Bill Edwards was born and raised in Rhode Island. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in psychology, he went to graduate school both in the US and Canada, eventually ending up living in Toronto, ON. He holds degrees in cognitive psychology, and while a university faculty member in psychology was the recipient of several teaching awards.

Starting in his twenties, he became heavily involved in training in karate-do, with an interest in both the training and its relationship to Zen Buddhism. Over some seventeen years, he earned a black belt, taught under the supervision of his sensei, and travelled to Japan to visit both dojos and Zen temples. When he became a father, he chose to stop his martial arts training in favour of devoting time to parenting.