In 1973, Bill Taylor began studying Wado-Ryu under Newton Harris at the Bushido School of Karate. At the time it was the first and only karate school in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Taylor started training with Bill Herzer who also trained under Newton Harris. In 1974, Herzer took over the Bushido School of Karate as the owner and Chief Instructor. Taylor earned his Sho-Dan (1st degree Black Belt) under Sensei Herzer in 1978. He was promoted to Roku-Dan (6th degree Black Belt) in 1995 and his Sichi-Dan (7th degree Black Belt) in 2003.