History
of the
Iron Dragon Martial Arts Academy
The Iron Dragon Martial Arts Academy – IDMAA was founded in 1981 by Soke Ted A. Hines, a student of the Martial Arts since 1964. He had studied under and with many great martial artists such as Shogo Kuniba, Philip Porter, Richard P. Baillargeon, Tola Lewis, E.A. Fuzy, Ricky Adams, Richard McCormack, William A. Liquori, Bill Bush, and Joseph Ruiz. Soke Hines competed all over the world in in multiple styles of martial arts competitions including in Greece for the USA Pankration Team and setting a world record in board breaking in 1986 by breaking 177 boards in 36 seconds . Always looking at competition not as to defeat others but to challenge him and learn and spread knowledge. Soke Hines has taught extensively nationally and is internationally recognized as a master of the martial arts having attained Black Belts in Goju-Ryu Karate, Shito-Ryu Karate, JuJutsu, Judo, RyuKyu Kobudo, Nippon Kobujutsu, as well as a Master rank in Pankration Athlema.
The Iron Dragon expanded in 1990 when Soke Hines’ first Black Belt Saiko Rick Thomas. Rick had started training in classical Martial Arts in 1977 under Sang O. Moon in Tae Kwon Do and then after about 9 months he changed over to Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate, Judo, and Kobudo under Pete Sensei who was an engineer building the nearby nuclear power plant and had moved in next door to Rick. He was with him for about 5 years when Pete Sensei moved on as his job there was over. Before that he moved, he talked to Ted Hines and made the introduction for Rick to become Hines student. When Rick was a student at Kent State University and started his own school the Iron Dragon Martial Arts Academy – Arashi Dojo. There he met Dasho Robert Burhanna , a Kempo Black Belt, and he trained with him also until his death in 2009 when Rick became his successor to the branch of Kempo Dasho Burhanna was the leader of. Rick taught fellow students, from Soke Hines’ school, also at the university as well as picking up new students. In 1995 Saiko Thomas re-opened the Orwell, Ohio school and then moving it to Ashtabula, Ohio in 2004 to its current location. Rick has attained Black Belts in Goju-Ryu & Shito-Ryu Karate, JuJutsu, RyuKyu Kobudo, Nippon Kobujutsu, and Kempo. As well has trained in Aikido & currently learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Currently Soke Hines teaches at the Jefferson Hombu Dojo
and
Saiko Thomas at the Ashtabula Arashi Dojo
The Iron Dragon expanded in 1990 when Soke Hines’ first Black Belt Saiko Rick Thomas. Rick had started training in classical Martial Arts in 1977 under Sang O. Moon in Tae Kwon Do and then after about 9 months he changed over to Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate, Judo, and Kobudo under Pete Sensei who was an engineer building the nearby nuclear power plant and had moved in next door to Rick. He was with him for about 5 years when Pete Sensei moved on as his job there was over. Before that he moved, he talked to Ted Hines and made the introduction for Rick to become Hines student. When Rick was a student at Kent State University and started his own school the Iron Dragon Martial Arts Academy – Arashi Dojo. There he met Dasho Robert Burhanna , a Kempo Black Belt, and he trained with him also until his death in 2009 when Rick became his successor to the branch of Kempo Dasho Burhanna was the leader of. Rick taught fellow students, from Soke Hines’ school, also at the university as well as picking up new students. In 1995 Saiko Thomas re-opened the Orwell, Ohio school and then moving it to Ashtabula, Ohio in 2004 to its current location. Rick has attained Black Belts in Goju-Ryu & Shito-Ryu Karate, JuJutsu, RyuKyu Kobudo, Nippon Kobujutsu, and Kempo. As well has trained in Aikido & currently learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Currently Soke Hines teaches at the Jefferson Hombu Dojo
and
Saiko Thomas at the Ashtabula Arashi Dojo
