Training Body and Mind

Grand Master (GM) Ronald Goldsmith, Sr.

Ron began martial arts training  in September 1981 at the Kali Academy in Torrance, CA. The training was a 4 tier system & one of the Head Instructors, Sifu Richard Bustillo taught Phases I & II. The curriculum consisted of Western Boxing, which was distinguished from Chinese Boxing, Northern Kung Fu Kicking styles, Wing Chung Gung Fu & Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) (Panantukan, Suntukan,Escrima & Dumong). Sifu Bustillo stressed the Jeet Kune Do (JKD) concept of Application or Absorb What Is Useful. 

Phases III and IV were taught by Guru Dan Inosanto and Guru Bud Thompson.  Guru Inosanto is well known to be Bruce Lee’s protege and world-renowned martial arts instructor and Guru Thompson is a long-time instructor of FMA and JKD.  After demonstrating the desire to learn and applying the lessons taught in Phases 1 and 2, students are promoted to Phases III & IV  where the more advanced concepts are taught.  One of the concept is Flow which in martial arts translates to having the  ability to anticipate your opponent’s next move. It was in the 3rd Phase that Ron became the Heavyweight Champion of the IMB Academy. 

After relocating to Riverside in 1990, Ron became acquainted with Guru Lloyd Kennedy and began training in Jujitsu. Also in 1990 Ron met Sensei Sam Mason of the USKO (United States Karate Organization) and became the lead Kickboxing instructor. 

In 1996, Ron received a degree in Physical Therapy from Loma Linda University.  The knowledge gained of how the human body functions has enabled him to become an even more proficient martial artist.  And when the Loma Linda Drayson Center opened its doors, Ron was the first martial arts instructor teaching FMA with a JKD emphasis. 

While at a 2005 Dog Brothers fighting event in El Segundo, Ron met Master Felix Valencia of the LAMECO FMA system, which was founded by the late Punong Guru Edgar Sulite.  For many years Ron and Master Felix would train whenever their schedules would permit.  During their training Master Felix realized he and Ron had the same martial arts philosophy: Learn all you can from every source you can and then apply what is useful and discard what is not.  With this understanding both Ron and Master Felix would enter their training sessions as both teacher and student and in March 2020, Master Felix promoted Ron to be a Grand Master (GM) of the LAMECO FMA system and named Ron as his successor of the Valencia LAMECO line of FMA.  Master Felix passed from this earth in 2021 but GM Ron continues his legacy by promoting their shared philosophy to his students and the Valencia LAMECO groups in California, Nevada and Utah.   

For the past 12 years, GM Ron has trained students in the gym of the Mt. Rubidoux SDA Church in Riverside, California.  His students come from varied backgrounds: basketball players, dancers, former NFL player, USFL (United States Football League) player, college professors, pastors, mothers and community leaders; regardless of their background, their  experience is the same:  they learn all that is taught, apply or absorb what is useful and discard the rest.  

To learn more about  the Riverside Kali Group, please send GM Ron a note at ron@riversidekali.com