Martial Arts Events - Seminars

Franco Sanguinetti is a descendent of Italian and Spanish grand-parents who migrated to South America after World War II. He began his Budo training in his homeland of Perú, South America, where there is a very extensive Okinawan/Japanese community. Sanguinetti Sensei initiated his training in Budo in 1972, and since then, he has trained under the tutelage of strict, traditional Okinawan and Japanese instructors. Many instructors have influenced Sanguinetti's martial arts skills; among them are well recognized names such as Morio Higaonna, Juichi Kokubo, John Roseberry, Shinpo Matayoshi, Yoshiaki Gakiya and Seisho Itokazu among many others.

Although Sanguinetti Sensei holds the rank of Nana Dan (7th Dan) in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate, he has trained and been ranked in Kyokushinkai, Shotokan and Shito Ryu. This exposure to other Karate styles has provided Sanguinetti with additional knowledge and insight into the martial arts. As a result he has a more complete understanding of what he does today as the director and chief instructor of the Bushikan Budo Dojo. In addition, he has shared his knowledge as a contributing writer to martial arts magazines such as Bugeisha Magazine, news publications such as the MKKU and elementary school newsletters, and many other publications. Sanguinetti Sensei is also author of the book Fundamentos de Goju Ryu in Spanish.

Sanguinetti Sensei also holds rank of Roku Dan (6th Degree) in Matayoshi Kobudo and Sho Dan (1st Degree) in Iai-Do. Sanguinetti Sensei's training in Kobudo began parallel to his training in Karate, but he did not receive formal training in Matayoshi Kobudo until he moved to Venezuela in 1979. While living in Venezuela he had the opportunity to meet Gishin Hiramatsu Sensei. Hiramatsu Sensei trained under Matayoshi Shinpo Sensei when the latter was living in mainland Japan. Franco Sanguinetti met Matayoshi Sensei for the first time in 1981 when he traveled to Okinawa to participate in the 1st IOGKF International Gasshuku & Tournament.

It was during this trip that Sanguinetti Sensei, in search of more depth to his training, made the decision to move to Okinawa, the birthplace of Karate and Kobudo. The following year he moved to Okinawa and trained in three different Dojos. He practiced Goju Ryu with Higaonna Sensei, Kobudo with Matayoshi Sensei and Iai-Do with Toyozato Sensei. He fondly refers to that period as the best time in his life because he did not need to focus on anything other than Budo.

He competed in national and international tournaments for 13 years, and as a result of his experience in competitions, he has earned positions on prestigious teams such as the Peruvian National Karate Team and the Venezuelan National Karate Team. Sanguinetti Sensei moved permanently to the USA in 1985 where he currently resides in San Diego, California.

Sanguinetti Sensei continues his learning journey in the martial arts combining his teaching duties with his own training, seeking more knowledge every year from Roseberry Shihan, Kokubo Sensei and Itokazu Sensei. He also continues traveling to Okinawa to train in Karate and Kobudo.