Sensei
Bill Herzer  Nanadan |
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Mr.
Bill Herzer, originally from Alexandria, Virginia, moved to
Murfreesboro, TN, in 1965, to attend Middle Tennessee State
University. He began his Marital Arts training in 1966, with
Judo. In 1967, he began his karate training, under Sensei Jimmy
Kittrell. Years later, he continued his karate training under
the direct supervision of Sensei C.T. Patterson.
He left MTSU, in 1969, to serve
the next four years in the Army Infantry. He served in Germany,
Vietnam and with the 10th Special Forces, attaining
the rank of Captain. In Vietnam, he was awarded the bronze star
medal for Valor, the Army Commendation medal for Valor and two
purple hearts. While in the military, he trained in Gojo Ryu and
Tae Kwon Do.
In 1973, he left the Army, to
return to MTSU, to continue his college and karate education. He
immediately resumed his karate training with Newton Harris, at
the Murfreesboro Bushido School of Karate, where he received his
black belt and took over as the owner and Chief Instructor in
1974. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology in
1973 and his Masters in Biology in 1975. In
1975, he began his work in medical research at Vanderbilt
University in Nashville.
In 1984 he completed his Bachelor
Degree in Nursing and worked part-time in the emergency room in
Murfreesboro, and later in Pittsburgh.
In 1982, he turned over
the business and day to day running of the Karate School, to his
senior student, Mr. Bill Taylor. He continued to teach the
advanced classes and train at the school.
In 1991 Bill
Herzer moved to Pittsburgh, PA., where continues to work in
research. He still visits Murfreesboro, TN., several times a
year, to teach and train. He also teaches karate in Pittsburgh.
Mr. Bill Taylor, 6th Dan, Mr. Ronald Tucker and Ms.
Sharon Woodruff, both 5th Dan’s, are his senior
students.
Bill Herzer has trained with
various weapons, competed in many point tournaments, fought as
an amateur in full contact karate and helped train full contact
fighters. He also competed in triathlons, from sprint to half
iron man and swims in Masters swimming where he recorded top ten
times.
He is a member of the US Eastern
Wado-Ryu Karate Do Federation Board of Directors and Black Belt
Examination Board.
