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Raleigh Wado-Ryu Karate was founded in 2011 by Bill Tracy and Josiah Brooks as a place for dedicated martial artists to train in a traditional karate style, without the pressures of modern commercial schools.
Our focus is on the application of kata (a defined series of self-defense movements) and body mechanics. Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Our classes are somewhat informal, in order to build bonds of camaraderie between our students.
In 2012, we joined the U.S. Eastern Wado-Ryu Karate Federation to connect with the Wado community in the U.S. and abroad.
Instructors:
(From left: Josiah Brooks, Courtney Brooks, and Bill Tracy)
Josiah grew up in Pennsylvania, devouring books and visiting the beach on Hatteras Island in NC as often as possible. He moved to Raleigh NC to attend North Carolina State University in 1999.
After discovering Wado-Ryu Karate in 2003, he knew he could never leave. Josiah received the opportunity to begin teaching in 2006, and opened Raleigh Wado-Ryu Karate with Bill Tracy in 2011.
Courtney is a Navy brat born in Guam, who finally settled in North Carolina in 2000. She moved to Raleigh after falling in love with the city (and Josiah!) while attending NCSU.
She began learning Wado-Ryu Karate from Bill and Josiah in 2011, and began teaching in 2016 after receiving her black belt.
Courtney and Josiah have two wonderful boys together, and all four of them love the beach and being outside in nature.
Bill is a North Carolina native, originally from Charlotte. He graduated from NCSU with a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
In college, he discovered Wado-Ryu Karate. He has studied since 2003, and taught since 2007. He is also a member of the US Eastern Wadu-Ryu Federation. Over the last several years, he's begun to incorporate the science of body mechanics into his classes.
When he is not working or practicing karate, he and his spouse enjoy living in Southwest Raleigh. Bill is also a published Science Fiction and Fantasy writer, and you can find his books here.
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