From left to right, Mario Leon, Kathy Ernest, Jim Ernest and Kiera MacKenzie Lake stand alongside Koei Nohara, President of Ryukyukan Federation, after a successful Testing Ceremony. Photo courtesy of Sarah Hersman

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Ramtown Karate, 1680 N. Lincoln St., saw great success Nov. 2 at the 23rd Annual Ryukyukan International Karate and Kobudo Tournament. Three hundred and seventy competitors, over 50 of which were Ramtown students, participated in the largest tournament Ramtown has ever run, and the largest karate competition in the area.

Athletes across California, Nevada, North Carolina and Washington competed in Kata (a system of training exercises for martial arts practitioners), sparring and weapons. Sensei Jim Ernest, chief instructor of Ramtown Karate and City of Dixon Councilman, could not be prouder of the tournament's turnout.

“We have received letters from the other schools that they had a great time in Dixon and will be back next year,” Ernest said. “This was a great tournament because the schools that joined us brought a high level of competition this year.  Our own Ramtown athletes did very well.  We would have to say that this tournament was a great success.”

Ernest, a former top ten collegiate wrestler in the Northeast, moved to Boston, where he fell in love with karate, choosing to train in Shotokan Karate under Kazumi Tabata, an eighth-degree Grand Master in Shotokan. A year later, Ernest moved to Connecticut to continue his training; this is when he met his wife, Sensei Kathy Ernest, the President of Ramtown Karate Inc. and another instructor.

“When he returned to Connecticut, he continued training, and I joined him in one of his classes and we have never stopped since then,” Kathy Ernest said. “For Jim, it was another combat sport that he excelled at.  For me, it was self-defense training to start, and then competitions and finally a love for teaching.”

Sensei Ernest receives his eighth-degree black belt from Sensei Koei Nohara. His wife, Kathy Ernest, cheers for his accomplishment. Photo courtesy of Sarah Hersman

The Ernests’ passion and drive have created some of the most talented martial arts practitioners in Northern California, such as William Kuykendall and Lazer Ingram, who recently earned their first-degree black belts, or Lucky Cruz and John Ingram, who earned their second-degree black belts.

“All Ryukyukan students are taught and expected to follow the rules of good manners, helpfulness and honesty,” Ernest said. “This is a team effort with our families. To achieve discipline and motivation, we practice private reprimand and public praise.  Students are expected to perform; they learn to handle the bumps and bruises that come with a combat sport.  Our instructors teach by example and our students are motivated by the quality of our instructors.”

Karate master and president of the Okinawa Karatedo Shorinryu Ryukyukan and the All Ryukyu’s Full Contact Karatedo Federation, Sensei Koei Nohara, gave a seminar to the Ramtown students Nov. 3, signing each student’s belt in Japanese Kanji; Ernest met Nohara in the early 90’s, choosing to join his Ryukyukan Okinawan Karate Organization soon after meeting him. The seminar was followed by a Testing Ceremony for students who had earned their black belts or higher. Alongside the previously mentioned four, Kiera Mackenzie Lake, a member of the Team USA Karate Team, earned her third-degree black belt; she will be joined on Team USA by Anna Anderson, who has earned her first-degree black belt. Anderson will also be an instructor soon, joining Fernando Valenzuela and Mario Leon, who was awarded his fourth-degree black belt.

“So many of our students who come to visit us from college, or the military have told us that they were asked to lead teams,” Mrs. Ernest said. “They stand out as leaders and know how to build a team of hard workers.  Jim is a leader in our community and as a City Councilman, he works to keep Dixon a great place to live.  As we ask of our students, we strive to contribute to our communities… Karate has helped us all to push ourselves to be the best we can be.”

Sensei Jim Ernest also earned his eighth-degree black belt, making him the only eighth-degree black belt in the Ryukyukan organization.

Sensei Jim Ernest announces the winners of the Knockdown Divisions at the 23rd Annual Ryukyukan International Karate and Kobudo Tournament, Nov. 2. Photo courtesy of Sarah Hersman

A potluck with Ramtown’s staff and students was held immediately following the Testing Ceremony; the student body surprised the Ernests with a commemorative plaque, honoring their 30 years of service operating Ramtown Karate; originally founded as the Ernest School of Self Defense in 1978, the name and structure of the school evolved into Ramtown Karate over time.

Jim and Kathy Ernest intend to continue to foster leaders and have awarded 56 black belts since Ramtown’s establishment in August of 1994. The impact of the couple’s legacy cannot be understated.

“Kathy and I continue to teach and mentor, but plan to take a little more time to see the world,” Ernest said in closing.

For more information, or to sign up for classes, visit www.ramtownkarate.com, or call 707-678-4899.