In 1995 Santos sensei opened his first dojo; Sunstate Aikido dojo in Orlando Florida. That same year he met Larry Reynosa Sensei one of Shihan Steven Seagal’s students. It was at this point that he was introduced to the Seagal philosophy and a powerful style of Aikido known as Tenshin Aikido. Luis Santos then became a student of Haruo Matsuoka sensei who at the time was Seagal Shihan’s top disciple and Chief Instructor of Tenshin Bugei Gauken in LA. Late in 1998, Matsuoka sensei returned to Japan. It was then that Santos sensei began training under Shihan Fumio Toyoda (Aikido Association of America). Shihan Toyoda promoted Santos sensei to Nidan, then Sandan.

In tandem with his Aikido, Sensei Santos began training in Ryu Sei Ken Kenjutsu, under Master Mitsuhiro Saruta. In October of 1998 Sensei Santos was promoted to Shodan by Master Mitsuhiro Saruta Soke of Ryu Sei Ken. Saruta is the head of the International Batto Do Shizan Association in Osaka Japan. In 2001 Santos Sensei attended a training and meeting with Seagal Shihan and was accepted as a direct student. Attaining this direct link to Seagal Shihan was a dream come true for Santos sensei. Seagal sensei renamed Santos sensei Dojo to SeiZan Dojo, which translates to “sacred mountain” this name was given to Santos sensei for becoming a student of Seagal sensei and for continuing to spread the spirit and belief of Tenshin Bugei Gauken.

Santos sensei took 1st place in 1998 Tai Kai Tameshigri (Sword cutting) / 1998 Santos sensei took 1st place in Goshinken (padded sword sparring). Santos Sensei currently holds 3 back to back ISKA World Self Defense Championships.