Style:
Tang Soo Do
Founder of Tang Soo Do Mi
Guk Kwan Association
Grandmaster C. Ferraro
began his training as a boy in 1967. He took part in the art not for
fighting or self-defense (it certainly wasn't a popular activity back
then), but because he was infatuated with watching local blackbelts
working out with each other. The first time, he recalls, was "Like
watching an eagle soaring high on the wind currents". The instructor's
movements were graceful but all so powerful. The technique which was
quite visibly effective seemed so effortless. All the eyes of the
practitioners were steady, confident and peaceful.
Grandmaster (Kwan Jang
Nim) Ferraro has studied many martial arts over the years:
Tang Soo Do, Shoto Kan,
Kempo, Goju Ryu, Juijitsu, Aikido, Kenjitsu, Kobudo (Okinawa weapons),
Kali - Escrima - Arnis, Tai Chi Chuan and Haedong Gumdo
Tang Soo Do has always been Kwan Jang Nim Ferraro's first love. Having
been his first art to study, he continues training and teaching it to
this day. Having had many excellent teachers in Tang Soo Do, He began
studying with Kwan Jhang Nim H.C. Hwang (son of Grandmaster
Hwang Kee of the Tang Soo Do Moo Duk
Kwan Fed.), in November 1976 and he continued studying under him until
1995. His current teacher is Kwan Jhang Nim Andy Ah Po. Kwan Jhang Nim
Ferraro would like to acknowledge the
teachers and teachings that brought him to embrace the proper attitude
and spirit in the martial arts.
Awards & Accomplishments
- * Frequent form and
sparring competitor throughout the Eastern United States having won 11
Grand Championships in 8 states from 1971- 1976.
- Placed First, Second
or Third in the blackbelt heavyweight sparring division each year in
the U.S. Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation National Championships
from 1981 - 1986.
- Placed first in
forms (Masters Division) at the U.S. Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Fed.
National Championships held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL - 1991
- National Tang Soo Do
Sparring Champion; U.S. Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Fed. National
Championships - 1985, 1986
- U.S. Tang Soo Do
National Team Member - 1983, 1986 International Sparring Champion -
Watford, England - 1986
- Coached the New
England Tang Soo Do Competition Team To:
- 19 First place
National Team Sparring Championships
- 4 Second place
National Team Sparring finishes
- 6 Consecutive first
place National Form Team Championships and a total of 9 first place
National Form Team Championships
- 5 Second place
National Form Team finishes and 1 third place finish
His students have
garnished over 1200 individual first place championships, 250 individual
National Grand Championships and 35 individual first place international
championships.
He founded the Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan style in 1995. Currently the
organization has grown to over 100 dojangs in the USA, Chile, Argentina,
Mexico, Australia and Puerto Rico.
Some of his senior students include: Masters - Richard Kopf, Howard
Dugan, Joseph DeVita, Anthony Price, James Davidson, Peter Krause,
Ricardo Longinotti, Rocco Tirozzi, Jeff Talavera, William Conforte, Paul
Carty, William Lear, Steve Arbuckle, James Bergers, Brett Riley, Tom
Cox, Dave Cox, Eduardo Pereira, James Savidge, Edward Chairamonte, Don
Allen, Chris Ferraro, Jack Bennett, Peter Antonelli, Keith Duncan, Steve
Puleo, Anthony Manchisi, Peter Prokopis, Rick Welsh, Kirsten Pauli-Voss,
Seth Mc Calaster, Ralph Aprile, Carlos Huidobro-Garcia, Betsey Bearse,
Nancy Weida, Renee Price, Kevin Hemphill; Dans - Brandon Ferraro, Mike
Tabone, Bruce Maus, Jerry White, Rose Lo Presti, Helen Morahan, Marlisa
Rodrigues, Jacqueline Cruz, Stephanie Cruz, Sidney VanAntwerp, Andrew
Tran, Donald Franklin, Bill Rayner, Harrison Tilery, Vincent Ginnetti,
John Zvonek, Ivan Chadunkin, Abdelaziz Mehdouk, Guy Hess, Rodney
Batista, Ray Siler, Kenneth Barrett, Mike Horcasek, Leigh Ann Crocco,
Klara Marie Crocco.