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Jim Ernest
Mr. Ernest is the chief instructor at Ramtown Karate. He began boxing training as a child under his father, who was a US Marine boxer. Mr. Ernest wrestled on high school teams in California and New Jersey. He was on the football starting line up and winning varsity 191-pound wrestler in a small college in Pennsylvania. In 1973, Mr. Ernest began training in Shotokan Karate under Mr. Tabata in Boston. A year later, Mr. Ernest moved to Connecticut, training under Mr. Hamzy and Mr. Rossi, earning his black belt in Ketsuka, a karate and jujutsu mixed martial arts style, in 1977. He was an active East Coast tournament competitor, bouncer, and bodyguard to celebrities (Ian Anderson, Jerry Garcia). Mr. Ernest married Kathy and moved to Dixon California. He and his wife began teaching martial arts at the University of California, Davis. His friend and training partner Dennis Alexio became the World Heavyweight Kickboxing champion. Entering a career as peace officer, supervisor and trainer in California’s maximum-security prisons, Mr. Ernest served the State of California for 20 years. After years of training, Mr. Ernest was awarded a Fifth Degree belt under the Ketsuka system in 1993. Mr. Ernest met Okinawan karate master Koei Nohara in the early 90’s. Mr. Ernest was deeply impressed with the knowledge, technique, and spirit contained in the original Shorinryu karate of Okinawa, and the effectiveness of Mr. Nohara’s international full-contact fighting team. Mr. Ernest joined Mr. Nohara’s Ryukyukan Okinawan Karate Organization, traveling to Japan and studying internationally under Ryukyukan. Mr. Ernest is currently ranked as Rokudan (6th degree), Renshi, and Ryukyukan International Vice President. Mr. Ernest is an avid martial arts researcher, with a full library of martial arts books and videos collected from all over the world. He is is also a certified Acupressurist. He is a Ryukyukan Full Contact Karate referee and judge, and a certified referee by USA Karate and the World Karate Federation (WKF) and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). Mr. Ernest uses his knowledge of strength training, jujutsu, grappling, kickboxing, and full contact karate to produce top karate and MMA athletes.
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Kathy Ernest
Sensei Kathy began her martial arts training in 1976, under her soon to be husband, Jim Ernest. From the beginning, she was a stand out karate competitor, winning more than her share of first places in East Coast competitions, and recognized as one of the very top East Coast fighters. She has competed nationally, and in Japan. Mrs. Ernest is also an accomplished business professional, retiring from a Silicone Valley firm in 2001. She is the president of Ramtown Karate, Inc., and childrens' programs training manager. She is passionate about the martial arts, and passionate about her students. Her dedication and deep caring for the Ramtown Karate membership as a whole is a big reason for the close family feeling Ramtown members enjoy today.
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Ben Ernest
Sensei Ben began his martial arts training at 5 years old, inspired by his dad Sensei Jim Ernest, and world champion kick boxer Dennis Alexio, who practiced in the garage at his home.
Sensei Ben trained in karate, jujutsu, savate, aikido, and judo under his father, kajukenbo under Alan Reyes, and practiced with kick boxer Eugene Ray. In Junior High, and in high school he trained and competed as an Olympic Style Weight Lifter. In High School, he was an active karate tournament competitor in Northern California as well as a linebacker on his championship football team in 1999.
He is now a schoolteacher in Dixon. He has been a team member on the IFL Lions, and Ken Shamrock’s Lions Den pro team, and pro training partner to Buddy Roberts and Vernon White.
Ben is always looking for good fighting and workout partners. His contact fighting team is growing in numbers and increasing in skill. His Saturday class is becoming a well known in the area. It is attracting professional athletes, driven karate students, MMA hopefuls, and police officers. He is always willing to wrestle or fight on Saturdays; anyone can come to the gym to work out, and try a Ramtown MMA class. Come and see him at Ramtown.
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Charlie Ernest
Sensei Charlie began his martial arts training under his parents at five years old in 1991. Sensei Charlie has competed in open circuit karate, wrestling and Judo. He is an active traditional sport karate kumite and kata competitor, competing at a national level in the USA Karate Nationals and the USA Open. Sensei Charlie is tall and thin, but has been most successful in the full contact and knockdown karate area, often defeating fighters who appear to be stronger. He has competed in full contact karate events in Europe, Japan, and the United States. Sensei Charlie uses form and strategy to succed in the ring, two attributes which make him a sought after teacher and coach at Ramtown Karate.
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Nicole Umphenour
Sensei Nicole has trained at Ramtown Karate since she was 7 years old. Her room is full of karate tournament trophies and medals. Having trained and competed in Japan and Europe, she is equally talented at historical karate forms, point tournament fighting, and full contact karate fighting. She performs Okinawan weapons kata with grace and skill. She has spent many hours with the Ramtown MMA team, respected as an amazing stand up fighter who can also hold her own on the ground. Sensei Nicole competed in the USA Karate Nationals last year, placing 2nd in the nation in Okinawan Karate Kata, and was picked as an alternate fighter for the USA Pan American Games Karate Team after loosing to the first place woman in the last 10 seconds of an overtime round. Because of her charismatic style, she is in high demand as a teacher at Ramtown Karate, popular with children and adults alike.
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Autumn Ernest
Sensei Autumn began her training at Ramtown Karate in the kickboxing-aerobics program. She had never thought of karate as something she would do. However, she was persuaded to try a class and became hooked. She trained hard and took interest in competing in fighting where she won mulitple titles here in Northern California. She trained through college at CSU Sacramento and her graduate program at UC Davis. She now has her Multiple Subject teaching credential, Special Education teaching credential, and a minor in Motor Skills Development. She brings all of her educational and martial arts training into Ramtown Karate's Little Dragons program, and the FightFit Cardio program.
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Joseph Bock
Sensei Joe is an everpresent teacher at Ramtown Karate, a dedicated student for nearly 30 years. He spends several months out of each year in Okinawa, and brings back insights of Okinawan culture to the Ramtown students. Sensei Joe displays the healthy benifits of Okinawan karate in his daily routine: Consistant training, healthy diet, and a positive spirit.
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Linda Talken
Sensei Linda has been training a Ramtown Karate since 1999. Her interests lie in traditional karatedo, including kata and kobudo (ancient weapons). She enjoys and practices practical self defense, and is a go-to teacher for self defense instruction. Sensei Linda is also an active sport karate judge, and can be found judging at USA Karate and AAU Karate tournaments in Northern California. |
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Susan Flynn
Sensei Susan began her training at Ramtown Karate in 1999. Her favorite parts of the martial arts are Okinawan kata, self defense, kobudo, sports training and kinesiology. Sensei Susan can be found teaching the adult beginner karate classes, and is a kickboxing aerobics instructor for Solano Community College. Sensei Susan is also a primary organizer of the November Ryukyukan International Karate Tournament.
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Bobby Niemann
Sensei Bobby started his martial arts training in 2000 and was promoted to black belt in 2006. He is an experienced full contact karate fighter, point fighter, and grappler. Ever present in the Ramtown weight room, he can be found doing his own weight training routines, and helping the newer athletes develop their strength routines. Sensei Bobby teaches traditional karate and is one of Ramtown’s MMA instructors. He still likes to get out on the mat and spar or grapple, and is a popular training partner during the MMA workouts.
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Theresa Cristobal
Sensei Theresa received her black belt in 2007. She enjoys sport kumite, kata, and practical self defense. Sensei Theresa has a way with kids, and is a popular instructor in the Ramtown Karate Little Dragons and Samurai Programs. An active Ramtown Karate instructor, Sensei Theresa can be found at numerous Ramtown events as organizer, teacher, and particpant.
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Jim Ernest - Rokudan (6th Dan), International Ryukyukan VP
Kathy Ernest - Godan (5th Dan), International Ryukyukan Director
Ben Ernest - Nidan (2nd Dan)
Scott Janus - Nidan (2nd Dan)
Nikki Christison - Nidan (2nd Dan)
Susie Motley - Nidan (2nd Dan)
Charlie Ernest - Nidan (2nd Dan)
Nicole Umphenour - Nidan (2nd Dan)
Bobby Niemann - Nidan (2nd Dan)
Karl Bock - Shodan (1st Dan)
Fernando Valenzuela - Shodan (1st Dan)
Joseph Bock - Shodan (1st Dan)
Linda Burke - Shodan (1st Dan)
Susan Flynn - Shodan (1st Dan)
Stephen Sewell - Shodan (1st Dan)
Anna Willard - Shodan (1st Dan)
Tom Zolot - Shodan (1st Dan)
Theresa Cristobal - Shodan (1st Dan)
Josh Eilers - Shodan (1st Dan)
Tim Schwab - Shodan (1st Dan)
Autumn Ernest - Shodan (1st Dan)
Pete Cristobal - Shodan (1st Dan)
Robin Tully - Shodan (1st Dan)
Curtis Winchester - Shodan (1st Dan)
Alonzo Alatorre - Shodan (1st Dan)
Wyatt Erwin - Shodan (1st Dan)
Mario Leon - Shodan (1st Dan)
Karen Tonks - Shodan (1st Dan)
Marie Whitney-Fawcett - Shodan (1st Dan)
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