Sensei Rod Sanford, owner and Chief instructor, was studying Judo by 1960. In 1964 he began studying Traditional Japanese Karate. From 1965 to 1970 he also studied Ju-Jutsu: In 1967 he joined the Butoku-Kai and began to study Shorinji-ryu Karate under Master Richard Kim. Under Master Kim he has studied Aiki-Jujutsu, Okinawan and Japanese Weaponry, Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing Yi, and P'a Kua. He studies martial arts history, tradition and philosophy and has successfully completed the International Coaches and Judges courses through the I.T.K.F. Sensei Sanford began teaching the Martial Arts in 1967 and now teaches full-time.

 Sensei Sanford has studied Goju-Ryu Karate under Master Tomoharu Kisaki, President of the Japan Karate-Do Gojiu-Ryu Yuisbinkan. He has studied under Master Kenei Mabuni, Sohke (Head House) of Shito-Ryu Karate, And he has studied Shotokan Karate under such greats as Masters Hidetaka Nishiyama, Masatoshi Nakayama, Hiroshi Shoji, Taiji Kase, Torn Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Shirai, Masaka Ueki, Hideki Okamoto, and Keinosuke Enoeda.

Sensei Sanford studied Aikido with Sensei Robert Koga for many years and has trained in Aikijujutsu under Soshi Siego Okamoto of the Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu Roppokai, Japan and Sohke Don Angier, successor of Yanagi-Ryu Aikijujutsu. He has also studied Ju-Jutsu under Professor Wally Jay and Master John Chow-Hoon. And has trained in Gracie Ju-Jutsu with Ralph and Caesar Gracie.

Sensei Sanford has taught martial arts on behalf of Master Richard Kim in France and Great Britain.

 Sensei Sanford studied engineering and law enforcement in college. Later he studied Vocational Education and Adult Learning at the University of California. He holds a Community College Instructor's credential. Besides teaching here he has been an instructor and consultant in police tactics at a number of California community colleges and police academies. He is the president of the Pacific Institute of Defensive Tactics and through his institute teaches instructor level courses for law enforcement agencies and through community colleges. In 1994 he was nominated for the Governor's Award for his contributions to law enforcement training in California. In 1996 he assisted as a subject matter expert for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training and Arizona P.O,S,T, in developing a telecommunications course on. Handling Violent Persons, This course has been broadcasted nation-wide for law enforcement training.

MASTER RICHARD KIM: In 1967 Sensei Sanford began studying Shorinji-Ryu Karate with Master Richard Kim. Master Kim began his study of traditional Martial Arts in 1925. In Japan he studied the Budoju Happan, 18 martial arts of Japan. In addition he studied such arts as T'ai Chi Chuan, P'a Kua, Hsing Yi and Shorinji-Ryu for many years in China. Master Kim was the world's highest ranking man in Shorinji-Ryu Karate and was considered the world's foremost authority on Traditional Karate, Black Belt magazine has referred to him as, "Karate's Guiding Light" and he has been in the Black Belt Hall of Fame on a number of occasions throughout the years. He is a well known author and writer. At over 80 years of age he was extremely active teaching seminars throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. O’Sensei Kim passed away in 2001. His legacy however is carried on by Sensei Sanford and the Zen Bei Butoku-Kai North America throughout the world.