Cecil T. Patterson, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetCecil T. Patterson
American martial artist
Date of Birth: 22-Jun-1930
Place of Birth: Sevierville, Tennessee, United States
Date of Death: 27-Oct-2002
Profession: karateka
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Cancer 
About Cecil T. Patterson
- Cecil T.
- Patterson (June 22, 1930 – October 27, 2002), 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.
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