Cecil T. Patterson
Encyclopedia
Cecil T. Patterson among America’s earliest karateka, introduced the Wado-Ryu style of karate
into the Eastern United States in 1958. Before his death in 2002, he had firmly established the United States Eastern Wado-Ryu Federation, previously known as the United States Eastern Wado-Kai Federation, a successful Karate organization 20 thousand strong, according to Patterson’s statement in an interview.
Born in 1930 in Sevierville, Tennessee
, Patterson first enlisted in the US Navy at the age of fourteen. While stationed in Iwakuni
, Japan, Patterson, then 25 years of age, undertook the study of Karate. According to the USEWF website, Patterson started Wado in 1955 under Kazuo Sakura; more specifically, he started training in August 1955. In 1957, Patterson opened the first karate school in Tennessee
, and in 1963 organized the first karate tournament in the state. In 1978 Tennessee governor Ray Blanton
signed into law a state senate resolution naming Patterson the father of karate in Tennessee.
ranking in Wado. The official USEWF website states that he received sho-dan in the year following his return from Japan when he was granted permission to teach Wado: “…in 1958, concurrent with his promotion to the rank of Sho Dan (1st Degree Black Belt) he received permission to teach the art of Wado Ryu selectively.” However, the USEWF website also maintains that he received his ni-dan before his discharge from the Navy: “Mr. Patterson’s devotion and hard worked [sic] earned him the rank of ni-dan (second-degree black belt) within two years, before his tour of duty ended and Patterson was shipped back home.” Patterson himself does not indicate the date in which he first received dan grading until it mentions his san-dan.
Patterson received instruction from many legendary masters in the martial arts. Without the direct supervision and assistance of an instructor but through telephone calls with Sakura in Japan, Patterson refined his skill over the next nine years. Mahanes indicates that “…it became increasingly difficult to stay true to the style have [sic] virtually no Wado senseis in the United States to guide his progress.” Necessarily training on his own in Wado Ryu, Patterson climbed from either a brown belt or ni-dan to much higher ranks. Within four years of his beginning training in Wado, he had attained the rank of san-dan in 1959. In 1964, Patterson attained the rank of yon-dan. Both his book and the USEWF site fails to mention who promoted Patterson to any of his early dan grades or if and where he took his exams until his go-dan promotion in 1968; thirteen years after he began the study of Karate, in 1968, Ohtsuka Sensei, recognizing the singular merit and abilities of Mr. Patterson, promoted him to go-dan. By the time of his 1976 publication of his yellow belt book, Patterson had attained the rank of roku-dan. Significantly, by the time of the publication of his go-kyu book in 1979, he had advanced to the rank of hachi-dan. In short, from the time he began training in 1955 to 1979, a total of 24 years, Patterson advanced from a beginner to the highest ranked non-Japanese in traditional Wado Karate.
; regulates the promotions of students from white belt through the highest levels of dan grades; regulates the curriculum of authentic Wado-Ryu in the United States; maintains a network of affiliated instructors and dojos; maintains an extensive website; and provides a sport karate competition in the Cecil T Patterson memorial tournament, held annually in March. One of the hallmarks of the USEWF has been its continued close affiliation with Otsuka the elder and then the younger Otsuka the son.
, Tennessee; Bill Herzer
, Tennessee and Taylor K. Hayden,Tennessee. Until his death in 2002 he continued to train a special group of black belts weekly called Shihan Deishi. This group consisted of the following; Jimmy Edwards; Mike Vanatta Sr.; Steven O'Riley; and Buck Ford. The continued success of the USEWF stands as testament to Patterson’s effectiveness as an organizer and an administrator. The USEWF has been atypical of karate organizations, which commonly fracture and splinter into smaller groups at the death of their founder. With a relatively small number of defections in the immediate years following Patterson’s passing, his son, John, inherited an effectively intact USEWF. At last count, the USEWF boasts a membership of well over 17 thousand. In conjunction with establishing Wado and organizing the USEWF, Mr. Patterson has authored a number of books revolving around the topic of Wado-Ryu or police defensive tactics.
and Ed Parker
. In his later years, he took to wearing a white belt
rather than the traditional black belt
, which demonstrated his humility and modest reluctance to accept the acclaim from others. Until his death, Patterson diligently propagated traditional Wado-Ryu Karate in the Eastern United States. In his book, Robin Reilly briefly identifies those traditional Karate organization in the U.S. and indicates that Patterson was most responsible for traditional Wado Ryu Karate in the Eastern US while his Master Ajari was responsible for the propagation of traditional Wado in the Western US.
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
into the Eastern United States in 1958. Before his death in 2002, he had firmly established the United States Eastern Wado-Ryu Federation, previously known as the United States Eastern Wado-Kai Federation, a successful Karate organization 20 thousand strong, according to Patterson’s statement in an interview.
Born in 1930 in Sevierville, Tennessee
Sevierville, Tennessee
Sevierville is a city in Sevier County, Tennessee, located in the Southeastern United States. Its population was 11,757 at the 2000 United States Census; in 2004 the estimated population was 14,101. Sevierville is the county seat of Sevier County, Tennessee....
, Patterson first enlisted in the US Navy at the age of fourteen. While stationed in Iwakuni
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni or MCAS Iwakuni is a United States Marine Corps air station located in the Nishiki river delta, southeast of the Iwakuni Station in the city of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi in Japan.-Tenant commands:...
, Japan, Patterson, then 25 years of age, undertook the study of Karate. According to the USEWF website, Patterson started Wado in 1955 under Kazuo Sakura; more specifically, he started training in August 1955. In 1957, Patterson opened the first karate school in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and in 1963 organized the first karate tournament in the state. In 1978 Tennessee governor Ray Blanton
Ray Blanton
Leonard Ray Blanton was the 44th Governor of Tennessee from 1975 to 1979. Blanton's administration was rife with corruption.-Early life and Congress:...
signed into law a state senate resolution naming Patterson the father of karate in Tennessee.
Dan Rankings
Patterson was the earliest non Japanese to receive danDan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
ranking in Wado. The official USEWF website states that he received sho-dan in the year following his return from Japan when he was granted permission to teach Wado: “…in 1958, concurrent with his promotion to the rank of Sho Dan (1st Degree Black Belt) he received permission to teach the art of Wado Ryu selectively.” However, the USEWF website also maintains that he received his ni-dan before his discharge from the Navy: “Mr. Patterson’s devotion and hard worked [sic] earned him the rank of ni-dan (second-degree black belt) within two years, before his tour of duty ended and Patterson was shipped back home.” Patterson himself does not indicate the date in which he first received dan grading until it mentions his san-dan.
Patterson received instruction from many legendary masters in the martial arts. Without the direct supervision and assistance of an instructor but through telephone calls with Sakura in Japan, Patterson refined his skill over the next nine years. Mahanes indicates that “…it became increasingly difficult to stay true to the style have [sic] virtually no Wado senseis in the United States to guide his progress.” Necessarily training on his own in Wado Ryu, Patterson climbed from either a brown belt or ni-dan to much higher ranks. Within four years of his beginning training in Wado, he had attained the rank of san-dan in 1959. In 1964, Patterson attained the rank of yon-dan. Both his book and the USEWF site fails to mention who promoted Patterson to any of his early dan grades or if and where he took his exams until his go-dan promotion in 1968; thirteen years after he began the study of Karate, in 1968, Ohtsuka Sensei, recognizing the singular merit and abilities of Mr. Patterson, promoted him to go-dan. By the time of his 1976 publication of his yellow belt book, Patterson had attained the rank of roku-dan. Significantly, by the time of the publication of his go-kyu book in 1979, he had advanced to the rank of hachi-dan. In short, from the time he began training in 1955 to 1979, a total of 24 years, Patterson advanced from a beginner to the highest ranked non-Japanese in traditional Wado Karate.
Establishment of the United States Eastern Wado-Ryu Federation
Patterson was one of twelve sanctioned teachers to have studied under Hironori Otsuka. In 1968, Otsuka charged Patterson with the establishment of the United State Eastern Wado Federation, which to date has burgeoned into a successful system that mandatorily requires membership of all participants who train with an USEWF dojoDojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
; regulates the promotions of students from white belt through the highest levels of dan grades; regulates the curriculum of authentic Wado-Ryu in the United States; maintains a network of affiliated instructors and dojos; maintains an extensive website; and provides a sport karate competition in the Cecil T Patterson memorial tournament, held annually in March. One of the hallmarks of the USEWF has been its continued close affiliation with Otsuka the elder and then the younger Otsuka the son.
Legacy
Patterson’s legacy continues in the thousands of students he has instructed in the USEWF. Some of the more notable students have been Charles Parrish, Florida; Tom Stevens, Alabama; David Deaton, Tennessee; Wayne Tyler, Tennessee; Jean Ellen Zimmermann, Tennessee; Micheal H. Vanatta Sr., Tennessee; Bill Taylor (Martial artist)Bill Taylor (Martial artist)
Bill Taylor , Shichidan, in the Wado-Ryu style of karate and world ranked Kickboxer in the bantam weight division from 1981 to 1988.-As a Martial artist:...
, Tennessee; Bill Herzer
Bill Herzer
Bill Herzer, Nanadan, in the Wado-Ryu style of karate.Bill Herzer originally from Alexandria, Virginia moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee in 1965, to attend MTSU. Herzer completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1973 and his Masters in Biology in 1975...
, Tennessee and Taylor K. Hayden,Tennessee. Until his death in 2002 he continued to train a special group of black belts weekly called Shihan Deishi. This group consisted of the following; Jimmy Edwards; Mike Vanatta Sr.; Steven O'Riley; and Buck Ford. The continued success of the USEWF stands as testament to Patterson’s effectiveness as an organizer and an administrator. The USEWF has been atypical of karate organizations, which commonly fracture and splinter into smaller groups at the death of their founder. With a relatively small number of defections in the immediate years following Patterson’s passing, his son, John, inherited an effectively intact USEWF. At last count, the USEWF boasts a membership of well over 17 thousand. In conjunction with establishing Wado and organizing the USEWF, Mr. Patterson has authored a number of books revolving around the topic of Wado-Ryu or police defensive tactics.
Conclusion
By the 1980s, Patterson had attained the rank of hachidan (8th degree). While reluctant to accept the title of master, Patterson was a master equal in stature to American karate pioneers Robert TriasRobert Trias
Robert A. Trias was a U.S. karate pioneer, founding the first karate school in the mainland United States. He also developed Shuri-ryū karate, an eclectic style with roots in the Okinawan Shuri-te tradition.-Early years:...
and Ed Parker
Ed Parker
Edmund Kealoha "Ed" Parker was an American martial artist, promoter, teacher, and author.-Life:Parker was born in Hawaii, and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began his training in the martial arts at a young age in judo and later boxing...
. In his later years, he took to wearing a white belt
Kyu
is a Japanese term used in martial arts, chadō, ikebana, go, shogi such as Japanese traditional culture, and academic tests and in other similar activities to designate various grades or levels or class of proficiency or experience...
rather than the traditional black belt
Kyu
is a Japanese term used in martial arts, chadō, ikebana, go, shogi such as Japanese traditional culture, and academic tests and in other similar activities to designate various grades or levels or class of proficiency or experience...
, which demonstrated his humility and modest reluctance to accept the acclaim from others. Until his death, Patterson diligently propagated traditional Wado-Ryu Karate in the Eastern United States. In his book, Robin Reilly briefly identifies those traditional Karate organization in the U.S. and indicates that Patterson was most responsible for traditional Wado Ryu Karate in the Eastern US while his Master Ajari was responsible for the propagation of traditional Wado in the Western US.