Mr. Jose "Big Ram" Ramirez

MASTER JOSE “BIG RAM” RAMIREZ
4TH DEGREE (MASTER) IN TAEKWONDO, 3RD DEGREE BLACK BELT IN AMERICAN TANG SOO DO, SIFU IN BAI LUNG CHUAN FA KUNG FU, MAESTRO IN DEROBIO STYLE ESCRIMA,

SPORT KARATE MUSEUM HISTORY GENERAL, MASTER INSTRUCTOR AT THE UNITED STATES

MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME, TRAINING CAMP.

Master Jose “Big Ram” Ramirez was born in Puerto Rico in October 1972, but moved to San Antonio, Texas, at the age of thirteen. Master Ramirez always had a passion for martial arts and, at the age of seventeen, he began studying American Tang Soo Do under Master Art Lopez (TKA), found at Randolph AFB. Due to Master Lopez having to take orders to another base, Master Ramirez was forced to continue his martial arts journey by himself. On Dec 8, 1993, Master Ramirez joined the United States Navy and while in the Navy, Master Ramirez continued training and enhanced his martial arts by learning other disciplines including Kenpo, Jujitsu, Hapkido, Escrima, and Taekwondo, becoming proficient in each.

While stationed in Japan, Master Ramirez met his wife, Kayo, and they welcomed their son, Gio, in 2003. Soon after, in 2004, the Navy transferred him and his family to Hawaii where the entire Ramirez clan would begin their formal Taekwondo training. This led to earning several black belt degrees for each of them, which eventually led into founding a martial arts studio, Christian Taekwondo League, which Master Ramirez, and his family now run in San Antonio, teaching men, women, and children of all ages.

Christian Taekwondo League is a faith based martial arts facility which teaches a blend of Taekwondo and American Tang Soo Do, as well as Wing Chun based self-defense and Escrima based weapons techniques. Master Ramirez conducts promotion tests semi-annually and is sought after to sit on other boards throughout Texas and other states, which attests to his mastery in helping preserve the integrity of the martial arts. Master Ramirez is continually seeking ways to learn and keeps his programs current by supporting tournaments as a judge, promotion tests, attends seminars yearly, and presents his own seminars in Taekwondo, weapons, and self-defense. In 2023 he attended the Taky Kimura Tribute Seminar & Instructors Conference in Seattle, Washington. He also attends private lessons with Kyoshi Sandy Larwood once a week, meeting, and training with other TKA members. Master Ramirez meets with his Eskrima instructor weekly, in preparation for his own belt promotions. In 2020 and 2023, he had the honor in Conducting a Tactical Knife Offense/Defense seminar at the International Martial Arts Council of America’s National Training Camp, in 2022/2023 he attended the North Texas Karate Academy, Christian martial camp where he teaches knife defense and share the word of God to kids and adults alike. Master Ramirez also attends numerous leadership training courses via zoom, held by Professor John Terry, President of the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame and constantly keeps up with the current laws concerning the License to Carry in Texas by attending

gun training every year.

In 2023 his son, Sam Dan Gio Ramirez, became the Vice President of the Taekwondo Club at the University of Miami and for that reason Master Ramirez started a leadership/mentorship camp in San Antonio, Texas for the members of the University of Miami Taekwondo club.

In July 2018 Master Ramirez promoted to 4th degree Black Belt (Master) in Taekwondo and currently holds the rank of Sam Dan 3rd Degree Black Belt in American Tang Soo Do under GM Johnny Thompson and is recognized as Sifu in the Art of Bai Lung Chuan Fa Kung Fu under Shidai Shidai Saint Colon.

Master Ramirez was inducted into the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame, awarded Martial Artist of the Year, TKA Black Belt Instructor of the Year in 2016/2017, awarded TKA School of the Year 2017, promoted to “Maestro” (Filipino for “Instructor”) under his Escrima (Filipino Martial Arts) Instructor Tony Tanare in 2017, his Dojo was inducted by the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Faith Based School of the Year 2018. In September 2018, Master Ramirez was selected to become a Sport Karate Museum, History General and, in 2023, was awarded Edge Weapons Instructor of the year by The United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame.