Roane School of Isshin-Ryu Karate Black Belts and Instructors

Rhea "Ridge" Richardson

Ridge began studying under Master True in 1974. He studied vigilantly until raising a family caused him to take a break from training. Mr. Richardson is a fierce competitor winning numerous times including the Kata Grand Championship at the 2003 Athen's Karate Games. He has also been a top 5 finalist for the Male Karate-Ka of the year in 2001 and 2003 and was awarded Outstanding Contribution to Isshin-ryu in 2005 and 2008 all by the Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame. He has earned the I.I.K.A National Point Circut Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Sensei Richardson was appointed to the International Isshin-Ryu Karate Association Advisory Board in 2006. Ridge lives in Kingston with his wife Kim and has two sons, Steffan and Aaron. He is co-owner and partner of Canup and Richardson Advertising/Marketing Group. Ridge has been teaching since 1994.

Ron Cain

Mr. Cain has been studying under Master True since 1995. Sensei Cain also competes when he gets the chance. He has earned the I.I.K.A's National Point Circut Championship in 2005, 2006, and 2007. He was appointed to the International Isshin-Ryu Karate Association Advisory Board in 2006. He was also the recipiant with Mr. Richardson of the Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame Outstanding Contribution to Isshin-Ryu award in 2008. Mr Cain began working in 1978 with Union Carbide and still works there. Mr. Cain holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Western Kentucky University and a M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Mr. Cain currently lives in Oak Ridge with his wife Sue and has two daughters, Sarah and Megan. Ron has been teaching since 1999.

Steve Edwards

Looking to balance out his boxing skills, Steve began studying under Grand Master True in 1988. He had to leave shortly after that due to a back injury, and his family kept him away some time longer. He returned in 1997 after his son Justin started, to share a common interest. Sensei Edwards is the oldest person Grand Master True has promoted to the Rank of Sho-Dan and half of the first father/son promotion True has ever given. He competed a brief time for the joy of competition and remains active in the ring as a judge. Mr. Edwards is employed at the Oak Ridge plants as a maintenance worker. He lives in Harriman with his wife Mary and has two daughters Stephanie and Andra and one son, Justin. Steve also has 5 Grandchildren. He has been teaching since 1998-99, assisting Mr. J.E. Wolfe with the children's class

Justin Edwards

Justin has been studying Isshin-Ryu under Grand Master True since age 9. He competes every chance he gets and has won over 75 times, including the Kellys Hero's Classic Kata Grand Championship in April of 2005 in his second tournament in the black belt adult division. Mr. Edwards has also received many awards in Isshin-Ryu earning a top 5 nomination at the Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame Banquet for the Young Male Karate-Ka of the year in 1999, 2001, and 2003. Justin has won the I.I.K.A's National Point Circuit Championship consecutively from 1997-2005. Sensei Edwards was promoted to Sho-Dan at the age of 14, making him one of the youngest Grand Master True has ever promoted to the rank, and he is the other half of the father/son black belt promotion. Justin has been teaching since 1998-99, assisting former instructer J.E. Wolfe with the children's class.

Ed Turnington

Ed has been studying Isshin-Ryu under Mr. True since 1999, and has been teaching since 2002. Mr Turnington has had several first place finishes in tournament competition and was the International Isshin-Ryu Karate Association National Point Circut Champion in 2001. Mr. Turnington is currently the schools primary youth instructor since 2002. Sensei Turnington works at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge and lives with his wife Sandy and two children Cassandra and Michael in Harriman, TN.