Collegeville Dojo: Collegeville, PA

Shihan Chris Caggiano is the head instructor of the Collegeville Dojo. His lifelong interest in the martial arts has led him to travels to Okinawa, Japan, to further his training and immerse himself in the Okinawan Martial Arts and Life Protection Arts. He began his training in the 70’s at Colorado State University under Sensei John Newman and Walter Sapronov in Matsubayashi Ryu Karate and the American Karate Federation. While continuing his education at Kean University in Union, NJ, Sensei Caggiano started the Matsubayashi Ryu dojo on campus, while cross training in Goju Ryu with Sensei Ron Gaeta, in Montclair, NJ. A post college job opportunity led him to New Albany, IN, and studies in Full Contact PKA Kick Boxing with Sensei Terry Middleton.

The 80’s brought a new job at the Limerick Nuclear Plant in Pennsylvania and brought him to the Seidokan Motobu Ryu dojo of Sensei Robert Teller in Pottstown, PA. Sensei Teller’s experiences and training with a who’s who of Okinawan Karate and Kobudo brought Sensei Shian Toma (10th dan) to PA for seminars and training. In 1984 Sensei Toma was kind enough to invite Chris to train in Okinawa culminating in a six month stay at the Seidokan Hombu training with Sensei Toma and his senior student, Sensei Shigemitsu Tamae (the current 10th dan headmaster of Seidokan Karate). When he returned to the USA, Sensei Caggiano opened the forerunner of the Collegeville Dojo in 1985 at the Audubon YMCA. In the early 90’s, he was introduced to Sensei Seiyu Oyata (10th dan) and trained in Life Protection Art with his Ryu-Te organization for several years.

Never one to become complacent with his training, Sensei Caggiano’s desire to expand his martial studies led him to train with Grand Master Phil Matedne of Malay Combat Systems. MCS is a composite system comprised of Mande Mude Pencak Silat, Filipino Escrima, and Muay Thai Kick Boxing. While training with the MCS Group, Sensei Caggiano’s fortuitous meeting in 2009 with his mentor, Hanshi Luis Morales (10th dan), began his in-depth studies of Kyusho Jutsu, Tuidi Jutsu, and Martial Science. Hanshi Morales is the North American representative for Hanshi Tetsuhiro Hokama’s Okinawan and International Goju-Ryu Kenshi-Kai Karate Do Kobu-do Association and has facilitated training trips with Hanshi Hokama (10th dan) both in Okinawa and the States.

Sensei Caggiano, in addition to the notable instructors above, has had the privilege of training with the following martial artists that have all had a positive influence on his growth as a martial artist. Professor Tom Muncy (10th dan) of Dragon Society International; Grand Master Daniel Saizon of Tenio Decuerdas Escrima; Master Carlito Bonjoc of Mata Sa Bagyo Escrima; Grand Master SL Martin of Green Dragon Martial Arts; Hanshi Roy Hobbs (10th dan) and Sensei Michael Nemeth of Dentokan; Sensei’s Ron Nix, Ed Duga, Jody Paul, Allen Tackett, Mike Holmes, Keith James, and Matt Kohler – all from the Ryukoku Seidokan Karate Kobudo Renmei.