![[Taylor]](images/taylor.gif)
Bill Taylor began his study of the Wado-Ryu style of Karate in 1973 under Sensei Newton Harris. The Bushido School of Karate was one of the few Karate schools in Tennessee. It was through luck that Mr. Taylor began a life-long endeavor studying one of the most complete and thorough systems of Japanese Martial Arts, being drawn to the study of Karate because of the individuality of its study.
Sensei Bill Herzer took over the school after Mr. Taylor began studying there and Taylor earned his Black Belt under Sensei Herzer in 1978.
Up until 1980, Mr. Taylor competed in amateur point Karate tournaments, which included wins at both The Battle of Nashville and The Battle of Atlanta. Mr. Taylor began pursuing a professional kick boxing career in 1980 and stopped competing in point tournaments.
Because of interest in competing in full contact Karate, Taylor began boxing with Sheriff Fate Thomas' boxing team in 1979. Fellow team members included such notable pugilists as Silver Medal Olympian and head coach Clint Jackson, Jerome Coffee, and future world champion Johnny Bumpas. Many punching techniques and defensive maneuvers taught by Sensei Taylor are a result of this training. Also, to aid in a professional kick boxing career, Taylor trained in Atlanta, Georgia, under Asa Gordon, kick boxing trainer for world champions Bill Wallace and Jerry Rhome. At the Atlanta gym, Taylor trained with future world champions Jerry Rhome, Jerry Trimble and U.S. Champion Richard Jackson. Asa Gordon's gym was sometimes visited by then, up-and-coming cruiserweight, Evander Holyfield.
In 1980, at eighteen years of age, Taylor competed in his first full contact match in Atlanta, Georgia. He won by a second round knock-out. He went on to win two state titles and attain a number two world ranking in the bantam weight division. In 1988, Taylor traveled to Paris, France, where he represented the United States on the Panama Jack International Kickboxing Team. After this match, he retired from competition to concentrate on running his Karate studio. Sensei Taylor took over as owner and chief instructor at the Bushido School of Karate in Murfreesboro in 1981.
As a Martial Artist, Sensei Taylor has trained under some of the most well-known instructors in the world. Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis, and Don Wilson are some of the notable instructors Sensei Taylor has worked with.
One of the highlights of Sensei Taylor's Martial Arts career came in September of 1975 when, as a Go-Kyu, he was able to work under the direct supervision of Wado-Ryu founder and Grandmaster, Hironori Otsuka.
Sensei Taylor has worked under the present Wado-Ryu Master Hironori Otsuka II on four occasions. One of these instances was an intense one-on-one session Sensei Taylor received from the Master at Meiji University in Tokyo, Japan, in the Winter of 1994. Sensei Taylor has also studied under Tatsuo Suzuki and Masafumi Shiomitsu, both of whom are Hachi Dan.
Today Sensei Taylor is still actively involved in kickboxing. He has coached world class kickboxer Thomas Chesterfield, the 1995 North American Welterweight Champion. Sensei Taylor now concentrates his efforts on running two successful schools. Bushido Schools of Karate are located in both Murfreesboro and Woodbury, Tennessee. The Murfreesboro location is one of Tennessee's oldest and largest schools. Sensei Taylor has served as the accredited Karate Instructor for his Alma mater Middle Tennessee State University since 1984. Mr. Taylor received his Roku Dan from Sensei Bill Herzer in 1995 and continues to learn and grow in Karate as he pursues his Shichi Dan. Sensei Taylor also trains under Hachi Dan Cecil T. Patterson whenever possible. Sensei Taylor is currently serving on the Board of Examiners for the U.S.E.W.R.K.D.
