Biography - Mr. Cecil T. Patterson

Mr. Cecil T. Patterson was born on June 23, 1930, in Sevierville, Sevier County Tennessee.  He became interested in the art of self-defense as a result of his involvement in law enforcement.  He was first exposed to the art while attending a law enforcement training school taught by a FBI agent.  While serving in the United States Navy, Mr. Patterson found himself stationed in Iwakuni, Japan.  While there, in August of 1955, he enrolled in a karate school under the direct supervision of Mr. Kazuo Sakura, Go-Dan, and trained for fifteen hours each week for two years.

Mr. Patterson received his San-Dan (3rd degree Black Belt) in 1959 and was advanced to Yon-Dan (4th degree Black Belt) in 1964.  His Go-Dan (5th degree Black Belt) was awarded to him by Grand Master Otsuka on December 1, 1968.  At that time, Go-Dan was the highest rank in the Wado System.  Mr. Patterson currently held the rank of Hachi-Dan (8th degree Black Belt) at the time of his death.

Mr. Patterson was the highest-ranking occidental in the Wado System.  In 1968, as a result of his years of training, teaching, and devotion to the Wado System, he was instructed by Grand Master Otsuka to establish the United States Eastern Wado-Kai Federation, Mr. Patterson became the head instructor and president of the Federation and , as such, became responsible directly to Grand Master Otsuka for all Wado dojos in the Eastern United States.

Mr. Patterson opened the first Wado School in the Eastern United States in 1961 at Nashville, Tennessee.  There are presently Wado schools in Tennessee, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina, and Texas.

February 2, 1978 the State of Tennessee recognized Mr. Cecil T. Patterson as Father of Karate in Tennessee.  This certificate was signed by the Governor of Tennessee - Ray Blanton, Lieutenant Governor - John S. Wilder, Speaker of House - Ned R. McWhether, State Senator - Edgar H. Gillock

Chronology - Mr. Cecil T. Patterson

• 1930 - Born on June 23, in Sevierville, Tennessee
• 1955 - Enrolls in karate school while in the U.S. Navy (he is first exposed to the martial arts while attending a law enforcement training school).
• 1959 - Earns the rank of San-Dan
• 1961 - Opens first Wado karate school in the eastern U.S., Nashville, Tennessee.
• 1964 - Earns rank of Yon-Dan
• 1968 - Earns rank of Go-Dan which is awarded by Master Otsuka, himself.
• 1978 - Recognized as Father of Karate in Tennessee by the Governor of Tennessee.

Is instructed by Master Otsuka to establish the U.S. Eastern Wado-Kai Federation of which he is to become president and head instructor.

Present - Mr. Patterson currently helds the rank of Hachi-Dan at the time of his death.

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