Welcome
Welcome to the Western Mass Dojo of New England Seito Shito Ryu. Andrew McGuinness Sensei, teaches the karate passed down to him from his father and teacher, Gary McGuinness Hanshi.
We focus on fundamental principals of physical conditioning, respect and courtesy, and a greater awareness. These are the aspects that are our foundation rests on as we take the journey into martial arts. Karate is an ongoing and learned process that one will undertake individually as well as apart of a Dojo Family. We apply these aspects through Practical self-defense and the Seito Shito Ryu curriculum as taught by Soke Kenzo Mabuni.
Andrew McGuinness Sensei
Sensei Andrew McGuinness has been a student of Shito Ryu Karate since 1989 in the Hombu Dojo, Billerica Massachusetts, of Hanshi Gary McGuinness. His journey began under the training and influnences of Hayashi-Ha Shito Ryu and Sensei Teruo Chinen (Goju Ryu).
Karate has been a life-long journey for Sensei Andrew. Starting at such a young age he was exposed to many karate influences, Hanshi John Sells and Hanshi Paul Cantin were two of the greater karate mentors for him.
In 1994 Seito Shito Ryu was introduced to him by Soke Kenzo Mabuni and is what he currently studies. In 1995 Sensei Andrew traveled to Osaka Japan with five other high-level teachers and had the privilege to study directly with Soke Kenzo Mabuni in his Hombu Dojo. It was on this trip he also had the greatest of privileges to be directly tested and promoted to the rank of Shodan (1st degree), privately by Soke Kenzo Mabuni himself.
Since then, Karate has enabled Sensei Andrew to travel to many parts of the world including Australia, Canada, Singapore (2025), multiple trips back to Japan, and all over the United States. It was in Japan (2023) where he was promoted to the rank of Yondan (4th degree) and was able to represent his dojo of Western Mass in the International Seito Shito Ryu Tai kai.
Karate has given him much opportunity in life and with that he has developed great relationships within the martial arts community. Now, Sensei Andrew strives to develop his own students in the Western Mass Seito Shito Ryu Dojo.