Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Ramirez.
Hi Jose , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My martial arts journey began when I was 17 years old. At the time, I had no idea martial arts would become such an important part of my life or that one day I would use it to help shape the lives of others.
I began training in American Tang Soo Do under Master Art Lopez. What first attracted me to martial arts was learning how to defend myself, but I quickly discovered it offered much more. Martial arts taught me discipline, confidence, perseverance, respect, and the importance of finishing what I start.
In 1993, I joined the United States Navy. I proudly served for 20 years before retiring in 2013 as an Information Systems Technician First Class, IT1 (SW/IDW). My military career strengthened many of the same values I learned through martial arts: leadership, accountability, teamwork, sacrifice, and service to others.
After retiring from the Navy, I felt called to do something more with everything I had learned. In January 2014, I founded the Christian Taekwondo League. I didn’t want to build just another martial arts school. I wanted to create a place where martial arts, leadership, discipline, faith, and Christian values could work together to help develop stronger people.
Our creed became three simple words: FAITH – FOCUS – FINISH.
Another very important part of my journey has been my relationship with Grandmaster Johnny “Lightfoot” Thompson, President of The Karate Association. Grandmaster Thompson has had a tremendous impact on both my life and my martial arts journey.
His influence on me goes far beyond technique, rank, or competition. He has been a mentor and leader whose example has helped shape the instructor, coach, and martial artist I am today. Through him, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of martial arts tradition, leadership, loyalty, responsibility, and the importance of passing our knowledge to the next generation.
One of the things I’ve learned along the way is that none of us reaches our goals completely on our own. There are people God places in our lives who challenge us, guide us, believe in us, and sometimes see more in us than we see in ourselves. Grandmaster Thompson has been one of those people in my life, and I’m very grateful for his mentorship, friendship, and the trust he has placed in me.
Over the years, my purpose has grown far beyond teaching students how to kick, punch, compete, or earn a black belt. I’ve had the privilege of watching children who lacked confidence learn to believe in themselves. I’ve watched students learn how to handle winning and losing with respect. I’ve seen families grow together through martial arts, and I’ve watched students become instructors and leaders themselves.
My own martial arts journey has continued as well. I’ve trained in several martial arts systems, competed, coached athletes, continued advancing in rank, and received recognition that I never imagined receiving when I first walked into a martial arts school at 17 years old.
Today, I also have the honor of serving as Head Coach for the U.S. Martial Arts Team – South Texas Region, where I have the opportunity to help athletes from different schools and backgrounds reach higher levels of competition while developing discipline, sportsmanship, and leadership.
That work also helped inspire another important part of my journey: the South Texas U.S. Martial Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to help athletes and their families with some of the financial challenges associated with competition, travel, lodging, equipment, and other needs.
Through all the titles, ranks, awards, and accomplishments, however, I’ve tried never to lose sight of why I do this.
For me, martial arts has always been about people.
Today, after more than three decades in martial arts, my mission continues to grow. I want to use martial arts to develop confident young people, strong families, disciplined athletes, and future leaders. I want my students to understand that success isn’t simply about what you achieve for yourself. It’s also about what you do with what you’ve been given to help someone else.
When I look back at that 17-year-old who simply wanted to learn martial arts, I could never have imagined where this journey would take me. From my first instructor, Master Art Lopez, to my military service, to founding CTL, and to the mentorship and influence of Grandmaster Johnny “Lightfoot” Thompson, each chapter and each person has helped shape the man, instructor, and leader I am today.
I’m grateful for where the journey has taken me, but I don’t believe the story is finished. There’s still more to teach, more people to serve, more leaders to develop, and more work to do.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been many challenges along the way, both personally and professionally, but I believe those challenges have helped shape the person, instructor, and leader I am today.
Serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy taught me very early that life doesn’t always go according to plan. Military service required sacrifice, long hours, time away from family, and the ability to keep moving forward even when things became difficult. Those experiences taught me discipline, resilience, and responsibility.
Starting the Christian Taekwondo League in 2014 brought a completely different set of challenges. Building a martial arts school isn’t just about knowing how to teach martial arts. I had to learn how to run a business, manage finances, attract and retain students, communicate with parents, develop instructors, and make difficult leadership decisions.
There have been times when enrollment was strong and times when it wasn’t. I’ve lost students and had moments when I questioned whether I was making the right decisions. One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that doing what’s best for a student isn’t always the same as doing what’s easiest or most popular. I believe martial arts should teach accountability, discipline, respect, and hard work. Sometimes holding people to those standards means they may choose to leave.
I’ve also faced physical challenges and injuries over the years. Those experiences have forced me to adjust, be patient, and sometimes lead from the sidelines instead of being physically involved in everything. That’s difficult for someone who has spent most of his life training and teaching, but it has also reminded me that leadership is much bigger than what I can personally do on the floor.
Through all of it, my faith has remained the foundation that keeps me moving forward.
I’ve learned that struggles don’t necessarily mean you’re on the wrong path. Sometimes they’re the very things that prepare you for the next part of the journey.
I wouldn’t say I’ve enjoyed every challenge I’ve faced, but I wouldn’t erase them either. They’ve taught me patience, humility, perseverance, and how important it is to keep your faith, stay focused on the mission, and finish what you started.
That’s also why our creed—FAITH, FOCUS, FINISH—means so much to me. They’re not just words I teach my students. They’re principles I’ve had to live myself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Christian Taekwondo League?
Christian Taekwondo League (CTL) was founded in 2014 with a simple mission: to use martial arts as a tool to develop stronger people, stronger families, and future leaders.
We provide structured martial arts training for children, teens, and adults, with a strong focus on self-defense, discipline, confidence, respect, physical fitness, and leadership. While competition is an important part of what we do, our goal isn’t simply to create champions in the ring. We want to develop champions in life.
What sets CTL apart is the combination of traditional martial arts training, Christian values, and personal accountability. Our school creed is FAITH – FOCUS – FINISH. Those three words represent how we approach training and life: have faith, stay focused on the goal, and finish what you start.
We believe rank and achievement should be earned. Students are expected to work hard, practice, show respect, arrive prepared, and take responsibility for their growth. At the same time, we work hard to create a family atmosphere where students know their instructors truly care about them.
Our training includes Taekwondo and American Tang Soo Do, along with weapons, sparring, grappling, practical self-defense, and competition training. Students who want to compete can also receive higher-level coaching and opportunities to test themselves beyond the walls of our school.
One of the things I’m most proud of isn’t a trophy, championship, or award. It’s seeing a student who once lacked confidence begin to stand taller, speak with confidence, help another student, and eventually become a leader.
CTL has also become a place where martial arts reaches beyond our own school. We serve as the headquarters for the U.S. Martial Arts Team – South Texas Region, allowing me and our coaching staff to help athletes from different schools and martial arts backgrounds pursue opportunities at the national and international level.
At the end of the day, people may first walk through our doors because they want martial arts training, self-defense, discipline, fitness, or competition. What I hope they leave with is something much greater: character, confidence, faith, leadership, and the belief that they’re capable of accomplishing difficult things.
That’s what Christian Taekwondo League represents to me.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and moved to San Antonio, Texas, when I was 13 years old. Growing up, I was very different from the person many people know today.
I wasn’t always the confident martial arts instructor, military leader, or coach I’ve become. Like many young people, I was trying to figure out where I belonged and what direction my life would take. Moving from Puerto Rico to Texas at a young age was a major change. I had to adjust to a different environment, different people, and a different way of life.
I had a lot of energy, and I was drawn to things that challenged me. When I discovered martial arts at 17, something clicked. I started training in American Tang Soo Do under Master Art Lopez, and martial arts gave that energy a direction. It taught me structure, discipline, confidence, and how to set goals and work toward them.
Looking back, I think that’s one reason I connect so strongly with young people today. When a child walks into my school lacking confidence, struggling with focus, or simply trying to find where they fit, I don’t see a problem child. I see potential that may not have found its direction yet.
The young man I was growing up is a big part of the instructor I am today. I know confidence can be built. I know discipline can be learned. And I know that sometimes one instructor, coach, or mentor believing in a young person can change the direction of that person’s life.
That’s one of the reasons teaching martial arts has become much more than a career for me. It’s personal
Pricing:
- New Student Trial – 4 Classes for $29
- Monthly Tuition – $200 for the first family member
- Additional Family Members – $100/month each
- Adult Tactical Knife Offense & Defense Training – Contact for Current Pricing
- Private Martial Arts Training – $100 for a 90-minute session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.christianbasedmartialarts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christiantaekwondoleague
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christiantaekwondoleague
- Other: https://cp.mystudio.io/m/?urlparams=RAM/1541/63717//1788446086
