“The martial arts has been a part of my life for more than 3 decades and I can't imagine where I would be without it! I hope you'll try a class and see if it’s right for you”
- Wes Clements, Co-Owner East Wind Academy

Welcome to East Wind Academy of Martial Arts.

  • We pride ourselves on promoting the safety of our students; in training, and in life. No Gym-timidation here, we promote a family atmosphere and try to cultivate a love and respect for the martial arts.

  • We promote family-fun environment where everyone can learn and grow together, and support each other in achieving their goals. You will meet great people and build lasting relationships!

  • The Martial Arts are all about building strong habits, commitment, and stress-management! Whatever the reason you have decided to train, we are confident you will look back with pride at how far you have come on your journey.

  • No one wants to be forced to defend themselves, but all who have to, will wish they had the training to do so. Training in the martial arts will teach you to defend yourself and deescalate situations which could otherwise be fatal. We are proud to be a part of your transformation to a stronger version of yourself.

Featured above: Founders Norris Domangue & John Hackman and current Co-Owners Wes & Tricia Clements

A Continuing Legacy

For more than 20 years we have been the premier school on the peninsula for Filipino Martial Arts, Jeet Kune Do, and MMA. Whether you are just starting out or looking to refine your skills in a specific art form, there is a path to success for you here at East Wind Academy!

East Wind Academy of Martial Arts was opened by the previous Operator, Norris Domangue and life long friend, John Hackman. The two shared a vision - bringing the best styles of all martial arts under one roof to share their knowledge. Since 2002, that dream has been a reality, and East Wind has been the flagship of modern martial arts in the Hampton Roads area. Now operated by husband and wife duo, Wes and Tricia Clements, the two are continuing the legacy by adding a modern adaptation to old world styles.

Learn more about our team here at East Wind Academy

Owners, Husband and Wife Duo, Wes & Tricia Clements!!!

Wes is co-owner and head instructor here at East Wind Academy of Martial Arts. He has practiced martial arts for over thirty years, beginning with a full instructorship in Wing Chun in the IP Man lineage. He would later branch out to learn new skills as a level one coach with Muay Thai University and earn a 4th degree black belt under Norris Domangue.

Today Wes teaches at his school East Wind Martial Arts Academy, and in cities around the country, what he has learned as an instructor in Kali, Jeet Kune Do with IIMAIA, and Pekiti-Tirsia with the Pekiti-Tirsia World Federation. Wes enjoys that martial arts teaches someone to defend themselves and is a transformative process that proves both confidence and personal growth.

So whether you are attending a class at our school or you're looking to host Wes and Tricia at your training location, they are always excited to teach what they have learned during their martial arts journey.

Tricia grew up an Army brat, but she calls Newport News, VA her home. A veteran of the USAF, she is taking her skills and applying them to her 17 year + martial arts career.

Tricia currently is a 3rd degree black belt under Norris Domangue, a full instructor in our Kali program, a level 1 instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto (for kali and JKD), Mata'as Na Guro in Pekiti-Tirsia Kali under Tuhon Rommel Tortal, an apprentice instructor level 5 in XTMA under Guro Daniel Lonero and a full instructor in Unified Fighting Arts with Guro Mark McFann.

Wes and Trish have 2 sons, Daniel and Raiden, who both black belted at East Wind under Norris Domangue.

Meet Our Instructors

  • Tim Morgan

    Tim started his martial arts career in Shorin-Ryu Karate, where he currently holds a black belt. He also has obtained a blackbelt under East Wind and the Parra Academy. In addition to those ranks, he is also a Mandala Maginoo-0 in Pekiti-Tirsia kali, an associate level instructor in JKD and Kali under Dan Inosanto.

    “All things are possible to a willing mind!”

  • Nate Danley

    Nate started his martial arts career at 13 years old. After obtaining a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, he then dedicated his studies in Pekiti-Tirsia Kali living with Grand Tuhon Gaje. Nate spends his time brewing beer, keeping honey bees, and teaching Pekiti-Tirsia here at the gym.

  • Jim Edwards

    Jim is our lead MMA, grappling, and striking instructor. With over 40 years experience, he started his martial arts career in Boxing and Kick Boxing. He has since obtained instructor level certifications in CSW, JKD, Inosanto Kali, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali, black belt in Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and various other arts. Jim has also successfully lead fighters to victory in the ring in amateur MMA competitions.

  • Norm Karlsen

    Norm started at East Wind over 20 years ago. Since then, he has become an instructor Jeet Kune Do and Inosanto Kali under Norris Domangue, former owner of East Wind Academy. He currently co-teaches our Jeet Kune Do and Inosanto Kali classes as well as the Self-Defense Saturday class.

  • Sheila Ellis

    Sheila C. Ellis is a blended martial artist whose focus is positioning and movement related to all life's events. She is a Certified Master Trainer by the Association of Talent Development, the lead engineering instructor at Newport News Shipbuilding Nuclear Engineering Overhaul department, and a US Navy Veteran. She is a youth instructor at East Wind Academy of Martial Arts and hopes to develop choreographed cardio and blended circuit training series. Her mission is to empower others with knowledge, skills, and abilities through efficient and engaging exercises. She can be found walking her dog Jack on the trails of Virginia thinking about when to cook batches of hardboiled eggs and pancakes.

  • Randy Smith

    Randy started martial arts when he was 9 years old, taking kung fu. In 1988, he began studying Tae Kwon Do and received his black belt in 1990. In 2002 started training JKD, Muay Thai and Randy Couture groundfighting. Randy has obtained an instructor level rank in Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do.

  • Greg Coburn

    Greg started training in Tae Kwon Do while deployed to Iraq in 2005 and began training at East Wind Academy in 2007 where has been teaching since 2008. In addition to holding a 2 nd Degree Black Belt at East Wind Academy and Tae Kwon Do, Greg holds instructor ratings in Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts through the Inosanto Martial Arts Academy. He is also instructor in Krav Maga (IKMI), US Marine Corp LINES, Unified Fighting Arts and Pekiti-Tirsia Kali. Greg retired from the US Army in 2019 and when he isn’t training at East Wind Academy he is probably skydiving.

Meet Our Founders

Norris Domangue has been in Martial Arts for more than 40 years and holds the following certifications:

  • Ma Tass Na Guro (full Instr) - Kali/Silat, directly certified under Magulang Na Guro Dan Inosanto

  • Tuhon ranking Pekiti Tirsia Kali directly certified by Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje

  • Sifu (Instr) - Jun Fan Gung Fu/Jeet Kune Do (original art of Bruce Lee), directly certified under Sifu Dan Inosanto

  • 3rd Level Instructor - Muay Thai and Grappling/Ground Fighting, certified in Arjan Mcfann’s Unified Fighting Arts

  • Kali /Silat & Jun Fan Gung Fu Instructor - Certified by Guro Ray Parra

  • Close Quarter Combat Instructor certified by 1st Special Forces Group(Green Beret) & Dept. of the Army

  • 4th Degree Black Belt -Tae Kwon Do, certified through World Tae Kwon Do Federation, Kukkiwon, Korea

  • 3rd Degree Black Belt - Hapkido, certified by the International Hapkido Federation, Seoul, Korea

  • 3rd Level Instructor Maphilindo Silat under Guro Inosanto

Norris has been featured in the Green Beret’s official magazine SINE PARI and the Army Times News Service for numerous knife combatives and Close Quarter Combat courses taught to 7th Special Forces Group (2nd BN) and at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, Ft Bragg, NC.

John Hackman has been involved in the Martial Arts for over 48 years and holds the following rankings and certifications:

  • Senior Associate Instructor (Level 7) directly certified by Sifu Dan Inosanto in Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu & Jeet Kune Do (original art of Bruce Lee)

  • Senior Associate Instructor (Guro Level 7) directly certified by Tuhon Dan Inosanto in the Filipino Martial Arts

  • Tuhon ranking Pekiti Tirsia Kali directly certified by Grand Tuhon Supremo Leo Gaje

  • Full Instructor ranking under Arjan Marc McFann’s Unified Martial Arts (Kali/Silat, Grappling & Muay Thai)

  • Instructor ranking (1st Dan) under Guro Ray Parra (Jun Fan Gung Fu & Kali/Silat)

  • Master ranking (6th Dan) Tae Kwon Do (GM(s) G. Heath & C.T. Goh - World TKD Federation)

  • Instructor ranking (1st Dan) Hap Ki Do (GM Thomas Wilson - World Oriental Martial Arts Fed)

  • Close Quarter Combat Instructor: U.S. Army (1st Special Forces Grp)

  • Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics/Survival/SWAT Instructor (U.S. Marshals-Special Ops Grp, Miami-Dade Police Dept, the State of Florida and the countries of Honduras & Bolivia)

  • NRA Instructor – certified in Pistol, Protection Inside the Home & Protection Outside the Home