KUNG FU
June 1975

“When I first opened my school about four years ago, I was strictly out to push people around and make money.”

These are the words of Raul Ries, a Kung-Fu instructor in Covina, California. Unlike a lot of people, Ries is not reluctant to discuss the bad times in his life. For example, he readily admits he first took up Kung-Fu for the simple fact that he loved to fight, liked violence and enjoyed hurting people. “I used to love fighting. I’ve been fighting in the streets ever since I was a kid. As I got older I became interested I boxing and studied that for a while. When I was about 18 I got tired of gloves and started looking for something else – it was at this time that I heard about a Kung-Fu teacher named Jimmy Woo.” Raul studied under Woo and although he found the art to be “beautiful and graceful” he still had a fondness for violence, street fighting, and money.

THE MARTIAL
ARTS MEAN
MANY
THINGS TO
MANY PEOPLE
RAUL RIES

STORY AND PHOTOS
By ROCCO ZAPPIA

CONTINUED...