Master Ruiz Chang
Master Ruiz Chang started his martial arts journey in Guatemala in 1970 under Master Arturo Valenzuela de Leon at Club Okinawa where he learned the self-defense style of Goyu Ryu and earned his first black belt. During his time in that school he participated in national and international tournaments.
He came to the US with his family in 1986 where he continued his martial arts training earning Black belts in Tae Kwon Do from Master Kevin Chow, USA Go Ju Ryu from Master Sinclair, and Judo, Kendo, and Black Dragon Karate from Grand Master Shihan Ernie Reynolds. He expanded his knowledge by further training in Kung Fu and Tai Chi with Master Wei Sinsu Kwan and pressure points for defense and medicinal purposes from herbalist and acupuncturist Dr. Carl Carozzo. He has earned many black belts ranks along the way, with this highest rank being a 7th Degree.
Master Ruiz Chang used this knowledge to develop a series of exercises to maintain good mental, emotional, and physical health which he named Tai Do Way of the Tiger. He has had extensive training in a wide range of martial arts weapons including nunchakus, the bo staff, kali sticks, tonfas, sais, steel kamas, the Boken, and the katana.
In 1996 he was awarded instructor of the year by the Florida Association of Black Belts. In 1999 and then again in 2010 he was inducted into the Black Belt Association Hall of Fame because of his accomplishments.
In 1996, Master Ruiz Chang, with the help and support of his Black belt family, his wife, the late Marilyn Ruiz, and his sons Alexander Ruiz and Jose Ruiz, he opened his first martial arts school in Miami, Florida under the name American Tiger Karate School. Then in 1999 he moved his school to Miramar, Florida where he changed the school name to RTK Martial Arts School of Fitness and Self Defense.
It is his passion to share knowledge with all his students, from boys and girls 4 and up to adults and seniors. Always focusing on teaching respect, personal discipline, personal control, and health eating habits to maintain good mental, emotional, and physical health.
He currently teaches a style he has named RTK Ha Go Ju Ryu (Way of the Tiger).
Sensei Jesus Gonzalez
Sensei Jesus Gonzalez has been studying martial arts since he was 7. He started his martial arts journey here at RTK Martial Arts as a part of our after school program. When his parents started seeing the benefits of karate on his self esteem and his discipline, they enrolled him into regular classes.
Over the years Sensei Jesus earned his Black belt and went on to train intensely on Martial Arts weapon use, including the Nunchakus, the bo staff, the kalis, and the tonfas.
Now he is teaching kids who are 7 years old, just like he was when he started, the benefits of martial arts. He is passionate about teaching students the Tiger Ha Go Ju Ryu (Way of the Tiger) because of the positive impact it had in his life. As an instructor at RTK Martial Arts, he is getting to pay forward the benefits that helped him in his life.