Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven O’Riley.
Hi Steven, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I met a young man when I was 25 years of age. ‘Kirt Konyha” We became very close friends and I knew he studied karate. As we became friends I watch him closely and I liked the way he presented himself. Strong yet peaceful… This was different for me! Although he was (6) years younger than I, he earned my respect. One day I told Kirt that I wanted to start Karate. He was very surprised yet said okay. He introduced his teacher to me, Sensei Taylor Hayden. I started that day, August 18th, 1984…
I trained most every day either inside or outside of class. After (3) months of training I had already competed (3) times and won my first trophy. After (1) year I won my first, 1st place trophy. I realized I was going to do well. I set a goal to be a teacher that day. I began teaching for Sensei Hayden after receiving my 1st level black belt in 1988. I told y sensei that in 6 years I wanted to open a dojo/school in which I felt I would be a 3rd level black belt. I achieved this goal by opening my first school in Antioch on October 1st, 1994. Within (6) years I purchased land and belt my own school in the same area, This school still operates to this day…
I opened up a 2nd location in Smyrna Tn. in August of 2005. After moving that school to a larger location, I found land and built another building and taught the first class on Jun 18th 2017. The new school also has two rental spot, one on each side of the dojo.
In the same year I was promoted to 7th level Black Belt and received a teachers certificate from Japan. After one year I received Jr. Master Teacher Certification from Japan and by 2022 I had be awarded 2nd level masters, Kyoshi-Shihan. I am the only American that holds this title in my system, Wado-Ryu-Jiujitsu-Kenpo Karate…
The bottom line is I refused to give up…
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been easy at all… Although I had the skills, the public doesn’t understand this and they just do not realize the benefits of a traditional system of Japanese martial arts. I had to get a 2nd mortgage on my home, refinance the building I build at least (4) times just to pay taxes. However not willing to give up was the key…
In building my second permanent location I experienced stress that I received during the first building.. However the added stress in that a contractor took on the project yet was not licensed in Tn. He stole 30K from me. He told me it was going to cost 600k and ended up being 1.5 mil. I had a loan for 600k and my back said no more. Then I met a banker who believed in me and we were foo running again. I remember laying in bed telling God that I was turning this over to him because I just did not know how to make it work. I said God you got me in to this now its in your hands. I firmly believe that he answer me for the next day the banker said they would fully finance the project yet I had to put my first dojo up as collateral as well… I originally said no yet I new I had to give in…
It was a rough ride yet we made it work… Covid almost closed us down… I caught it (3) times yet not bad… I lost almost every student in Antioch yet again survived… I had to get a 2nd mortgage on my Antioch location 150k just to stay afloat. It is slowly coming back yet still not where it was in 2020.
2020 was a bad year for the entire world… My wife developed pancreatic cancer and passed away in Nov. of the same year. I have kept myself in the schools dedicating my entire world to my students and the success of my schools. It was the hardest time of my life yet I am still here kicking and punching…
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I teach a very unique system of Japanese Karate called Wado-Ryu… I have been training since 1984. I began teaching in 1988. I own and personally tech this system helping people not only learn to defend themselves, yet also help them find themselves thru personalized training on life experiences. My personal goal is the betterment of each student who crosses path on the dojo floor. I truly love helping my students learn the discipline required to life a good life and make better decisions as the move to success.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My friends Kirt Konyha who helped me get started and gave me personal bruises during the first 5/6 years of training. Kirt took his own life due to PTSD in 2010
To my main Sensei/Teacher, Taylor K. Haden. He was my Sensei, my mentor, my friend. Unfortunately he died from cancer in 2024.
Cecil T. Patterson – He was my teacher’s teacher and my teacher the last (5) years of his life… He was like a father to me and we became very close… He brought our system of karate to the United States and was the founder of the U.S. Eastern Wado Ryu Karate Federation. He died October 28th, 2002
Sensei John Patterson, son of the founder of our federation… He has kept this federation strong since his father passed and I consider him as a friend and family…
My wife, Heather Minneci O’Riley who lost her battle with cancer on November 2nd, 2020
Pricing:
- $99 (8) Week Trial Course
Contact Info:
- Website: https://orileykaratecenters.com
