Our Instructors & Staff Members

Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the art of Karate and other martial arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.

Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students. Here are a few of East Coast Black Belt Academy/Long Island Budokai's instructors and other staff members, starting with :

Master Jerry Figgiani  (7th Dan)  Seventh degree black belt, Sensei Jerry Figgiani, has been training in the martial arts since 1977. He is a well-rounded martial artist who holds rank in multiple systems which include Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu, Judo, Moo Duk Kwan, and Kenpo Karate. He is the co-owner of East Coast Black Belt Academy which has been established in the Middle Island community of New York for the past 19 years and was voted the No. 1 Dojo by the Long Island Press. In November of 2009, Sensei Figgiani founded the Shorin Ryu Karatedo International which promotes the study of Okinawan karate. Click here to visit Shorin Ryu Karatedo International Sensei Figgiani feels one of his greatest achievements was being promoted to Yudansha in Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo-jutsu in 2009 under the direction of Hanshi Patrick McCarthy, President of the International Ryukyu Karate Research Society. The I.R.K.R.S. recognizes Sensei Figgiani as an accredited branch dojo owner which authorizes him to teach Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo-jutsu. On June 6, 2009, Sensei Figgiani was promoted to 7th dan by the All Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Association under the direction of Hanshi Joseph Carbonara. Sensei Figgiani has trained with Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine and in 1991 was a participant in the demonstration ceremony for his 85th birthday and the 55th anniversary of Nagamine Dojo. At that time he traveled with his Sensei, Joseph Carbonara, who was a world delegate for the World Matsubayashi Karate Federation. In 2009, Sensei Figgiani brought a group of instructors and students from East Coast Black Belt Academy to Tokyo, Japan and Okinawa. The purpose of this trip was to provide an opportunity to study the culture, history, and tradition of the martial arts. Because of Sensei Figgiani’s background in Judo and his membership in the Kodokan Institute located in Tokyo, Japan, his students were able to attend training at the Kodokan as well. Sensei Figgiani and his students traveled to Okinawa, where he was invited by Grandmaster Kensie Taba, 10th dan, to be part of the World Championship Ceremonies. Grandmaster Taba also provided special training during the course of Sensei Figgiani’s stay in Okinawa. As a nationally rated forms and fighting champion, Sensei Jerry has won tournaments across the country from 1988 to 1996. In 1995, he was rated the number one fighter by the Professional Karate League (P.K.L.). He was also inducted into the P.K.L. Hall of Fame for the Competitor of the Year in 1996. That same year, he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame for outstanding martial arts instruction. In 2009 and 2010, Sensei Figgiani was published in Masters Magazine interviewing Hanshi Patrick McCarthy of the International RyuKyu Karate Research Society. Sensei Figgiani has made many television and newspaper appearances. As well as appearing on T.L.C. the Learning Channel, he has appeared on News 12, 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. The New York Times and Newsday have both written articles regarding his success in the martial arts. Sensei Figgiani has also been recognized for his community service in the following organizations: Long Island Blood Services, Adopt-a-Family through Newsday, Suffolk County Police Department Safety Award, Toys for Tots, Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, and the Town of Brookhaven. His goal is to elevate the success of the community through the study of martial arts by giving back to the community. In 2003, Sensei Figgiani teamed up with the Assistant Principal of Longwood High School, Chuck Morea, to develop a program which would improve academic achievement though the study of martial arts. Along with his partner Tony Aloe, Sensei Figgiani developed the R.E.A.C.H. Program (Respect Education and Always Climb Higher). This program is funded by the P.A.L. (Police Athletic League). Through this program, Sensei Figgiani teaches character education, leadership skills and non-violent conflict resolution to the students at Longwood High School in Suffolk County, New York. His rapport with the students has enabled this program to reach the level of success it currently has. Due to the success of this program, it has now expanded into eight different school districts throughout Suffolk County. The R.E.A.C.H. Program was publicly recognized on national and local television as well as the news media and local radio. Federal, State, and local politicians have been giving this program great reviews and look to continue funding this program. Sensei Figgiani has trained and studied with some of the top instructors in the martial arts which include: - Hanshi Patrick McCarthy-Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo-jutsu - Takayoshi Nagamine-Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu - Joe Carbonara-Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu - Terry Maccarone-Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu - Ernie Ferrara-Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu - Frank Grant- Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu - Kensei Taba-Shogen-Ryu - Joe Turchiano-Judo - Richard Chun-Moo Duk Kwan - Greg Silva-Kenpo Karate Sensei Figgiani also belongs to the following organizations: - Shorin Ryu Karatedo International Click here to visit Shorin Ryu Karatedo International - International RyuKyu Karate Research Society - All Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Association - International Kodokan Institute, Tokyo, Japan - Life Member United States Judo Association Sensei Figgiani is the technical advisor and a member of the Executive Board of Directors for the Japan Shotokan Karate Association-Pan Am. He is also the technical director for the Okinawan Karatedo International Union of Karatedo Organization. Sensei Figgiani is also a graduate of the Long Island University Karate Instructor Certification Program which was headed by Professor Milorad V. Stricevic, M.D.

Tony Aloe  (Shibucho)  Shibucho Tony Aloe’s involvement in the martial arts spans over the last four decades. He opened his first dojo in 1984 and is presently co-owner of Long Island Budokai located in Middle Island, New York. As an instructor with a deep respect for tradition and a strong command of his technical ability, he has taught and produced many outstanding students. Mr. Aloe was inducted into The Budo International Hall of Fame in 2005. Through his study of martial arts, Mr. Aloe has earned black belt rank in Karate, Iaido, Kendo, and Ken-Jutsu. At this time in his life, Shibucho Aloe has dedicated himself to the study of Kaze No Ryu Bugei Ogawa ha and is a personal student of Shidoshi Jordan Augusto and Kokeisha Juliana Galende. He has had the great fortune to travel to Valencia, Spain to study and train with Shidoshi Augusto and Juliana Sensei at the International Headquarters. As the Shibucho of the North American Bugei Society, Mr. Aloe’s vision is to introduce this wonderful and exciting art of the Samurai and all its many facets with the hope of someday seeing Kaze No Ryu Bugei as part of the American Martial Arts community. In addition, Mr. Aloe is a member of the European Bugei Society (www.bugei.eu) and the Shibucho of the North American Bugei Society (www.bugei-usa.com).

For more information about the East Coast Black Belt Academy/Long Island Budokai staff or training programs, please contact us at 631-924-2900 or by clicking here.