The Rocklin Karate Academy
Traditional Okinawan Chibana-ha Shorin-ryu Karate-do
Chosin Chibana
1886 - 1969
Latino Gonzalez
Katsuya Miyahira
1918 - 2010
Anko Itosu
1830 - 1915
Bushi Matsumura
1796 - 1893
Tode Sakugawa
1733 - 1815
"A check of all books in karate written by Japanese, American, and English authors and which have
been sold here in the Philippines for the last eight or ten years, has disclosed to the writer, the need of a
more complete and understandable one, to help the Filipino karate-ka learn more correctly. Especially
here in the Philippines, where you (can) hardly find a bona fide karate instructor, as most of them are
also learning from the books and the books that are sold here are also very expensive. I have tried to
write this book in the belief, that I can offer my fellow men, a complete instruction that can be understood
by everybody. I also started my karate training from the study of the book of Masutatsu Oyama, one of
the most popular karate instructors in Japan today. I started learning karate in 1955 from the 1st edition
of Mas Oyama's "What is Karate?" with my two sons Rolando and Roberto, and after two years of
continuous study, we opened up the Commando Self-Defense Karate Club at Helios Street, Sta. Cruz,
Manila. From the time we opened the Commando Self-Defense Karate Club, it became the haven of
many karate enthusiasts and most of the karate instructors in the Philippines started their karate training
from my club. Despite our long years of training, and through much research and with the help also of
many karate black belt holders from other countries that happened to visit our karate gymnasium, I knew
that I really lacked the knowledge and experience of a real karate instructor because I had not trained
under a karate expert from other countries like Japan or Okinawa. Last year one of my acquaintances,
who is a permanent resident of Okinawa and a karate black belt holder, visited my gymnasium and
convinced me to get a karate expert for Okinawa. When he went back to Okinawa, he convinced one of
his high ranking black belt instructors to come here in the Philippines, to help me put up a good karate
teaching method. The man consented to come and stayed with me for almost a year. From his expert
guidance and after working hard with him for a year, coupled with my long years of self-study, I found no
hardship in my training with him. With the recommendations of Mr. Sekichi Iha, my instructor, the
Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-do Association awarded me the 5th Dan Black Belt grade and I was also
authorized to represent the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-do Association here in the Philippines and to
promote my students to black belt grade. Today I have a better and correct outlook of the real karate and
with the help of my karate expert Mr. Sekichi Iha, I have written this book to help the Filipino learn the
correct method of Okinawa karate the Country which has perfected and developed karate to the highest
perfection which is the envy of all karate enthusiast throughout the world. Okinawa karate is the
forerunner of all modern karate now practiced everywhere."

The author
Latino H. Gonzalez
5th Dan Okinawa
In the mid 1970's, Mr. Gonzalez immigrated to Daly City, California
where he met Ray’s teacher, Ven Saldajeno, who lived next door to
Gonzalez Sensei. Ven Sensei, (already a competitive fencer
arguably at the Maestro level) trained along with his brother Jero as
Uchi Deshi (live-in students) and were loyal students of Mr.
Gonzalez until his death in the early 1990’s due to complications
with Alzheimer’s. His presence is sorely missed. Mr. Gonzalez is
known as the “Father of Philippine Karate”. He held the rank of
Hachi-dan (8th degree) and was allowed to wear the distinctive red
belt. An honor reserved for those who are considered a “Master“.
Mr. Gonzalez was the first non-Okinawan to hold such an esteemed
position.. He is credited with the popularizing of karate throughout
the Philippines and made it available to many U.S. servicemen. Mr.
Gonzalez' martial education is chronicled in his book "The
Techniques of Karate". The following is the book's introduction:
Ray's first passion is for art. He has always enjoyed learning new forms of expression. An
accomplished potter, Ray has worked in a variety of medias. He enjoys painting, drawing
(hand/computer) and jewelry making. His hobbies include auto restoration, fishing, cooking, camping,
mechanical drawing/modeling and wood working. As a young man he toured with the Santa Clara
Ballet, dancing in their production of the Nutcracker Suite.

After a long career as a mechanical designer and C.A.D. Administrator, Ray decided to pursue his
lifelong dream of running his own karate school in order to share an art form he has had long loved and
felt compelled to pass along to a new generation. To prepare, Ray enrolled at the local college and
took classes to learn about basic physiology and nutrition. In the meantime, he taught private karate
lessons and helped out at his church. While still in the Bay Area, he and his wife, Stefanie, also ran a
successful daycare. When Ray and his family moved to Rocklin, CA in 2001, they were overwhelmed
by the warmth and generosity of the Rocklin community. The opening of The Rocklin Karate Academy
is their chance to give back to that community, and help others help themselves. Ray currently works for
the Maria Montessori Charter Academy as their Director of Before and Aftercare. He also works in
their library and helps out monitering the lunch time activities.

In addition to working full-time at the Elementary school and teaching karate, Ray and Stefanie also
own and run Stray Enterprises, a small entrepreneurial business.

Ray and Stefanie have been married since 1987 and are the devoted parents of three sons.
Ray was born and raised in the Bay Area and started his study of the Martial
Arts in 1972 when at the age of 12 he participated in a summer Aikido
program. Ray's exposure to the Martial Arts is varied. As a young man he
took whatever he was exposed to or could afford. He has been studying
Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate-do since 1986. His studies in Chibana-ha
Shorin-ryu, and the establishment of this school is under the guidance of his
instructor, Ven Saldajeno. Ray would like to credit both Ven Saldajeno
Sensei and his brother Jero Saldajeno Sensei for his development as a
Karate-ka.

Ray's interest in the Martial Arts was sparked by his admiration for Bruce
Lee. Later he found that the "way" ("do" in karate-do) was much more
important than any flashy skill he might attain. The camaraderie between his
teachers and peers were far more enriching. Karate became a vehicle to
finding self confidence, self control, self awareness and good health. The
principles learned in karate were metaphors for life lessons which he drew
upon endlessly. Karate has opened up opportunities and friendships from
around the world.
Ray Baldonade
4th Dan
Owner/Instructor
About Us
Our school’s lineage is as follows:
Tode Sakugawa - Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura - Anko Itosu - Chosin Chibana -
Katsuya Miyahira - Latino H. Gonzalez - Ven Saldajeno - Ray Baldonade.
Latino Gonzalez demonstrating techniques
from a wheelchair shortly before his passing.