Hello and Welcome to the Martial Arts Cultural Center Project. Thank you for taking the time to read our proposal. The first question and most important question I asked myself when Franco Sanguinetti Sensei mentioned his idea was why. Why do you want to build a Martial Arts Cultural Center in North County San Diego? He smiled and said this is my home and I am invested in working with our children to have them become good citizens, to make my community safe, and a happy place to live.

The answer is more complex and if I may, I would like to explain his response. My son and I first began studying martial arts with Franco Sensei in 1995. As the years progressed, we realized that we hadn’t just joined a karate school, we became members of his Family. The core values of this family are respect, thinking of others, doing your best, not giving up, respecting your elders, knowing your role, and working in a group. Today, the development of these core values is necessary as we see them challenged by various unpredictable elements.

“The 2023 calendar year broke the record for the most school shootings in over four decades and marked one of the most violent years for youth ages 12-17, according to various unofficial counts. As of Dec. 20, there were 300 shooting incidents on school grounds so far in 2023, compared to 250 in 2022 and 114 in 2021, according to the publicly accessible K-12 School Shooting Database. A decade earlier, 2010 saw 15 school shootings.”

Educational research has the answers to minimize school violence. Identify the at-risk students, provide the needed family emotional support, teach appropriate behavior, and be an advocate. An advocate is defined as being in a young person’s corner no matter the circumstances and helping that young person face challenges and accept the consequences.

Franco Sensei works with each family, invests his time and energy in each young person, connects martial arts to doing well in school and teaches appropriate behavior. He is a powerful advocate in each young person’s life. He provides the elements necessary for success in life. Sensei focuses on the emotional and physical well-being of his students. 

Where did his belief system originate?

Franco Sensei’s family started in Italy, and he grew up in Peru. His family culture was about working hard and respecting people. At a young age he began studying martial arts whose origins were Japanese and Okinawan. Through his training in Peru, Japan, and Okinawa he developed a work ethic, a consideration of others, he learned to never give up, to train as part of a group, and to know your fellow practitioners as family.

When you ask Franco Sensei who he is, his answer is that his heart is Italian, Peruvian, American, Okinawan, and Japanese (and not necessarily in this order). His roots are varied and strong. Each fabric contributes to his cultural make-up. He chose the name Bushikan Martial Arts Center because it is his way of life, Budo (martials arts way). Franco Sensei’s cross-cultural transformation is also Budo.

Why establish a Martial Arts Cultural Center in North County San Diego?

It will represent the cultural fabrics that correspond to Franco Sensei’s way of living, and most importantly, it will also instill significant family cultural values for all who visit and train with us. Once a year, martial arts practitioners and their families travel to San Diego from many States and many countries to participate in a training seminar. Ask anyone what they look forward to the most and the answer will most often be: “we enjoy spending time with other extended family members.” The second answer will be that they look forward to spending time in the sun.

I hope that you enjoy the following presentation. The Martial Arts Cultural Center will be unlike any other martial arts experience anywhere. Join us in making our communities a safer and happier place in which we live.

Our mission is to establish a Martial Arts Cultural Center that will be deeply rooted in philosophy, tradition, and culture to specifically develop the character of the practitioners to benefit, to contribute and to improve our community. Children and adolescents are our focus. Write something about the adults.

Our mission is to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Japan. The Center will provide a space where individuals can learn, engage, and appreciate Japanese culture through a wide range of programs, activities, and events. Most importantly, the Martial Arts Cultural Center will foster a welcoming family environment.

We recognize the importance of sharing cultural traditions and knowledge with future generations, and the Martial Arts Cultural Center will prioritize education and outreach efforts aimed at promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. We seek to create a friendly and all-encompassing environment that fosters curiosity, respect, and appreciation for the diversity and richness of culture.

Through the Martial Arts Cultural Center, we hope to promote cultural exchange and collaboration between the Japanese community and the local community in San Diego. Our Center will serve as a bridge between Japanese and non-Japanese individuals and organizations, promoting mutual understanding, cooperation, and friendship.

Overall, the mission is to establish a Japanese Center that celebrates the beauty and significance of Japan's culture, history, and traditions, while fostering greater awareness, understanding, and appreciation among people from all walks of life.

Establishing a Martial Arts Cultural Center is an excellent way to promote and preserve both Martial Arts and Japanese culture and traditions, both within the local community and beyond. Such a center can offer a range of facilities and programs, including traditional meditation gardens, martial arts training, a museum, a farm, and an Edo feudal village, that can help people learn about and appreciate Japan’s rich heritage.

The martial arts training facility will offer instruction in various disciplines such as karate, kobudo, and kendo to name but a few martial arts. Martial Arts have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their focus on physical fitness, discipline,and self-defense.

The traditional mediation gardens can provide a tranquil setting for visitors to relax and enjoy the beauty of Japanese horticulture, which has a long history of artistic expression. It can also serve as a venue for cultural events, such as tea ceremonies, calligraphy, healing seminars, Japanese language classes, flower arrangement classes, and traditional music and dance performances.

The museum can showcase Japanese art, history, and culture, and provide an opportunity for people to learn about Japan’s rich heritage.

The farm can provide a unique experience for visitors to learn about Japanese farming practices, including traditional rice cultivation and other agricultural practices that have been passed down through generations.

Finally, the Edo feudal village can recreate an authentic experience of life in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868), allowing visitors and school children to learn about Japan’s rich history and culture.