United States Shorin-Ryu People

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US Shorin Ryu People

Founder and Hanshi

Ernest Ferrara

In 1960 Ernie Ferrara first studied the Shotokan style of Karate. One of his first instructors was the noted John Slocom from Flushing, New York. It was there that Ernie Ferrara met and saw James K. Wax who demonstrated his style of Shorin Ryu (Matsubayashi-Ryu) Karate. Mr. Ferrara then chose to study the Shorin Ryu system under James K. Wax.

While studying under Sensei Wax, in September of 1962 Master Ansei Ueshiro of the Shorin Ryu system came to the United States from Okinawa. Ernie Ferrara then trained under both Sensei Wax and Master Ueshiro and later only under Master Ueshiro.

In May of 1963 Sensei Ferrara became the first person to receive a Black Belt Certificate under Master Ueshiro in the United States and he became the first member of the International Karate Black Belt Federation (James K. Wax, President/Ansei Ueshiro, Foreign Representative). Sensei Ferrara has been teaching in the greater New York and Long Island area ever since.

Sensei Ferrara’s most known school was the Sullivan Street Dojo in Manhattan where Zenko Heshiki got his start teaching Saturday classes. Zenko Heshiki then went on to open the 72^nd Street Dojo in Manhattan with one of Sensei Ferrara’s black belts, Arthur Drago. Sensei Drago is well known for his teaching in Front Royal, Virginia for the past 30 years.

Through Sensei Ferrara’s dedication, thousands of students have had the opportunity to study Shorin Ryu Karate and many are still active.

In 1991 Sensei Ferrara and Sensei Zermeno formed The North Amercian Shorin Ryu Association. Sensei Ferrara holds the rank of 8^th degree in The North American Shorin Ryu Association. He also holds 9^th degree in the United States Karate Association that he received in May of 1994 from the director of U.S.K.A. John A. Pachivas.

In January of 2001, Hanshi Ferrara was inducted into the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame and received the Golden Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of dedication. In addition, Hanshi Andrew Linick, Founder of the Karate Masters Hall of Fame, inducted Sense Ferrara as a member in June of 2001 in recognition of his great martial skill in developing, teaching and propagating the Art of Shorin Ryu in America.

In 2002 after the death of Sensei Ferrara’s Sifu (meaning Teacher/Father), Sensei Ferrara created the United States Shorin Ryu Association to honor Sensei Ueshiro’s four decades of teaching in the United States.

Sensei Terry Maccarrone

Historical Consultant

Terry Maccarrone, Kyoshi is an eminent instructor of Okinawan Karate-Do and Kobudo. He was a direct student of Master Ansei Ueshiro, an Okinawan karate master who came to the USA in 1962 as a representative of Shoshin Nagamine, Grand Master and Founder of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Karate. In 1969, Ansei Ueshiro separated from the Nagamine organization and founded Shorin Ryu Karate USA. For two decades, Mr. Maccarrone served as his international representative to Japan, Okinawa and China (Canton and Hong Kong).

In the 90’s, Mr. Maccarrone became the representative of Fujiwara Kenjutsu in America and traveled to England and Europe. In 1986, The IMAF Kokusai Budo-in awarded him the title “Renshi” and named him North East Regional Director. Under their auspices, he hosted many Japanese Budo seminars on karate, kobudo, kenjutsu, aikido judo and jujitsu.

The ESPY-Video Production Co featured Mr. Maccarrone in four kobudo videos – Bo, Sai, Tuifa and Nunchaku – in a special production, “Jodo, The Way of the Stick”; these videos were widely distributed in the US.

As an active member of the USKA (founded by Robert Trias, 1980-1989) and as New York State director for the USKK (founded by Phil Koeppel, 1996 to present), Mr. Maccarrone’s travels have taken him throughout the US. In 1994, while visiting Japan, Patrick McCarthy, Kyoshi invited Mr. Maccarrone to become a member of the International Ryukyu Research Society and KSL Research Group studying Okinawan Koryu Uchinade and Kobudo.

Now at 60+, Mr. Maccarrone still trains and teaches at his Karate USA dojo and at St Joseph's College in Patchogue where he instructs a fully accredited self-defense and karate course for physical fitness.

Sensei Arthur Drago

Member

Sensei Drago started his karate training in Matsybayashi Shorin Ryu at the Sullivan Street Dojo in New York City under Sensei Ferrara in 1964.

In 1967 Arthur Drago and Zenko Heshiki opened the Satsuma Bushi Dojo on West 72^nd Street in Mahattan, New York.

In 1971 Sensei Drago moved to the state of Virginia where he introduced Matsybayashi Shorin Ryu Karate. On April 7, 1973 the Budo Kai Dojo was opened in Front Royal, Virginia, now called the Front Royal Karate Club, where he still teaches class six days a week.

In addition to Matsybayashi Shorin Ryu, Sensei Drago also trains in Kobobayashi Shorin Ryu under Sensei Iha in Lansing, Michigan since 1982. Sensei Drago was promoted to 5^th Dan in Matsybayashi Ryu by Takayoshi Nagamine in 1991. Since 1992 Sensei Drago has studied Kobudo and White Crane katas under Sensei Ed Erler in New Mexico.

On May 3, 2001 Sensei Ferrara awarded Arthur Drago with 7^th Dan for his years of dedication in teaching Shorin Ryu Karate. Also, that same year, he was elected by the Olympic Committee to carry the Olympic torch for the state of Virginia. He received this honor for the 30 years of teaching karate to the learning disabled in Virginia.

Sensei Drago is currently teaching Matsybayashi and Kobobayashi Shorin Ryu in Virginia.

Sensei Scott Ashley

Member

Scott Ashley began training in January of 1979 at the NYC Dojo under Robert Scaglione. In February of 1981 Master Ueshiro promoted Scott to Sho-Dan, and promoted him to Ni-Dan in 1983. Scott parted with Robert Scaglione in 1983, and began operating the Karate Dojo in NYC, until 1989. During this time Scott was united with Fred Corritone and began his kickboxing career.

In 1989 Scott relocated to Florida and opened the Karate Kickboxing Athletic League where he met and became a student of Mejin Ken Ruiz. He introduced Scott to zazen and showed him a way of looking at martial arts. Since, zazen has become an integral part of Scott’s training, and he practices “karate and zen as one”. Mejin Ruiz promoted Scott to Rokyu Dan in 2000.

In 1994 Scott became the Super Welterweight World Kickboxing Champion, and held that title until his retirement from competition in 1997. He also was trained and managed by Angelo Dundee in his professional boxing career, and had seventeen boxing bouts in addition to his twenty-four kickboxing bouts. He currently woks as the Defensive Tactics Coordinator for the Broward County Sheriff are Office in Florida, and is the operator of the Yama Matsu Dojo, (Mountain Pine School).

Sensei Stephen Bevil - Member

Sensei Bevil has been a student of Karate for 33 years. He began his training in 1972 under Sensei Maccarrone at the St. James dojo on Long Island, NY.

After becoming a 3rd Dan, Sensei Bevil opened a dojo in Mastic, NY . After running the Mastic Dojo for five years and transferring it to Sensei Maccarrone, Sensei Bevil retired and relocated to Florida.

On November 6, 2005 Sensei Bevil was promoted to 6th Dan by Sensei Ferrara, the most senior student of Master Ueshiro.

Today Sensei Bevil resides in Charlotte, NC and teaches at two YMCA locations. His instruction focuses on Kata, application of Kata and the secret art of Tuite.

Sensei Nestor Ramos

Sensei Nestor Ramos, B.A., M.A., is the Chief Instructor of the NY Bugeikan. Sensei Ramos began his martial arts study in 1979, studying Shotokan Karate and Western Boxing. In 1985, Sensei Ramos began his training in Jujutsu (Nishidai) under Sensei John Conn and continued his training until the closure of the school in 1998. In 1993, Sensei Ramos began his training in Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu under Sensei Michael Rosati and is still currently training and teaching in the system. Sensei Ramos also trained with Sensei Michael Calandra in Sosuishitsu Ryu from 1998 to 2004 as well as with other Jujutsu, Judo and Karate instructors. Sensei Ramos is a graduate of the 1997 Long Island University Karate Instructors Program as well as a certified Police Defensive Tactics Instructor, teaching Police Recruits from 1986 to 1991. In 1999, Sensei Ramos earned a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of the City University of New York.

Sensei Jerry Figgiani

Sensei Jerry Figgiani, co-owner of East Coast Black Belt Academy began his studies in the martial arts in 1978. In June of 2006, Sensei Figgiani was promoted by the United States Shorin Ryu Association to the rank of 6^th Dan in Shorin Ryu under the direction of Hanshi Ernie Ferrara.

Sensei Figgiani has also trained and was a participant in the demonstration ceremony in Naha, Okinawa for Grand Master Shoshin Nagamine in celebration of his 85^th birthday in 1991. Sensei Figgiani also holds the rank of 5^th Dan in Kenpo Karate, 2^nd Dan in Moo Duk Kwon, and recently on March 1, 2006, he was promoted to 2^nd Dan in Judo.

Sensei Figgiani is a nationally rated forms and fighting champion, winning tournaments from 1988-1996. In 1995, he was rated No. 1 in men’s fighting by the P.K.L. Professional Karate League and in 1996 he was also inducted into the P.K.L. Hall of Fame for the Competitor of the Year. That same year, he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame for outstanding martial arts instruction.

In 2004, the Assistant Principal of Longwood High School in Middle Island, New York approached Sensei Figgiani with the request to develop a program which would improve academic achievement through the study of martial arts. Along with his partner, Tony Aloe, Sensei Figgiani developed the R.E.A.C.H. (Respect Education and Always Climb Higher) Program. This program is funded by the P.A.L. (Police Athletic League). In addition, this program is currently being taught in eight different school districts throughout Suffolk County. Federal, State and local politicians have been giving this program great reviews and look to continue funding this program and expanding to other schools across Suffolk County.

Sensei Figgiani has made many television and newspaper appearances for his contribution to the martial arts industry. He has appeared on News 12, The Morning Edition, UPN 9, Fox 5, Channel 55 and the Jerry Lewis Telethon. In addition, he was a featured guest on “Focus on Our Children”, QPTV Jamaica, New York and TLC the Learning Channel. The New York Times and Newsday have both written articles regarding his success in the martial arts.

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