Sensei
Taylor Hayden Nanadan |
 |
Taylor
K. Hayden holds the distinct honor of being a direct student of karate legend Mr. Cecil T. Patterson.
He has established an international legacy over the past 35
years. He was a tournament champion during the initial 20 years of
karate practice and in 1984 fought on the first U.S. Eastern
Wado-Ryu Federation team that participated in the Wado-Ryu world
Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Hayden
earned a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering
in 1970 from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Science Degree
in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University in 1972.
During the early 1970’s, he was employed as a tire construction
engineer for Gates and Armstrong Tire Corporation. During the late
1970’s and early 1980’s, he was an instructor of mathematics,
computer programming, engineering science and karate at Volunteer
State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee. He personally
developed the karate program in the physical education department
at Volunteer State and was one of the first to teach karate for
college credit in Tennessee.
Balancing the pen
and the sword, Hayden was a contributing editor for Karate
Illustrated and Sport Karate Magazines during the 1980’s and
published many articles concerning karate-training methods,
personal interviews with karate celebrities, and tournament
coverage.
Today, Taylor
Hayden has achieved the rank of Shichi-Dan (7th Degree Black Belt)
and a full time professional, master karate instructor and school
(dojo) director. He teaches classes daily in his Goodlettsville,
Tennessee area karate school, which has been in continuous
operation since 1973. He also oversees the karate curriculum
taught at multiple affiliated dojos in the middle Tennessee area.
He is Chief Black Belt examiner for the Black Belt examination
Board and the Chairman of the Board for the U.S. Eastern Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Federation. His senior black belt students
include Mr. Dale Kirby (7th degree), Mr. Neal Taylor (6th degree),
Mr. Lonnie Blittle (4th degree), and Mr. Steve O’Riley (6th
degree).
Mr. Hayden’s 7th
degree black belt ranking and his many years of experience as a
martial artist, tournament competitor, coach, author, instructor,
and dojo owner keep him in constant demand throughout the United
States as a consultant, teacher, lecturer and tournament official.
