Sensei Will

Wilston was born and raised on the island of St. Thomas, the capital of the US Virgin Islands, where he spent several years traveling between and living in both the Caribbean and the boroughs of Brooklyn & Queens, NY. While living there, he began learning karate at age six from my cousin, Butch Blyden, who started giving him lessons when he babysat for him. Butch was also a talented artist, and Wilston wanted to emulate him and developed a love for drawing & illustration.

In 1995, at age 16, Wilston returned to NY and rejoined his first official dojo, the Tiger Schulmann’s Karate Dojo in Queens, NY, which taught the Kyokushin-based style karate with influences in Aikido and Jiu-jitsu. After a time, he returned to St. Thomas but would not find a dojo that felt right. He graduated from High School in 1997 and moved back to the mainland, where he joined & served in the US Army in 1998.

He returned to St. Thomas in early 2001, and in 2005 began the study of Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, which he practiced for 6 years, with a group of friends.

It would be another nine years before he found his new home at the Shen Dragon Karate Dojo, finally accomplishing his dream that began over 30 years ago. The vision of a child wanting to follow in the footsteps of his cousin. The objective of reaching the rank of Shodan-1st Degree Black Belt.

As a black belt and as an instructor, he continues on this path of striving for self-excellence, learning, and sharing his knowledge with his fellow black belts, advanced and beginner students, and the future students at the Shen Dragon Karate Dojo.