A Family Tradition
/A tenth-degree black belt, Wayland Lacy holds a great respect for the art of karate and enjoys teaching the craft to his family and students
by LINDSEY MCMILLAN
Zach Norment, Whitney Lacy-Norment, Wayland D. Lacy, Wayland D. Lacy II, Westin Norment and Raidyn Norment
photo by ALAMOND PHOTOGRAPHY
Before she competed, this little girl was asking Wayland questions about martial arts. One of her parents took the photo, titled “Grandmaster and Student.”
Wayland’s 18-year-old granddaughter, Haylie, is a brown belt and will begin college at the University of Tennessee this fall.
Wayland Lacy has practiced karate since he was a teenager and has achieved his Doctor of Martial Arts but is addressed by his students simply as “Hanshi,” which means master teacher in Japanese. After many years in competition and even creating his own karate system, he finds the simplest pleasure in teaching others the craft and holding utmost respect for the art. His school, appropriately named Lacy’s Shotokan Karate has been in operation since 1973 and at its current location on North Robison Road for the past three years. He has approximately 50 students with seven classes being offered for various ages and levels with a staff of six instructors. With 35+ years of teaching experience, he is a tenth-degree black belt and a fourth generation from the modern karate founder. This means that his instruction dates back three instructors in the most popular martial art which originated in Okinawa, Japan. Within Wayland’s own family, the generation connection also exists as his daughter, son, and grandchildren now practice with him.
Wayland grew up in Texarkana and graduated from Texas High School in 1967. At 16 years of age, he discovered karate while conditioning in-between sports and practiced at a local gym. After graduation, he spent a year at Stephen F. Austin University where he trained under the well-known master karate instructor, Takauki Mikami. In 1968, Wayland joined the Army, and after infantry training at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, he spent the next year in Vietnam in combat as a Platoon Sergeant, and was wounded three times before returning to the states. He remained in the Army National Guard Reserve as a Ranger and part of long-range reconnaissance for 15 years. Upon his return from Vietnam, he was diagnosed with malaria and was seriously ill in a VA hospital for several weeks. This form of malaria (Vivex) has recurred off and on throughout the years, and as part of his recuperation and physical therapy, he returned to practicing karate. He enrolled at Texarkana College where he completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees in Education with East Texas State University. He was a special education, science, and physical education teacher in the Texarkana Independent School District before becoming the assistant principal at Redwater Junior High School for nine years and principal for five years at Redwater High School. He retired after 23 years working for the schools.
Wayland demonstrates a side kick during a class.
Wayland recalls being a student at TC and doing his karate exercises (also known as “Kata”) on the campus lawn across from his apartment. Other students witnessed this, and before he knew it, several had joined him and soon afterwards, TC asked him to teach a karate continuing education class where he had between 30-40 students. In 1973, he opened his school which was originally located on Richmond Road and taught simultaneously with his school schedule, while also attending competitions on the weekends.
Wayland has toured all over the country competing, and in 1979-1981 he was the National Champion. He has won a total of over 130 tournaments. He fought in three World Championships where he placed third each time and worked closely with the US team. His daughter, Whitney, was born in 1978 and at the age of 5 began learning karate. She earned her black belt at the age of 10 and traveled with him to competitions. She was equally successful as she and her father both would place at each event they attended. Now Whitney’s daughter, Raidyn, who also began instruction at 5 years old has earned her black belt at 10 years of age. She is on her grandfather’s competition team and is continuing the family’s karate tradition. The school is definitely a family affair, as Wayland’s son, W.D., is also an instructor along with Whitney’s husband, Zach Norment. Whitney and Zach have two daughters and son, W.D., has a daughter who lives in Tennessee.
While in Vietnam, Wayland was wounded three times. This photo was taken the day before his last injury which sent him home and prompted him to begin practicing karate again.
Since retiring, Wayland has continued karate instruction and still enjoys traveling to various competitions. Throughout the years, he has taken advantage of continued study with different karate masters and world champions. Wayland was nominated to the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame in both 2005 and 2007. In 2006, he was nominated to the US Martial Arts Hall of Fame and awarded the title of Shotokan Grandmaster of the Year. He holds black belts in five separate karate systems and developed his own system he named Tokubetsu which incorporates Shotakan and Hapkido karate along with self-defense techniques. Referring to himself as a “traditional stylist,” Wayland takes the art form very seriously and practices both Kata and Kumite (“fighting”) to bring out a variety of disciplines in his students. He has taught many self-defense seminars in Mexico as well as training for police departments and special forces throughout Central America.
Through the years, Wayland has also taught self-defense and rape prevention courses in the Texarkana area. His own karate system of Tokubetsu was acknowledged by a panel of grandmasters where he was awarded the Doctor of Martial Arts, the highest ranking level in karate, as well as an honorary Doctorate in Asian Studies. The physical and emotional benefits of karate have been abundant. He says, “Karate has brought me physical conditioning, calmness in my life, and a great sense of completeness with my life. I have gained many friends and acquaintances all around the world. I have had the privilege to teach people to defend themselves, and there have been many situations that this knowledge has been beneficial in their well-being and safety.”
Wayland continues to pass this knowledge on to his students. He is now teaching a new generation, having watched many students grow up under his instruction. Lacy’s Shobotan Karate advertises how students learn karate as it was meant to be taught, as a means of self-defense. It was voted the Texarkana Gazette Readers Choice Best Martial Arts School in 2019 and 2020. Wayland dedicates countless hours to ensuring that his students are taught the original, true form of karate. With each belt achieved, they master an appreciation for the art as well. “I want my students to become successful at whatever they attempt, whether martial arts or life,” he says. “I try to teach confidence and self-worth. My students give 100% of their time and effort, and I, in turn, give them 100% of my knowledge. I want them to know that they can accomplish anything.”
Wayland emphasizes strength along with compassion. An added bonus is the ability to share his love of karate with his family. Their practicing it together brings a satisfaction which he hopes to continue as long as he is able. “I am close with my family, and it makes me proud that they are going to continue my philosophies about karate,” he acknowledges. “We have had the opportunity to travel and share our lives with each other.” The karate competition team travels primarily around the Northeast Texas, Southwest Oklahoma, and Louisiana. He is extremely proud of his students and instructors and that his school is the oldest martial arts dojo in the Texarkana region. Wayland is also an accomplished scuba diver, and enjoys playing guitar with the music ministry at his church. He counts many blessings in his life which is evident in his personal achievements and desire to share the love of karate with those around him.