Master Raul A. Ries

Prior to his training in Kung Fu San Soo, Raul Ries was already a feared opponent. At Baldwin Park High School, he was known as a troublemaker and feared by many students. Even at that young age, with no formal training in fighting, he was fearless and would take on any opponent. While many might think it foolish to teach such an angry young man such a lethal art, Lo Si Fu saw an opportunity to harness that anger into a more manageable form. He found a way to teach Raul to respect human life, just as he had learned over time. Anger ruled Raul's life for a long time, but San Soo training gave him an outlet for much of this.

He was 16 when he was first exposed to the art of Kung Fu San Soo and Lo Si Fu, Jimmy H. Woo. His boss, Rueben Ramirez took him to Lo Si Fu's studio, and Raul was impressed by the fighting style of San Soo, as opposed to the other arts he had seen. Part of this impression was influenced by the presence of Lo Si Fu himself. He had a presence that made people stop when he entered a room. He had a confidence that radiated from him and earned him respect. Raul respected the strength, skill and confidence Lo Si Fu exuded. As an angry young man, Raul recognized the authority of this man. It was the fighter in Raul that was originally drawn to San Soo at first sight, but the man, Lo Si Fu, was the reason he continued.

Raul began training with Lo Si Fu in 1965, but his training was interrupted by his Tour of Duty in Vietnam. As a high school senior, Raul was forced to enter the military after getting into a brutal fight with another student where he severely injured the student. The judge gave him the option of entering the military or going to jail. Raul wisely chose the Marine Corps, and was soon on his way to Vietnam. He was in Alpha Company 1-7, with the First Marine Division, 7th Marines, in a highly trained group called the Bounty Hunters. He served two years in the Marine Corps, before being honorably discharged in 1968. During his Tour of Duty in Vietnam, Raul earned two Purple Hearts.

After his discharge, Raul returned to Lo Si Fu's studio and began training in earnest. Lo Si Fu saw potential in Raul and began to disciple him. He was more than a Master to a young student; he treated Raul like a son. Lo Si Fu became the father figure Raul desired. He was able to teach Raul how to reign in some of the anger he had built up inside over the years. Unfortunately, that control was reserved for the studio. Out on the streets, Raul was still an angry fighting machine, and now he was trained to kill.

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