Sensei Richard Pietrelli began his martial arts career over 30 years ago and during that time has trained at many different dojos in North America, Japan and China. He holds the Kaiden Level (6th Dan) in Kashima Shin Ryu Kenjutsu and godan (5th Dan) in Danzan Ryu JuJitsu. He is one of the five Founding  Members of the Kashima Shin Ryu Federation of Martial Sciences - North America, an official branch of the World Kashima Shin Ryu Federation of Martial Sciences based in Japan and headed by the current 19th generation headmaster, Dr. Humitake Seki.

Sensei Pietrelli is currently the head instructor of the Fusuikan Martial Arts Center, which he founded sixteen years ago - now with two locations, one in Eureka, California and the other in Fortuna, California.