Dr. William S. Cole

Dr. William S. Cole, born in England November 23, 1924, was a key figure in the establishment of Chito Ryu in Atlantic Canada. He received his education as a physician at Sheffield University, England. Eventually he moved, with his wife, Kay, to Canada; finally settling in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He had interests in aviation, boating and sailing and began researching wind powered electrical generators in his later years. But his greatest pastime was spent in his undertaking of karate.

Standing from left to right are Dr. William Cole, Higashi Sensei, and John Dean. Kneeling in front is Paul Tyson. This photo was taken the day that Dr. Cole, John Dean, and Paul Tyson were awarded the rank of Shodan. They were the first Black Belts of the Atlantic Karate Club.

He began training in 1969, at the Levy School of Karate, the dojo that would eventually become the Atlantic Karate Club. He, in conjunction with the other core group members, guided members through its formative years. He encouraged and nurtured the development of the Atlantic Karate Club, the Nova Scotia Karate Association, and the Canadian Chito Ryu Karate Do Association.

Dr. Cole taught many of the chief instructors of what was to become the Nova Scotia Chito Ryu Association. Being senior in age, as well as rank, he was looked up to as a role model by these future leaders. He has left his mark on every person practicing karate anywhere in Nova Scotia. It is thanks to Dr. Cole and the other original core members of the Atlantic Karate Club that karate was organized into a sport recognized and supported by the Government of Nova Scotia.

By: Sensei Michael Delaney