9th Dan

Grandmaster Ferraro has trained in a variety of martial arts since beginning his Tang Soo Do studies in 1967 with Master Robert Cheezic. They include Shotokan, Goju Ryu, Jiujitsu, Aikido and Kenjitsu. He has also trained in Filipino martial arts (Kali, Escrima, Arnis), Okinawa weapons, Tai Chi Chuan, as well as natural healing (Reiki).

In 1976 he became a student of Grandmaster of Hyun Chul (H.C.) Hwang, son of the late Grandmaster Hwang Kee, founder of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. That same year, he opened his first dojang in New Haven, CT.

He has trained and promoted over 800 individuals to the Dan (black belt) level and over 50 individuals to the Master level. His competitive history stretches from 1971 to 1986 throughout the Eastern U.S., and in 1986, he was International Sparring Champion in Waterford, England.

His students have also excelled competitively, garnishing over 450 individual first place championships, 35 individual National Grand Championships and 4 individual first place international championships.

On December 9, 1995, fifty-nine of Grandmaster Ferraro’s senior students met and decided unanimously to form a new martial arts organization, the Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan Association with Grandmaster Ferraro as its president.

In January 2014, at his annual Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa, he was awarded his 9th Dan by his current Instructor, Grandmaster Andy Ah Po in the Tang Soo Do Martial Way Association.

Additional information about Grandmaster Ferraro can also be found on his school website West Haven Academy of Karate Inc.