The MATAYOSHI KOBUDO KODOKAN U.S.A. (MKKU) has been formed with the purpose to preserve and spread the art of Matayoshi Kobudo. The organization was founded and is directed by Franco Sanguinetti Sensei, internationally recognized practitioner of traditional Okinawan Karate and Kobudo.

Sanguinetti Sensei, a practitioner of the martial arts for over 38 years, holds the ranking of Roku Dan (6th Degree) in Karate, Roku Dan (6th Degree) in Kobudo and Sho Dan (1st Degree) in Iai-Do. He is dedicated to the preservation of these traditional arts as they were passed on to him.

Sanguinetti Sensei, through the MKKU, continues with the promise that he made to Matayoshi Shinpo Sensei to preserve and promote the art that his father Matayoshi Shinko created. His work is directed to promote not only the practice of the curriculum material itself, but also to motivate the unity among the members of the MKKU and to open the doors to budokas (practitioners of the martial arts) interested in the benefits from joining the Organization.

The MKKU is directly linked to the Matayoshi Kobudo headquarters in Okinawa, through the legendary Kodokan Dojo. The Kodokan was founded by Matayoshi Shinpo Sensei, and until his passing in 1997 was not only Matayoshi Sensei's Dojo, but also the Honbu Dojo for the Zen Okinawa Kobudo Renmei.

ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

MEMBERSHIP: The MATAYOSHI KOBUDO KODOKAN USA offers two separate types of annual individual membership. Instructor Membership and Student Membership.

With both types of membership, members will receive, between other benefits, an Identification Membership Card and the MKKU Newsletter. Instructor Membership includes also MKKU Instructor Certificate (if promoted by MKKU), or MKKU Affiliation Certificate, MKKU Teaching Curriculum and MKKU Testing Requirements.

Membership within the USA is based on annual registrations ending December 31st.

KODOKAN BOOKLET: As one of the many benefits of becoming a member of the MKKU, membership includes automatic affiliation with our Honbu Dojo in Okinawa, the Kodokan. The Kodokan Booklet is the instrument that will keep the connection with our Honbu Dojo in Okinawa. The Booklet contains, other than Matayoshi Kobudo historic information, the official record of the martial arts rank and training history of the holder. In the Booklet, the holder will be able to record each grading obtained, any seminars that he/she attends, as well as tournaments that he/she participates in. Each year, with the renewal of their MKKU membership, holders will receive a stamp coming from the Kodokan in Okinawa to reflect current membership status.

RANK CERTIFICATION

The MKKU offers, as part of the many benefits of our organization, Ranking Promotion. Testing is conducted primarily through the different Gasshukus (camps) offered by our organization during the year. Upon joining the MKKU, each member is issued a Membership Photo Identification Card. The card carries no rank. Rank Certification is issued by the MKKU upon completion of the testing and certification requirements by the individual member.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

There are a number of training opportunities available to MKKU Affiliated Dojos as active members of the organization, for example:

• The MKKU Honbu Dojo or Headquarters Dojo is open to all MKKU active members to visit and practice.

• The MKKU holds an Annual International Gasshuku in the U.S.A. for all members every even numbered calendar year with participation and instruction of Sensei's from the Honbu Dojo in Okinawa, the Kodokan Dojo.

• The MKKU holds an Annual International Gasshuku in Okinawa for all members every odd numbered calendar year, promoting and guiding participants from the U.S.A. and members from other countries to travel to the event.

• The MKKU holds an Annual National Gasshuku in the U.S.A. for all members every year at our Honbu Dojo in San Diego.

• The MKKU holds Regional Gasshukus and Seminars for all of its members.

SHO REI SHOBU KAN PARTNERSHIP

MKKU, in the process of promoting the art, has established a partnership with the Sho Rei Shobu Kan Budo Organization, headed by John Roseberry Shihan. Matayoshi Kobudo membership has been encouraged by the organization to its students, resulting in not only new memberships, but also seminars and grading tests throughout the year, as well as a regular Kobudo column in their organizational newsletter.

UNITED STATES KARATE ALLIANCE

Sanguinetti Sensei has been nominated as a Member of the Board of Directors of Kobudo of the U.S.K.A. Organization headed by James Hawkes Sensei. This important nomination is a reflection of the recognition of the importance of the Matayoshi Kobudo lineage among the different Kobudo schools in the world. It is the desire of Sanguinetti Sensei to support Kobudo practitioners within the United States Karate Alliance making available training tools such as gasshukus and seminars on a regular basis to obtain the maximum benefit of the training.

MKKU HEADQUARTERS

HONBU DOJO & OFFICES
Matayoshi Kobudo Kodokan U.S.A
1665 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., Suite A
San Marcos, CA 92078
Phone: (760) 744-5560