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Vital Statistics: Born May 1st , 1954 in Lackawanna, N.Y. USA.
Citizenship: U.S.A.
(Parents: Bob & Miriam Adams, both living)
6' 2" tall, 205 lbs. , Hair: dark brown. Eyes: Blues
Currently Single
Step-Daughters: Cassie (a black belt), Kristy.
(step) Grand-daughters: Katilina & Bella
Bill Adams Accomplishments Include:
7th dan from World Kobudo Federation in 2000.
3rd Dan in Judo.Certified 6th Degree Black Belt by Isshin Ryu World Karate Association.
Won Fighting Grand Champion of the Isshin Ryu World Championship in 1988.
Won over 800 awards in regional, national and international events, including
the North American Championships, Diamond
Nationals, NBL Super Grands, Canadian Nationals, etc.
Member of the 1993 US National Tai Chi Team to China.
Produced Tai Chi video in 1997. Since produced many video/dvds at the studio
housed in Bill Adams' Martial Arts in Elma.
He is featured performer for Rising Sun Video's popular release Mastering Okinawan
Bo, and co-produced, directed and
edited a video for a major drug company, Serenity in Action, a guide to Taiji
and Qigong for those with Multiple Sclerosis,
or other muscular disorders. Other titles include: Chi for You, Chi-time, Chi-time
@ School.
Vice President of Qi Concept Productions. Info and Products may be found at
http://www.chitime.info
Produced and Directed the Karate Can-Am Tournament for 14 years. Currently,
the NY State Director for Professional
Karate Circuit (PKC)
Organized and Developed Bill Adams' Martial Arts & Fitness Center, 3211
Transit Road in Elma, N.Y. Over 12,000 sq. ft., 3
major training areas (matted, hardwood, & carpet), locker and shower rooms,
video editing suite, etc. Full-time programs
include: Isshhin-ryu karate, Kendo, Taiji quan, Aikido, Brazilian Jiujitsu,
Shorinji Kempo.
Co-authored numerous articles in respected medical journals including: Physiotherapy,
Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, etc.
Over 40 years training in Martial Arts, 30 as a full-time professional. Taught
seminars to trained martial artists, medical
professionals, and the general public.
Starting Martial Arts
Bill Adams has been studying martial arts since 1967. His primary instructor,
the late George Insley, inspired him to a high level
of skill in Isshin-Ryu Karate. This Okinawan system of karate is noted for it's
explosiveness, focus and vertical punch. Kobudo,
weaponry including bo, sai and tonfa, is a major part of that system. At the
brown and black belt level, Mr. Adams received
extensive training with Mr. Angi Uezu, the son-in-law of Isshin-Ryu's founder,
Tatsuo Shimabuku..
In 1975, he was scheduled to train in Okinawa with Tatsuo Shimabuku. Because
of Shimabuku's death in May, Mr. Adams
spent the summer training with one of karate's earliest pioneers in Japan, 10th
dan, Yasuhiro Konishi, who was 83 at the time.
Founder of Shindo Junen Ryu, and a direct student of Gichin Funakoshi, he was
of Samurai lineage and politically connected. It
was O' Sensei Konishi that certified Mr. Funakoshi as being allowed to teach
Karate in Japan.
Also during this period, Bill began to teach part-time from 1975, teaching various
classes with his teacher's blessings.
In 1977, Mr Adams began the Karate Can Am, a karate tournament that ran for
14 years, and brought some of the nation's
best talent to Western New York! He also started to increase the size and number
of his classes.
In 1979, he began teaching as a full-time professional. Opening first a school
in East Aurora, then moving that to nearby
Cheektowaga in 1985. His second school in Blasdell opened in 1984. Both schools
have grown steadily, and now boast over
400 active between the two schools. The newest location is in Elma.
Continued Development
In Isshin-Ryu Karate, Mr. Adams has received the 7th degree Black Belt and
won the Grand Champion Award at the
Isshin-Ryu World Championship in 1988. He also spent a short time training with
Kichiro Shimabuku, the son of the style's
founder.
Tournament competition held a priority for Mr. Adams in the 1970's and 80's.
Winning over 800 trophies in international,
national and regional events Mr. Adams was first noted for sparring, later for
forms and weapons forms. A member of a
champion national fighting team (The All Stars) he traveled extensively throughout
the U.S. and Canada.
He was the Grand Champion or placed in such prestigious tournaments as the
Bermuda Invitational Grand Championships,
North American Championships, Canadian Nationals and Diamond Nationals. He also
beat some of the top competitors of his
time, including Billy Blanks in fighting, Chuck Merrimen in forms, and even
Cynthia Rothrock and Cezar Borkowski in
weapons forms at national events. And for several years running was the top
competitor in the NY/New Jersey area of the
NASKA ratings.
During this period Mr. Adams had the opportunity to train with such noted instructors
as Prof. Wally Jay in Small Circle Jujitsu,
Prof. Remy Presas in Arnis, Phil Porter in Judo, Bill Wallace on kicking skills
and Chuck Merrimen in Goju Karate. Plus he
developed close relationships with Cezar Borkowski, Peter Gilpin, Terry Maccarrone
and Nick Gracenin. These ties lead to
further achievement in such styles as Shotokan, Taekwondo, Goju-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu
and Tai Chi Chuan.
The Search For Internal
Chinese arts have also held a fascination for Mr. Adams. Since 1981, he has
put regular personal training time into the art of
Tai Chi Chuan, especially training with Nick Gracenin, a friend and fellow competitor
on the tournament circuit, and when
possible Nick's teacher, Madam Bow Sim Mark.
At first, Tai Chi was strictly for his own personal statisfaction. In the fall
of 1993, Mr. Adams won a position on the U.S.
National Tai Chi Team and in December of that year, competed in Fuzhou, Fu jian
Province, China at the International Tai Chi
Games. He placed 5th and 6th in forms competitions against competitors from
14 countries. He spent the rest of that month
travelling throughout China and training with top Chinese Grandmasters such
as Wang Pei Sheng, and top national coaches like
Xia Bai Hua. He even spent a day at the famous Shaolin Temple.
He has also placed well in the US National Tai Chi Tournament at A Taste of
China, and been one of the few Caucasians to
regularly asked to demonstrate in the Master's Demonstrations at that event.
Bill Adams, and his staff, teach hundreds of students weekly at his schools,
senior centers, and corporate clients.
Current Events
Currently running two schools, Mr Adams has let his tournament lapse since
1994, and has instead run smaller events at his
schools. Over the years, Mr Adams has sponsored seminars that have brought in
top martial artists in Okinawan, Japanese,
Korean and Chinese arts. The list includes: Kichiro Shimabuku, Bill Wallace,
Joe Lewis, Charlie Lee, Cezar Borkowski, Joe
Lewis, Chuck Merrimen, Prof. Wally Jay, Remy Presas, Dr. Maung Gyi, Nick Gracenin,
Sam Masich, Helen Wu, Jianye
Jiang, Seikichi Odo, Tsuyoshi Uechi. And noted and talented nearby instructors
like Matt Dorsey, Mick Walsh and Bill
Cavalier.
Just since late in 2001, guests have included: