Welcome

Hanshi Gary McGuinness began his Martial Arts training in 1974 at the Harry Hamzy School of Self Defense. In August of 1976, Hanshi McGuinness moved to Tempe, Arizona to attend graduate school at Arizona State University (ASU) and began his training in Hayashi-Ha Shito Ryu Karate and Kenshin Ryu Kobudo under Mr. Rudy Crosswell (and Hayashi Teruo Sensei). In December 1978, Hanshi McGuinness earned his Shodan in Hayashi Ha Shito Ryu and shortly thereafter earned Shodan in Kenshin Ryu Kobudo.

 

In February of 1980, Hanshi McGuinness returned to New England (Billerica, MA) and began teaching Karate and Kobudo at the local Boys and Girls club. He continued his training diligently and was promoted to Nidan in 1982 and then Sandan in 1987 directly by Hayashi Teruo Sensei. 

 

In April 1988, Hanshi McGuinness began his training in Okinawan Goju Ryu under Chinen Teruo Sensei augmenting his core training in Hayashi Ha Shito Ryu. He continued training directly under Chinen Sensei until 2000. Later in 1988 Hanshi McGuinness began training Karate and Kobudo under Hanshi John Sells and has continued as his student to present day

 

In April of 1992, Hanshi McGuinness was promoted to Yondan in Hayashi Ha Shito Ryu and Sandan in Kenshin Ryu Kobudo.

 

In April 1994, Hanshi McGuinness was introduced to Mabuni Kenzo Soke at seminars in Albany, NY and Phoenix. AZ sponsored by Mr. Rudy Crosswell. As a result of these seminars, Hanshi McGuinness decided to seek direct affiliation with Kenzo Soke and was accepted as a direct student shortly thereafter (note Hanshi Sells, Moon, Gordon, Cantin, Arrighi and Bartholomay were also accepted as direct students at this time). Kenzo Soke started traveling to the USA on a regular basis to teach his newly accepted students and soon after created the Shito Ryu USA Karate Do Kai. In May 1995 during a month-long visit to the East Coast USA, Hanshi McGuinness was promoted to Godan.

 

In July 1996, at the request of Kenzo Soke, Hanshi McGuinness (and others) traveled to Osaka, Japan and stayed at the Shito Ryu Hombu Dojo where he received daily training with Kenzo Soke. At the conclusion of the two-week visit, Hanshi McGuinness was promoted to Rokudan with Shihan title and named as Technical Director of Shito Ryu USA Karate Do Kai.  

 

As part of this visit, the Seito Shito Ryu International Tai Kai was instituted as a biannual event to bring together all practitioners of Seito Shito Ryu continuing to this day. The East Coast Shihan hosted the 1st Tai Kai at Mount Holyoke College in 1997as well as the 6th Tai Kai at Lake Placid in 2007. At the 2nd Tai Kai in Spokane, WA, Hanshi McGuinness was promoted to Nandan and then at the 5th Tai Kai in Osaka, Japan Hanshi McGuinness was promoted to Hachidan with Hanshi title. Hanshi McGuinness teaches regularly at the Tai Kai events as well as most other Gasshuku he attends.