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Shorin Ryu Karate Promotions for August 2010
Ramtown Karate held Ryukyukan Shorin Ryu Karate promotional grading on August 28, 2010. Luck was not needed for this group of 13 students, who have been training hard and were well prepared for the test. The group came together to deliver great energy and enthusiasm, battling through the difficult workout that is part of this test. Top test of the month went to Bradley Immel, Ramtown's newest Blue Belt.
| YELLOW BELT |
ORANGE BELT |
BLUE BELT |
| Devin Babot |
Lauren Haspis |
Bradley Immel |
| Shannon Barrett |
Kiera MacKenzie |
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| Ian Cuyun |
Tyler Neenan |
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| Pedro DelaTorre |
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| Antonio Fernandez |
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| Melissa Gruneau |
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| Alex Gutierrez |
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| Heather Kerr |
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| Sarah Koller |
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| Alex Jamison |
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| Christopher Shupe |
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Ramtown Grapplers Medal at the Sacramento Grappling X Tournament
Ramtown MMA Team Captain Ben Ernest and Ramtown MMA Brown Belt Curtis Winchester represented Dixon at the Sacramento area Grappling X Tournament held at Elk Grove High School on August 29, 2010. Although well known for their standup game, both grapplers looked strong in a tournament mainly comprised of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schools, MMA pros and high school/college wrestling champions.
Curtis Winchester took a gold medal in his 185 pound class, showing good technical grappling and that extra "kick" that comes from his training regimen and diet. Curtis has won 9 Golds in a row in Full Contact Karate, and now adds this grappling Gold to his collection. This win helps even out his combat skills and confident mind set needed in Mixed Martial Arts which mixes standup fighting and ground fighting. Curtis is currently listed as a "CAMO" (California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts) competitor, and is being contacted by MMA fight promoters for a cage fight. Curtis stated: I feel good in the stand up arena, and now have more confidence in my ground game".
Ben Ernest competed at the 195 pound division, handily defeating his first two opponents with a display of technique, speed and explosive power. Ben's third match was for First/Second place. Ben attacked his opponent with an Anaconda Choke, but his opponent was able to reverse the position giving Ben a Second Place for the day. Coach Jim Ernest stated: "Submission Grappling is gaining ground fast as one of America's most popular sports. I can see why; it's really exciting to watch a match where a slight mistake or flash of great technique can change the game and end up in a submission. This was a great tournament to test our ground game against other teams." |
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Ramtown Instructors Train with Martial Arts Celebrities on Independence Day Weekend
Ramtown Karate instructors had the opportunity to train and discuss martial arts with many of the celebrities who dominate today's martial arts sports and news.
The annual martial arts convention was held on Independance Day weekend in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand the day after the UFC fight at the same venue.
Sensei's Ben, Charlie and Nicole worked on thier karate with Lyoto Machida, Bill Superfoot Wallace, Benny the Jet Urquidez, and John Hackleman of the Pitt.
Sensei Jim had fun defending against knives in low light with the Krav Maga group, and discussed the advantages of kids growing up in a karate school with Frank Mir.
Sensei Ben tried out Matt Hugh's Cage Fittness program and compaired it to our FightFit: He likes both!
The Ramtown instrucrtors had a great time and came back with lots of great ideas for pumping up the workouts this fall. |
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Ramtown Shorin-ryu Karate Promotions for July, 2010
Seven tested and seven promoted at Ramtown Karate's monthy grade testing held on Saturday, July 31. 2010. Those testing had been doing their summer homework, practicing their karate to produce an outstanding test in which everyone promoted. Outstanding test of the month was given to Wesley Tonks, who promoted to Purple Belt. Congratulations to all! Results:
| Todd Hulbert, Yellow |
Andrew Porch, Orange |
Sarah Pereverziev, Yellow
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Keegan Divine, Blue |
| Caleb Short, Yellow |
Wesley Tonks, Purple |
| Andrew Smith, Yellow |
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Dixon Karate Instructor Teaches a Class in Okinawa, Japan
Reprinted from the Dixon Tribune, Dixon, CA July 13, 2010
Kathy Ernest, instructor and co-owner of Ramtown Karate in Dixon had a unique opportunity to teach children karate in Okinawa, Japan, the island where karate was born.
Mika Ueno, owner of a karate school in Japan invited her friend, Mrs. Ernest to co-teach her young men’s class of 50 boys ages 5-8. The boys were very excited to have a guest teacher from the US. Mrs. Ernest was immediately in her element teaching the kids, even with a difficult language barrier.
Mrs Ernest stated: “Kid's are so alike everywhere. Ueno Sensei's students wanted to show off their English skills along with their karate skills. It was easier to communicate with karate than with their limited English and my limited Japanese.” During class the boys were very disciplined, but after class the younger boys wanted to high five and climb on Mrs. Ernest, very much like our own young students here in Dixon. Okinawan parents encourage their children to practice Okinawan karate; it is considered one of their cultural treasures. Ueno Sensei will be in Dixon in November for Ramtown Karate's annual international tournament. Mrs. Ernest plans to ask her to co-teach a Ramtown class. The Ernest's were in Okinawa for the Ryukyukan Full Contact Tournament held each June by Okinawan karate master Koei Nohara and his Ryukyukan organization. |
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Okinawa 2010
June 21, 2010:
Update from Okinawa: The Dixon Ryukyukan Team is in Okinawa training and competing from June 15 through June 29. They are competing, judging, training, learning, meeting with friends and touring.
Ramtown Karate instructors Jim, Kathy, and Ben Ernest arrived in Okinawa Japan on Wednesday. It is the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the hot and humid season in the Ryukyu Islands, the largest of which is Okinawa. The UK and US teams are staying in a new hotel in Tomari, a small fishing port in Naha City. They train at Hanshi Nohara's honbu dojo in Urasoe each day, trying to acclimate to the weather.
Karren Janata from the Ryukyukan London dojo took some great pictures below:
On Sunday, the 18th Annual All Ryukyu's Full Contact Karate Tournament was held in Ginowan at Kokusai Daigatgu (International University). The university gym is not air conditioned and temperatures shot to the ninties with sweltering 90% humidity. Hanchi Nohara's tournament has become big: A seven ring, 420 competitor tournament, drawing Gojuryu, Shorinryu and Uechiryu dojos from all over the Ryukyu Prefecture, the area where karate began hundreds of years ago. Sensei's Jim, Kathy and Ben judged kata, seeing some of the best performances of karate kata that can be seen anywhere in the world. Many competetors are discendents of the origional karateka who developed karate and the katas most karate schools practice today. The Ryukyu Kobudo and Okinawa Kubudo teams showed up in large numbers hoping to best each other with their traditional weapon kata.
The Ryukyukan Dixon team was represented by Sensei Ben in the Full Contact and kata divisions. The England, Tokyo, and Miakojima Ryukyukan teams where also present. Sensei Ben's fight was a good one, tying his first round after a few near scores with his well known head kicks. The next round was well fought, but neither fighter could get a solid scoring blow. As is the custom, the fight went to the scales, Sensei Ben was topped by his opponent who weighed slightly less. Great effort, Sensei Ben!
The next morning, Hanchi Nohara took the English and American teams to a beautiful beach with clear blue tropical water. Sensei's Ben, Jim, and Kathy went to dinner with long time full contact champion and friend Wilson Rodriguez. Sensei Rodruguez promised to come to California soon.
Living in Tomari, walking on the bay, and eating traditional Okinawan food is a real living karate history lesson for the Ramtown Karate instructor team. There were three origional styles of karate: Naha te, Tomari te, and Shuri te. Naha was a large international port; Shuri te was the style practiced by the warriors of Shuri Castle. Tomari was where tough, hard working fishermen practiced their form of karate. Although Tomari is now a popular vacation destination, one can almost feel the presence of the ancient Tomari te masters who lived, worked, and trained there.
Sensei Ben leaves for Dixon tomorrow, Sensei's Jim and Kathy will study kata and kobudo with Hanchi Nohara for one more week. Some photos and video clips will follow... |
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IFK Tournament 2010
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| Brandon Divine gets a 3 point mawashigeri. |
Wyatt Erwin battled in the intermediate Men's Division for 1st place
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| Taylor Schene goes for a chudantsuki. |
Sensei Charlie gets an ashibarai.
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| Amanda Kim took a 1st place in her division. |
Brandon Castillo gets a mawashigeri. |
The International Karate Federation held its annual karate tournament in Sacramento on Saturday June 12th. This is generally a very competitive tournament, drawing champions from all over California at well as other states including Hawaii. This year was especially exciting because Sensei Limcaco held a training camp for Elite/Nationals fighters, and a number of USA Team members competed at the tournament. Sensei Charlie Ernest and Sensei Nicole Umphenour participated in the training camp and the tournament.
Ramtown had a great day. Amanda Kim took 1st in her kata and kumite (sparring) divisions. Robin Harris also took a first in his fighting division. Alex Shehan took a 3rd in Kata, and a 2nd in kumite. Colin Ellis brought home two 3rd's. Tyler Kim took 1st in Kata and kumite. Tyler Neenan also took 1st in both of his divisions. Conner Millard took two silvers. Marco Baldwin brought home a 3rd in kata and a 2nd in sparring. Taylor Schene fought through a field of 10 to take a first place. Angelina Castillo took a silver in kumite. Kiera MacKenzie took a 2nd in kata. Harlee Bingaman took a 3rd in kata. Bayley Stoner took a bronze in kata, and Jacob Stoner took a third in kata. Brandon Divine has moved up to the intermediate division, and fought through a field of 10 fighters for 1st place. Wyatt Erwin took gold in kumite. Nicole Umphenour took a silver in women's advanced kumite, loosing her last fight to Shannon Ishi, US National Team member.
Great job to all! |
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Oyama Fighters Cup 2010
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Sensei Ben Ernest prepares Aaron Turchee and
Wyatt Erwin for their fights.
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Sensei Charlie Ernest throws one of his knee attacks
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Wyatt Erwin throwning a head kick, maegeri.
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Sensei Charlie getting ready to leg kick.
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The Ramtown team traveled to San Francisco on June 6th to support World Oyama Karate's 6th Annual Fighter's Cup. This tournament is open to kids and adults and features semi-contact and full contact karate competition. Both divisions award points based to the effectiveness of the blow, by observing how the fighter receiving the blow reacts. Semi requires protective pads, full contact is a no pads contest. Ramtown entered four fighters. Erin Turchee entered the Semi-contact division in the beginner category, winning his first bout and losing his second for a third place in his division.
Wyatt Erwin, a high school graduating senior, stepped up to the men's semi-contact intermediate division for the first time. Wyatt's conditioning and techniques were at a high level, but lost his first fight in a decision. Wyatt said after the fight that he would now have to get used to his new division, the men fighters are stronger and more solid than the high school fighters he has met in past years. Curtis Winchester fought semi-contact men's heavyweight advanced. Curtis had a tough fight, innitially surprised by the power and energy of his opponent. But the hard work that Curtis has been doing at Ramtown began to show in his overtime round when his opponent began to fade. Curtis landed a heavy right had at the end of the second round, injuring his opponent's ribs and ending the bout, giving Curtis the gold medal. Charlie Ernest was the only Ramtown fighter to enter the full contact division in the men's lightweight weight class. Sensei Charile fought a strong first three minute round, which ended in a tie sending the fighters to a second two minute round. At the end of the second round the fighters were still tied, and continued for another two minute round. Again, a close round, the match went to judges' decision, and the opponent won by decision. Sensei Charlie's knees and leg kicks were in great form during the fight. After the fight, Sensei Charlie stated that he would work more on leg flexibility and conditioning to give his high kicks an extra boost for next time. Many coaches and spectators asked why Sensei Ben Ernest did not compete in the heavyweight full contact division. The answer is: Sensei Ben leaves in a week for the All Ryukyus Full Contact Tournament in Okinawa Japan, and is at the end of his training cycle for the Japan event. Good luck in Japan Sensei Ben!
The Sixth Oyama Cup was a great tournament with top competitors, outstanding demonstrations, and good group of enthusiastic spectators. The Ramtown Team left in high spriits, already planning to attend the event next year. |
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Shorinryu Karate Testing for May 2010: Seven Brown Belts!
On Saturday May 29, 2010, Ramtown Karate held our monthly Shorinryu Ryukyukan formal testing. Seven karateka promoted to a Brown Belt rank during this test, a first ever for Ramtown Karate in almost 30 years of testing! The highest ranks awarded (Ikkyu) are the closest step to Black Belt. One of five new ikkyus, Marie Whitney-Fawcett has been with us for 10 years, and will leave in September for college at UCLA. Jesse Hawthorne, another long time member will soon begin his new life in the US Navy. We wish Marie and Jesse the very best, and hope to maintain the wonderful relationship that we have built with them over the years. Robin Tully will continue to train, improving her karate skills, and working toward her Black Belt. Curtis Winchester will also stay and work toward Black Belt, and is currently training to fight in the Oyama Full Contact Karate tournament in San Francisco June 6th. Julie Janus, a Rocklin Dojo student also promoted to Ikkyu and continues to prepare for her Black Belt with Sensei Scott Janus. Great job all, what a test!
| Brown Belt (Ikkyu) |
Brown Belt (Nikyu) |
Green Belt (Gokyu) |
Yellow Belt (Nanakyu) |
| Curtis Winchester |
Alonzo Alatorre
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Jennifer Veler
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Jamie Bair
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Jesse Hawthorne
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Mario Leon
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Michelle Shihan
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Mace Moreno
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Marie Whitney-Fawcett
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Purple Belt (Sankyu)
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Tracy Neenan
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Sebastian Gutierrez
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Robin Tully
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Karen Tonks
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MacRae Dudman
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Liam Coyle |
| Julie Janus |
Blue Belt (Yonkyu)
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Chase Veler
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Juan Ambriz
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Ramtown Karate 3rd Annual Open House
On May 22, 2009, Ramtown Karate celebrated its 2nd year in our new facility. Old friends and students came to play, and new friends came to see and try
the Ramtown Karate programs. Thank you for two great years in the new Ramtown Karate dojo!
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Okinawan Karate Masters Visit Los Angeles
Ramtown Karate's head instructor and Ryukyukan international vice president Jim Ernest flew south on May 7, 2010 to attend a function celebrating Okinawan culture. Classical Fighting Arts Magazine and Dragon Times Productions publisher David Chambers participated in the week long Los Angeles Okinawa Expo by arranging a visit and seminar by three Karate masters from Okinawa.
The seminar took place at the six acre Japanese Gardens of Burbank California, in a traditional Japanese structure situated in the center of the Japanese garden. Hanchi Zenpo Shimabukuro presented traditional kata from his Seibukan Shorinryu organization. Hanchi Minoru Higa taught the fast and powerful punches and blocking techniques that he and his Shorinryu Kyudokan karate-do Federation are famous for. Hanchi Isamu Arakaki, president of Okinawa Karatedo Rengokai taught the finer points of Okinawan Shorinryu karate, adjusting balance points on students to improve their technique and effectiveness.
Mr. Ernest was happy to be included as one of the 20 students at the seminar stating, "What a beautiful place to train, and a great opportunity to learn from three of the world's best karate instructors, it was a great experience".
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