About Go Do Ryu
At Go Do Ryu, we are proud to have a team of highly qualified and experienced instructors who are dedicated to helping our students achieve their goals. Our instructors bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every class, and are committed to providing the highest quality martial arts instruction.
Go Do Ryu is a mixed martial arts school located in Walton Kentucky. Our school has a traditional karate based belt system, with more modern self-defense and learning styles. The school was founded by Gove Carnes in 2007 in Walton Kentucky. We have taken multiple forms of martial arts and combined them into a mixed martial arts style that teaches striking, ground game, and grappling.
Our school is a family friendly environment and everyone treats everyone with respect. Our core value that we teach is respect. We encourage everyone to respect each other and anyone you come into contact with. Everyone in our class is family, and treats everyone as such. In our class students learn how to defend themselves, as well as develop life long skills that everyone should learn. We have both kids and adults classes so everyone has a chance to learn with people your size and age.
"I chose to open this school as a Mixed Martial Arts program so that I could combine the best techniques from various styles (such as Shaolin Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Gracie Jujitsu, Krav Maga, and the Chinese Art of Chin Na). We are not just about punching and kicking. Our emphasis is on Self-Defense and getting fit in the mind, body, and the soul. For us, Martial Arts is not just a hobby. It is a way of life." -Grandmaster Gove-
Meet Our Instructors!
Master Will McCardle- 5th Degree Black Belt
Head Instructor - Master
Will is the head instructor of Go Do Ryu, as well as the tournament team instructor. He started his karate training at the age of 9 in a different style in 2000. He switched to Go Do Ryu in 2007 when Gove started his own school. Will was Gove's first student at Go Do Ryu and in 2007 he was the first person to earn his black belt at the school. He has 24+ years of experience in mixed martial arts and has also studied Shaolin Kung Fu from another school. Will is a multiple time Kentucky state champion in sparring, weapons, and forms. Will is in charge of all of the schools curriculum, as well as overseeing the classes.
Grandmaster Gove Carnes - 7th Degree Black Belt
Business Owner - Grandmaster
Gove is the founder of our school. He started taking karate in 1985 while in the U.S. Army National Guard where He became the unit "Master Fitness Trainer." Obtained a Brown Belt in Shaolin Kung Fu and received my Black Belt in a mixed style called Ketsugoryu. Gove Opened his school doors in 2007 in Walton Kentucky. Gove received his rank of Grandmaster in 2019, and has been in martial arts for over 35 years! Gove is our beloved mentor, and one of the finest instructors you could ever have!
Sensei Scott Smith- 3rd Degree Black Belt
Senior Instructor
Scott started at Go Do Ryu around 2009. He was in Taekwondo and received his brown belt prior to joining us. He received his black belt around 2016 from us. In 2022 he received his 3rd degree black belt from us as well. Scott wanted to learn more aspects of martial arts then just how to strike, so he studied grappling and ground work. Since joining he has studied some Gracie Jujitsu, Wing Chun, and Krav Maga, and brought those teachings to incorporate into our school. Scott is our go to teacher for ground game and self defense moves, and is in charge of maintaining that curriculum.
Sensei Jacob Vollmer- 2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor
Jacob started at Go Do Ryu in 2016. He had zero martial arts knowledge or skills before joining. Jacob is one of the star students of Go Do Ryu and received his black belt in 2020 after years of hard training. In 2022 he received his 2nd degree black belt. Jacob also is a multi time Kentucky state champion, and has received numerous gold medals competing at karate tournaments in Kentucky. Jake is our best at performing katas, and inspires us all to do better.
Sensei Christopher Murphy- Black Belt
Instructor
Chris is our latest black belt addition, and earned his belt in June of 2024. Chris joined our school in 2023 as a brown belt in Goju Ryu that he received as a teenager, and after many years off he finally found a new home at Go Do Ryu. Chris has quickly become a key instructor at our school, helping implement new techniques and katas into our curriculum from his previous experience. Chris has been pivotal in bringing new knowledge into the school, as well as brining outside instructors in to train us in new forms of martial arts.
Sensei Tyler Koopmans- Black Belt
Instructor
Tyler is our returning black belts, who earned his belt in 2008. Tyler joined our school in 2007 when Gove opened his doors. He received his black belt as a teenager, and after many years off he returned home to Go Do Ryu with his children. Tyler is a valued instructor at Go Do Ryu, and we are glad to have him back after his break!