Though the main body of this DVD contains Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu kata, it is universal in principles that can be applied to any martial arts system system, regardless of the style you practice. Understanding kata bunkai will open your mind to limitless possibilities as demonstrated by Sensei Jerry Figgiani.

Jerry Figgiani, 8th dan, is the President and Founder of Shorin Ryu Karatedo International. As a student of Sensei Joseph Carbonara and Sensei Terry Maccarrone, he comes from a strong lineage of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu practitioners who have followed in the footsteps of Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine.

Shoshin Nagamine was the founder of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu which today stands as one of the four main styles of karate taught on Okinawa and practiced worldwide. In the United States, strong foundations were laid for Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu in the Midwest and in New York thanks in part to Sensei Ansei Ueshiro the first Okinawan sent by Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine in 1962 with the help of American Sensei James Wax. In addition, with the arrival of Sensei Chotoku Omine in 1969 followed by Soke Takayoshi Nagamine, Matubayashi was well on its way to becoming a major force in Okinawan Karate throughout the world.

In Nagamine’s timeless classic, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do first published in 1976, the Grandmaster credits three instructors who influenced him in his study of karate-do---those instructors are Ankichi Arakaki, Chotoku Kyan, and Choki Motobu. In choosing the name of his style from Masters Sokon Matsumura and Kosaku Matsumora, he came up with the name Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu to distinguish it from the other various styles of Shorin Ryu on the island of Okinawa. Within its syllabus, Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu contains seven Yakusoku Kumite or prearranged fighting attacks, kobudo or weapons forms and eighteen karate katas, some of which are said to be dated as far back as 1683.

Sensei Figgiani is a sought-after seminar instructor who has a demonstrated ability to enable students to understand not only the kata, but its form, function and application as well, thus making his seminars universal to any martial arts system. This DVD Simplicity to Understanding Transitions in Kata Bunkai within the Matsubayashi-ryû Kata touches on many of the constructs Sensei Figgiani imparts through his seminars.

In addition to his workshop popularity, Sensei Figgiani has been the subject of featured articles in the New York Times, New York Newsday, and most recently in an interview in Masters Magazine. An accomplished author, his writings have been published in the book Karate Masters, and he has an ongoing column entitled Kazoku in Masters Magazine. His articles have included interviews with Sensei Joseph Carbonara, Sensei Kensei Taba, Sensei Terry Maccarrone, Sensei Frank Grant, and Hanshi Patrick McCarthy.

Sensei Figgiani was a nationally rated forms and fighting champion; winning numerous tournaments across the USA from 1988 to 1996. In 1995, he was ranked the number one fighter in the Professional Karate League (P.K.L.) and inducted into their Hall of Fame as Competitor of the Year in 1996. In 2003, Sensei Figgiani spearheaded a successful after-school karate program which he still actively operates. This program is supported by the Suffolk County Police Athletic League on Long Island, New York as well as local government and state officials. In 2010, Sensei Figgiani was recognized by the International Ryukyu Karate Research Society as their Instructor of the Year and inn 2012, he was recipient of the Thomas La Puppet Memorial Service Award for his outstanding community service and the National Police Athletic League Award for mentoring.

Sensei Figgiani holds the rank of Nidan in Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo-jitsu and Kodokan Judo; he recently achieved the rank of Shodan Jigen ryu – Iaido. In addition to his own study, over the years Sensei Figgiani has gone beyond being a champion to producing champions in the sport of karate even being awarded the 2012 New York Traditional Karate League Coach of the Year. While his primary focus is on the technical and traditional aspects of the art, his coaching skills have helped his students have win gold medals on both the state and national levels. Widely recognized for his technical expertise, he is a technical advisor for the International Union of Karatedo Organization.

During his 2013 trip to Okinawa, Sensei Figgiani was able to establish an official affiliation between Shorin Ryu Karatedo International and the Okinawa Shogen Ryu Karate-do Association which was formed by the senior students of Kensei Taba Sensei who was a student of Shoshin Nagamine, as well as Okinawan Karate masters Choshin Chibana and Hohan Soken.

This unique DVD, will introduce Sensei Figgiani's concepts using a common sense approach to the kata of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu to allow the student to understand transitions within the application in a functional manner, that will fit any body type, limitations, or level of experience, and will result in a higher understanding of how it all ties together. Sensei Figgiani’s approach to kata allows the student to grow through both self-analysis and understanding the kata application, known as bunkai.

One of Sensei Figgiani’s favorite quotes is by Okinawan Karate Master Choshin Chibana who wrote– “There is an old Okinawan martial arts saying that states that Karate is much like a pond. In order for the pond to live, it must have infusions. It must have streams that feed the pond and replenish it. If this is not done, then the pond becomes stagnant and dies. If the martial arts teacher does not receive infusion of new ideas and/or methods, then he, too, dies. He stagnates and, through boredom, dies of unnatural causes." This explanation from Choshin Chibana who himself was a student of Anko Itosu and passed away in 1969 is as timely today as it was over a half-century ago. While others have ignored it, Sensei Figgiani has embraced it. Firmly rooted in tradition but not locked into a tunnel-vision approach, his teachings are contemporary examples of what is necessary for the art’s survival.

The goal with this DVD is to give you, the viewer, the opportunity to look beyond the fixed position of the technique as well as the name associated with it. It will help you to gain a broader understanding of the form and function in ways that will fit your body type, limitations and/or strengths.