7th ANNUAL ARNIS EVENT

 


The Karate 5 Association’s Morristown Dojo at Tally Ward Recreation 
Center was the venue for the 7th Annual Arnis Seminar/Camp/Event, 
featuring training by Grandmaster Lisa McManus, founder of Military 
Arnis and instructor for Marine and Navy officer candidates at NROTC, 
Norwich, VT.  

The event began on Friday night, April 11, at Tally-Ward with a three 
hour training session conducted by McManus.  Students were lead in 
drills related to self-defense using empty hand and weapon (arnis canes) 
techniques.  Saturday morning (April 12) began at 8:30 with more intense 
training at Tally Ward and transitioned to Fred Miller Park at 3:00 for a 
picnic and awards ceremony followed by more training.  

 The picnic, catered by Mr. John Roberts, owner of Scruggs Barbecue 
of Knoxville, TN featured the usual fare with the addition of a whole 
roasted pig.  The food was enjoyed by the students and some family 
members, and Rec. Department Commissioners J. C. Wilson, Herbert 
Harville and spouse and Tina Deering and spouse.

J. C. Wilson, Head Commissioner of the Morristown Parks and Recreation 
Department; and Roger Overholt, Chief of the Morristown Police Department, 
were presented awards in recognition of their continued support of the 
Karate 5.  Others recognized for their support were Elizabeth and John Roberts, 
Tiffany Hearn of Knoxville, Craig Price and Jason Phipps of the Morristown
 Rec. Department.  Grandmaster McManus was presented a red belt in 
recognition of her recent promotion in her art and her support of Karate 5.  
Also, during the awards ceremony, Master William Mason was promoted 
to the level of 7th degree black belt in the Isshinryu System by Grandmaster 
Willie G. Wilson.  Master Mason is the head instructor for the Morristown
 Karate 5 Dojo.  
 
The seminar was well attended by students from Morristown, Knoxville, 
Dandridge, Corryton, Maryville, Blaine, Chuckey, and Oak Ridge, TN, 
Chesapeake and Chilhowie, VA., and Norwich, VT

 

          I have been training in the martial arts since 1965. I received my
first promotion on September 1, 1965 ( Green Belt), from Grandmaster
Zenryo Shimabuku on the island of Okinawa. Since that time, I have
received Black Belt promotions from 3 other Grandmasters.  If you
read my bio on the Karate 5 web site, you will see that I have had other
training with some notable Grandmasters and Masters. The dojo that
I trained in on Okinawa was named Seibukan. If you do some research
you will find out that we had the All Okinawa-All Japan champion for
the years 1963-1964. The dojo is still in existence and is being run by
Grandmaster Zenpo Shimabuku ( Grandmaster Zenryo's son and heir.)
I mentioned that to emphasize the fact that I am not a " johnny come
lately" , so the following words will have some significance. 
       
The training I received from Grandmaster Willie G. Wilson over the  
 years has exceeded that which I have had in the past. He is a real
modern day Master who respects tradition but constantly tries to 
improve his art. Seems to me, that is what the old Masters did. As a
result of the concepts he teaches, all of my other arts have improved.
I am proud to be a Karate 5 Isshinryu Shichi-dan.

 Master William L. Mason