Jose Sanchez

Rokudan candidate at the 2025 UechiCon

BUTOKUKAN - Seventy-Four years young - Began Training in 1983

Original Sensei: Ron LaBrie

I began my karate training in New York City while working as an air traffic controller in order to reduce stress, develop strength, and maintain focus in all my daily personal and professional responsibilities.

Since then, I have learned that karate is a holistic endeavor that improves not only physical fitness, enhanced coordination, mental, emotional benefits, but also enhances equanimity to address difficult situations with a calm mind and spirit. Throughout my professional careers, I always rely on my training to help me develop thoughtful solutions to any task I may face.

Whenever I am inevitably asked, "Have you ever used your karate?" my response is always, "Everyday." As taught by my sensei, I always take my karate with me. At camp '90, Master Tomayosi said to me at the final banquet: "You look Okinawan." I replied: "You look Puerto Rican" and he burst out laughing. We were two strangers meeting from lands apart but karate and humor bound us together. I treasure my picture of us sitting on a bench during one of the breaks in training.