire within, and in 1976 began her lifelong journey with the martial arts.

She began in the art of Nisei Goju Karate with GM W. Roldan, where she also experienced training under legend Nisei Founder, GM Frank Ruiz. In 1978 Gorbaty changed paths and began training in Kyokushin Karate with Shihan N. Kishi.  “A highlight of this time period was meeting founder GM Mas Oyama when he visited our dojo on Wooster St. in SOHO, NYC.  We were all lined up on the sidewalk, barefoot, in gi, waiting patiently for his arrival.  I still have my autographed copy of his book, The Kyokushin Way.” Early in 1981, still not feeling she found the right path, she joined GM Chaka Zulu’s School of Martial Arts on Second Ave in the East Village of NYC.  It was a legendary place where prominent martial artists were often seen visiting. She had never before experienced using music during martial arts training, just silence, kiais, and the voice of her Sensei.  GM Zulu showed her the connection between her two loves, music and martial arts. She had found her home. Later that year GM Zulu and Hanshi Gorbaty declared themselves to be a couple and were eventually officially married. Gorbaty was awarded 9th degree in Zujitsu Ryu in 2015 and is the designated system inheritor with Hanshi Manuel Benitez.

Gorbaty has a Master’s degree in Physical Education from NYU, and worked as a health and fitness professional for many years.  She holds several fitness certifications from the American Council on Exercise, Institute for Aerobics Research, and YMCA.  She has been both a group exercise instructor and personal trainer, and was the first “Wellness Director” at a NYC YMCA in 1989.  Gorbaty was first introduced to Yoga in 1966, most fortunate to begin her lifelong practice with Swami Satchadinanda, founder of the Integral Yoga Institute. One of her most satisfying achievements has been 30 years teaching self-defense, karate, and yoga at Queensborough Community College and Adelphi University until retirement in 2013.

Gorbaty has also been very active in the women’s self-defense community.  She began by teaching some of her friends out of her home in 1978 and progressed to teaching thousands over the years in various venues. She is Self-Defense certified by the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation, served on their Self Defense Board 2004-8, and has led many workshops at their annual Self Defense Conference. She volunteered as a Rape Crisis Advocate at NY Mt. Sinai Hospital after certifying in their first Rape Crisis Intervention Program in 1985. Her clients include both corporate and non-profit venues, such as BCFS Health and Human Services San Antonio, Queens College, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, NYNEX Corp, NYU Law School, YMCA of Greater NY, School of Visual Arts, and Prudential Securities. Her most exciting teaching experience was teaching a variety of populations for the El Halev group in Israel.  Gorbaty leads the FEST Workshop, Feminine Empowerment and Self-defense Training.

Hanshi has conducted seminars at over 50 events and dojo in twenty states.  She has been a frequent trainer for the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI), National Women’s Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF), Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists, and Camp Danzan Ryu.  She has been interviewed by “Fox and Friends” Fox News TV, ”Best Talk” WPIX TV, Hot 97FM radio “Street Soldiers” with Lisa Evers, and the NY Times. Most recently she was interviewed by Sensei Emmett's You Tube Channel, Andrea Harkins' Martial Arts Women podcast, and a three page feature in the August '23 edition of the Deadly Arts of Survival Magazine. 

Gorbaty served as the Chair of the NWMAF Board of Directors from 2002-4, and as the Executive Director of AWMAI from 2008-14.  Together with Professor Janice Okamoto they developed the AWMAI Hall of Fame, the only association that acknowledges and awards women with over 30 or more years in the martial arts. Her most notable inductions include 2016 Masters Hall of Fame, 2012 AWMAI Hall of Fame, and World Head of Family Sokeship Council International Hall of Fame for Silver Life Achievement 2012 and National Achievement 2002.