By Christopher Thurne

          Master Raul Ries hasn’t led a perfect life. The first couple decades of his life were filled with anger. Ries was involved in many fights, and when he was 18 Ries was arrested for almost killing a man. But God had a plan for Ries.
          On Easter Sunday in 1972, Ries’ wife was going to leave her, at the time, abusive husband. Ries was planning on killing her and his children. While his wife was at church, Ries went to his home, loaded his rifle and began destroying his house. While destroying his house, Ries accidently turned on the TV when he struck it with his rifle.
          Chuck Smith was on the TV talking about Jesus Christ, and when Ries heard what was being said he began to change. Ries accepted Christ.
          Ries’ life was saved. Ries is now the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs and president of Somebody Loves You Ministries.
          “The love of God has been demonstrated even more through the training & hardships,” Ries said, “and has given me a strong passion to share the Gospel to a lost and hurting world.”
          Ries, an eight dan in Kung Fu San Soo, said he chose San Soo because it is effective for self-defense. Ries said the style and combination of punches, kicks and throws offered by San Soo also made the style appealing.
          “I enjoyed learning the different weapons and especially the swords,” Ries said.
           Ries said becoming a true martial artist is a matter of commitment and passion. He said, if you do not have both you can’t be good. He said he wants students who have the passion and heart to learn because they usually become good students.
          While martial arts can be used to spread Christianity, Ries said there is nothing inherently religious within martial arts.
           “It is not a religion,” Ries said. “I see my martial arts as a gift and a talent from God. Just as a pastor who may ski or surf, I take what God has given to me and do it to the best of my ability. I have a desire to teach people not only self-defense, but confidence and how to become a better person.

         “I don’t teach people to go out and fight others — but to have discipline. When I look at the martial arts, I look at it as a stepping stone for evangelism to people that aren’t open to a pastor and the Gospel.”
          Ries said he doesn’t preach during his Kung Fu classes. Instead, he said he shares Christ with his students through his example.
          “People that don’t know the Lord will come and take Kung-Fu San Soo lessons from me,” Ries said. “It is through the relationship with my students that they approach me with their family and personal problems. The answers to these problems begin with a relationship with the Lord. I use the opportunity to share the Gospel with them. Some of them come to know Christ and some of them don’t.
          “My experience in the martial arts has opened doors for me to reach people and places where no one has reached before,” he said. “I can relate to the people who are involved in the martial arts.”
          Ries said his most memorable experience as a Christian martial artist was when his instructor, Jimmy H. Woo, accepted Jesus. Ries said one of the reason he began his training was because Woo was the best.
          Ries said several years ago Woo met him for lunch. At the lunch, Ries said Woo opened his heart and accepted the Lord. Ries said Woo had seen how God changed his life.
          “Jimmy came to Christ two weeks before he died,” Ries said.

*  You can watch Ries’ autobiography at his church’s website: http://www.calvarygs.org/about-us/raul-ries/raul-ries-biography/.