Ronald Girard Raver

Ronald Girard Raver was born in Steelton, Pennsylvania on September 20,1943 and died peacefully on July 9, 2024 with his loving wife Chotsie and daughter Jill by his side. Ron was married to Chotsie in 1984. He is survived by his wife Charlette (Chotsie) Nee McEnhill and his daughter Jill Stewart, her husband Dan Stewart and his grandson Andrew Paul Stewart. Ron was an only child, son of Helen Mae nee Warner and Herbert Paul Raver.

He adored his grandson Andrew, who was down to the Lewes beach often. Andrew took his first step, ate his first ice cream cone, learned his first karate moves and loved the beach in Lewes. When he was a little older he found the crashing waves in Rehoboth more inviting. Jill was always on the beach and she and her father often compared their tans. Jill was excellent in karate but never maintained the enthusiasm her father did. Ron would light up when karate was discussed.

Ron graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Chemical Engineering. Ron worked for the Oil/Refining business his entire career and was known as the "Skinny Blender" and later in his career became the V.P. of LPG.

GOLF

Ron was a talented golfer teaming up numerous times with his son-in-law Dan, the second half of "Team Destiny" and the "Dream Team". Ron was a member of Shawnee Country Club, Sussex Pines Country Club and Glen Lakes Country Club. Dan a member of Frankford Torresdale and Ashbourne CC. Dan and Ron won many tournaments and took many golfing vacations to Myrtle Beach. They both returned with grins on their faces and according to them, mucho money in their pockets.

Andrew was on the range often with his Pop Pop.

Karate

Ron was avid about karate and opened his own dojang in 1989. Friends teasingly called him "Grasshopper". In the early 1990's, Grandmaster Shin invited Ron and several other students on a trip to China as guest of the Chinese government where he visited the Shaolin temple, the Great Wall and did demonstrations of their karate style.

A partial excerpt from Angel, one of Ron's students...

To me, Master Raver was my karate instructor. He bought me sparring gear, a Black Belt uniform and taught me to drive. He tied my Black Belt around my waist, and I am honored and privileged to call him Sah Bum Nim.

With two young girls, Master Raver started studying martial arts to make sure they could defend themselves. They started training in Moo Duk Kwan under the Master Kwons. He earned his Black Belt under Master Young H. Kwon in 1984, In 1994, he earned his Master Rank and 5th degree Master in 2002. As a chemical engineer by trade, Master Raver held a strong knowledge of the physics behind martial arts. His 4th degree Master thesis was on The Science of Breaking followed by his 5th degree thesis, “How to Teach Breaking.”

This time period was when martial arts were new to the US and Master Raver undertook a role where he was a primary assistant to Grand Master Shin. Since he was still a colored belt, he was not considered a charter member of the World Tang Soo Do Association. He was a contributor or editor for World Tang Soo Do Volumes 1-5. He was also a World Championship Manager, Chairperson of the WTSDA Public Relations Committee and WTSDA Newsletter Editor. During the creation of the World Tang Soo Do Association, he also helped Grandmaster Shin develop the belt system for the World Tang Soo Do Association. Master Raver told me when they were choosing the order of belts, he suggested that the 8th Dan Grandmaster Belt be Black and Red blocks, while the 9th Dan Grandmaster Belt be white and red blocks to symbolize being a beginner. Grandmaster Shin said no. He wanted the 9th Dan rank to be black and red because “it looked cool.”

Mr. Raver opened a karate school along with Mr. Dennis DiMarco in April of 1990. This was a necessary step to achieve a Master’s rank. They later split and Master Raver remained at 229 South Chester Pike in Glenolden and renamed the studio Pal Che, which means Selection of the Best. Here, he promoted many people to Black Belt, and 1 to Master.

Pal Che is a small studio, situated on a busy corner. It is a hot box, surrounded in windows that gave it a green house effect. The doors remained closed, and there were no fans. On a particularly sweltering night, maybe the door would be cracked. Master Raver would refer to these classes as a “5 pound weight loss class.”

Master Raver was known to do stand up comedy at the Master’s Clinic Gong shows. He also brought the popular form Bud-sai back from Master’s clinic and performed it at the Region 8 Black Belt clinic. When students are promoted to Master, they are knighted with a sword. Master Raver also brought this to Black Belt promotions at his studio. When his grandson was promoted to the midnight blue belt in moo duk kwan, the equivalent to our Black Belt, he proudly presented him with a sword at Pal Che.

He was an avid researcher and learner of history of martial arts. He was also a prolific writer. He published a monthly newsletter which was well organized and cataloged every month. It always included an article which shared wisdom, philosophy, history and a glimpse more into the martial arts than we would get from our physical training.

Maybe his most famous piece is called, “There is always a higher mountain.” This motivational writing inspires students earning their Black Belt. They get to stand at the top of a mountain and see the view. But, as they look ahead, there,another, taller and steeper mountain looms.

When Angel and her husband George opened Impact Martial Arts, Ron was there. In fact, on his drive home in his Delorian, he got rear ended. He was still wearing his uniform and belt. Can you imagine being the driver that rear ends a DOLORIAN and a tall karate master emerges!

When he retired and moved to Florida, Master Raver was proud to stay involved in karate and was only a phone call away from any of his former students.