One of the most interesting people in Culver City that no one knows about is Raul Ramirez. Ramirez, 34 has accomplished a lot at an early age. He is a primary care physician who specializes in acupuncture and herbs. His background in eastern medicine is extraordinary, his marital arts background is extensive and he is one of the best catch wrestlers in the world.
“I grew up in the Palm Springs area and while I was a student at UCLA I discovered eastern medicine,“ said Ramirez at his office in Culver City. “I was able to travel to China to practice kick boxing and wrestling in Beijing. I injured my knee in China and they used acupuncture to cure me. That’s when I became interested in eastern medicine.”
Ramirez graduated in 2002 with a B.A. degree in theatre from UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television. He also has a masters’ degree in eastern medicine from SAMARA University of Oriental Medicine in Los Angeles and a Ph.D in eastern medicine from American University in Fullerton. Ramirez is a certified catch- wrestling trainer and has certifications in Black Sash in Kung Fu. He has worked for the UCLA Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs teaching martial arts and as a personal trainer and he has also worked at the SAMARA University Clinic treating patients. Currently Ramirez is the owner and practitioner at Nei Jing Eastern Medicine Clinic and the Catch Wrestling Alliance trainer and martial arts instructor located at 5839 Green Valley Circle in Culver City.
“I always wanted to be independent,” Ramirez said. “I have had a lot of jobs growing up but I realized I wanted to be my own boss. Being his own boss means teaching mar- tial arts and catch wrestling three times a week in the morning and practicing medicine the other working hours of the his five-day work week. ?Catch wrestling is the foundation of modern folk style, freestyle, pro wrestling and mixed martial arts. Catch wrestling is a classical, hybrid grappling type of wrestling developed in 1870. It was later popularized by carnival wrestlers that refined new submission holds and hooks to be more effective against opponents. There are only two ways to win a catch wrestling match, pin or submission.
In June, Ramirez and the Catch Wrestling Alliance produced an international catch-wrestling tournament at UCLA. This was the first catch-wrestling event in the United States in more than 100 years.
“I was doing martial arts for a long time and I was looking for an alternative to martial arts and that’s when I found out about catch wrestling,” Ramirez said. “Once I learned it I realized this was some- thing that needed to be preserved and taught. It used to be a very popular sport in America.”
Ramirez feels that Culver City is the perfect place to combine his medical skills and martial arts and catch wrestling training. Ramirez has studied eastern medicine all across Asia. Now he and his wife Miriam have chosen Culver City as their home.
“I really like living in Culver City,” said Ramirez. “Culver City has everything but it’s not to congested. I feel really comfortable here and now that I have a 14-month-old son and I heard they have a great school system. It just seems like the best place to be for me and my family.”
Raul Ramirez can be reached at (310) 930-6046 and his email site is: raul@neijingeasternmedicine.com.