Ruth was first introduced to Kenpo-Karate in 1962 by her then boyfriend, Sixto Ramos, Jr.. It was then that she realized that she truly enjoyed and wanted to really excel in this art form. So, as time passed and she later married Sixto, she would soon master the art of Kenpo-Karate. She was diligent in her training.

It would take her twelve years to earn her black belt. She did not receive her black belt from Sixto however. In 1974, it was Grandmaster Sid Asuncion who gave her the honor of by-passing brown belt and receiving her black belt along with her instructor’s papers at the same time. In Sid’s mind, he felt that she deserved her black belt. This was due to her competitive ability in Karate Tournaments. A competitive fighter, she was bringing home trophies from every tournament that she would compete in. She was once ranked one of the top female fighters in the state of Hawaii. This is something that she truly loved doing and had learned well from Sixto. Together they made a great team.

Ruth also loved instructing their students and loves working with the younger students. These students would all participate in tournaments and would also become accomplished tournament fighters under her direction. These same students today give a lot of credit of what they had leaned to her. They feel that it was she who gave them this competitive spirit that is so well known by anyone in the martial arts. Especially in Kenpo-Karate.


She has been married to Sixto since after her graduation in 1965. Together they have four children, two boys and two girls. Like their parents, they too have learned the art of Kenpo under the Kajukenbo-Kenkabo System.. They too would become accomplished tournament competitors. Competing and winning was a family tradition. Even, now, they have the next generation of Ramos competitors in the tournament circuit. Like their grandparents (Sixto and Ruth) they too are winning in tournaments. As of 2007 Sixto and Ruth have eight grandchildren and are awaiting the arrival of their first great-grandchild by the end of the year. 

This family has a great heritage, the heritage of Kenpo, a legacy that the family of Ruth and Sixto have generated. A family of martial artists. A Kenpo Family for sure.
Besides being a martial artist, Ruth has been a professional Polynesian dancer and instructor. She has performed not only in Waikiki but also abroad. She is currently the Polynesian Dance Instructor for the Luka’s Hauoli Ohana Polynesian Dance Group since 1982. She was also the instructor at the Hale Koa Hotel, teaching the hotel guests to to the hula and learn a little Hawaiiana. Like her instructions as a Martial Artist, she has taught her dancers to go on and become professional dancers, traveling around the world just as she did.

Ruth is also an avid horseback rider, owns two horses and participates in parades as a Pa’u Princess. She has done more than thirty parades and has also traveled on to the mainland to participate in parades like the Rose Bowl and others. In 2004, she was asked to be the Pa’u Queen for the Aloha Festival Parade. An honor that she gladly accepted. She has also taught many of her family and friends to participate in parades and to share their knowledge of Hawaiiana with the people of Hawaii and to all the tourists that come here to see our beautiful island.

Always the instructor, yet feeling that she has never learned enough. Always wanting and yearning to learn more so that she will be able to teach even more to students of hers. Be it students of the Martial Arts, Polynesian Dancing, Pa’u Horseback riding…her love of teaching and sharing will definitely continue... For how long? … Who knows?
On February 3, 2007 she was bestowed upon her, the rank of Grandmaster, 9th Degree. It was a surprise promotion that was given to her by Sijo Adriano Emperado and Co-Founder Frank Ordonez.

Sijo Emperado flew in for her promotion. She is humbled by the fact that the Founders of the Kajukenbo System felt that she deserved this high rank. Receiving this high rank from the founders themselves is the greatest achievement of her life. All the other achievements in her life she is honored to have had, but this, is the dearest to her heart.