Master Ronald Moore Taganashi

Founder of American-Te Goju-Ryu and the North American Heaven and Earth Society

Master Taganashi founded the North American Heaven and Earth Society, which encourages students to learn about themselves, their spiritual beliefs, and their art. He also developed the American-Te Goju-Ryu martial arts system. This system, utilizing Goju-Ryu karate as its foundation, incorporates a wide variety of techniques from Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido, Karate do, Dong Soo Do, Kempo, Kung-Fu and Kobudo. American-Te is intended for practical use. It is his interpretation of martial arts for the 21st century.

A 9th degree black belt in American-Te Goju-Ryu martial arts, Master Taganashi began his formal martial arts training at the age of 6 with Kim Son Ree, 7th degree black belt in Dong Soo Do Karate. Master Taganashi obtained a 3rd degree black belt in that system. Among his many achievements, Master Taganashi obtained a 2nd degree black belt in Kempo karate. He was a 5th degree black belt in Goju-Ryu Karate and was co-founder of the Nisei Goju-Ryu system. Additionally, Master Taganashi studied styles from Korea, Japan, Okinawa, and China, mastering weapons in all of them.
Master Taganashi taught his students that "Caring is the key and that nothing is impossible to the willing mind."

Grand Master Ronald M. Taganashi died suddenly on the 5th day of February, 1992 in NYC. He was a highly skilled technician who studied martial arts for 40 years and dedicated himself to teaching for 30 years.