Sensei Franco Sanguinetti – 8th Dan
Sanguinetti Sensei was born on January 26, 1956, in Peru. His journey in the world of martial arts began in 1972, and since then, he has been under the tutelage of strict, traditional Okinawan and Japanese instructors. Sanguinetti Sensei proudly holds the prestigious rank of Hachi Dan (8th Degree Black Belt) in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate, Hachi Dan (8th Degree Black Belt) in Matayoshi Kobudo Kodokan, and Sho Dan (1st Degree Black Belt) in Iai-Do. His dedication to Karate and Kobudo spans over an impressive 48 years of training.
Sanguinetti Sensei’s connection to the art is deeply rooted, as he is a direct student of Shinpo Matayoshi Sensei and has been a member of the Kodokan Dojo in Okinawa since 1982. During his stay in Okinawa from 1982 to 1983, Sanguinetti Sensei had the privilege of training alongside esteemed instructors like Gakiya Yoshiaki Sensei, Yamashiro Kenichi Sensei, Kamura Koushin Sensei, Itokazu Seisho Sensei, Murayama Seitetsu Sensei, Yogi Josei Sensei, Omura Tomohiro Sensei, and all the senior instructors at the Kodokan in Okinawa.
Today, Sensei Franco Sanguinetti holds an esteemed position as one of the world’s most highly ranked Matayoshi Kobudo instructors outside of Japan. Additionally, he has been honoured with the prestigious Matayoshi Kobudo Menkyo, or Teaching License, personally awarded to him by Matayoshi Shinpo Sensei, as depicted in the photo below.
Sanguinetti Sensei’s dedication to his craft is evident in his regular trips, occurring once or twice every year, back to Okinawa. These journeys serve two vital purposes: to continuously advance his knowledge and technical expertise and to nurture his personal relationships with fellow Okinawan practitioners.
His martial arts journey also includes being a former member of both the Peruvian and Venezuelan National Karate Teams. Moreover, Sensei Franco Sanguinetti proudly serves as the Founder and Chief Instructor of the Bushikan Budo Kyokai and the Matayoshi Kobudo Kodokan International, which has its Honbu Dojo located in San Diego, California.
