Karate Five Association

KARATE FIVE'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Willie G. Wilson - President of Karate Five Association & Original Founder - President

Linda Wilson - Karate FIve Board Member & Original Founder - Treasurer

Melbert Lee Jr. - Karate Five Board Member - Board Program Coordinator

Marlena B. Beal  - Karate Five Board Member - Board Secretary & Webmaster &

Willie Wilson, Linda Wilson and Melbert Lee Sr. were three of the original five (5) founders of Karate Five and first generation under the great Grandmaster Harold Long of Knoxville, TN.

Grandmaster Willie Wilson and the Board's mission to continue the vision of Karate Five's mentor, Grandmaster Harold Long, was adopted and carried out by Karate Five Association to teach martial arts to Knoxville's inner city youth in 1974.

Master Long learned the Isshinryu style of karate in the 1950's from Grandmaster Tatsuo Shimbakuku while serving in the U.S. Marines in Okinawa.

Master Long's gift to the early Karate Five founders has been the Board's mission since its inception.

Karate Five Board members with Black Belts are as follows:

Grandmaster Willie G. Wilson, Ju Dan (10th) Degree Black Belt

Master Melbert Lee Jr., Hachi Dan (8th) Degree Black Belt

Master Linda Wilson, Hachi Dan (8th) Degree Black Belt

All BOARD MEMBERS serve as instructors (except Marlena B. Beal) without salaries as do the other staff and instructors. In addition they are supported by Grandmaster Maurice Msarsa and Instructor Kenneth Jenkins.

Introducing the Karate Five leadership team:

 Grandmaster Maurice Msarsa - Ku Dan (9th) Degree Black Belt - Karate Five Dojo Sensei

Grandmaster Maurice Msarsa (pictured above) is one of the Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame (IHOF) founders, and one of the Isshin-Ryu pioneers in Tennessee.  Grandmaster Msarsa has been a mentor and instructor for some of the K-5 leaders since the beginning of their maritial arts careers. In 1999, he became Karate FIve's official Dojo Sensei after the death of Harold Long in 1998.

Instructor Anston Wilson- Shchi Dan (7th) Degree Black Belt





 Instructor Kenneth "Slim" Jenkins - Yo Dan 4th Degree Black Belt

 

Instructor  Charlsie "CJ" Burnett, Yo Dan (4th) Degree Black Belt

 

Instructor Marcus Campbell, San Dan 3rd Degree Black Belt

 Leadership Team - Dwayne Troutman

 Leadership Team - Demiyan McBath

Karate Five Dojo

The Karate Five original founders trained under the late Grandmaster Harold Long, a native of East Tennessee.

Grandmaster Harold Long

K-5 Dojo's black belts are not only respected and honored in the martial arts circles but regularly attend, participate and sponsor martial arts tournaments, seminars, workshops and shiais.

Grandmaster Melbert Lee Sr. - Ku Dan (9th) Degree Black Belt  - Karate Five Board Member & Original Founder & Fallen Warrior

February 20,1946 - December 2, 2017

Granmaster Melbert Lee Sr., was Karate Five's first founder to earn his black belt under Grandmaster Harold Long.  He served on the Karate Five Board of Directors since it officially became the Karate Five Association in 1980 and part of the leadership staff at the Karate Five Dojo until his death of December 2, 2017. He will be sadly missed by this organization and its students.

KARATE FIVE STAFF

Karate FIve's leadership is under Grandmaster Willie Wilson and consists of Black Belts, Staff and Instructors. Karate FIve is proud of its staff who work tirelessly and diligently and without salaries to provide the quality of martial arts training that is a reflection of the Karate Five's mission and dojo disciplines.

Grandmaster Willie G. Wilson - President & Original Karate Five Founder - Karate Five Association - Ju Dan (10th) Degree Black Belt (Sanuces Ryu) and Ku Dan (9th)  Degree Black Belt (Isshinryu)  

Sensei Linda Wilson - Hachi Dan (8th) Degree Black Belt - Original Karate Five Founder

Sensei Melbert Lee Jr. - Hachi Dan (8th) Degree Black Belt

Instructor Johnny Stowers - Yo Dan (4th) Degree Black Belt

Junior Instructor Youth Leadership Team

Karate Five is proud of its rising young leadership exemplified in our Dojo by three of our students--two recently promoted to the Instructors.  CJ Burnett and Marcus Campbell were promoted to Ni Dan (2nd) Degree Black Belt on December 15, 2017.  They have earned their place on the Karate Five Dojo Leadership Team and the title of "Instructor."

In August 2017 Andrew Gaff, brown belt, was promoted to the Youth Leadership Team. Before their promotion, he served with CJ Burnett and Marcus Campbell.  All these young students have proven their commitment to  Karate Five over the years since they were very young students.

As did CJ Burnett and Marcus Campbell, Andrew has shown a willingness to work with the students and assist the Leadership staff. These responsibilities may include but not be limited to assistng students and participants with tournament warmups, seminars and workshop activities and setup and providing training to younger students and an attitude to help Leadership wherever assistance is needed. 

Over the years young leaders such as Andrew's skills in the martial arts have earned the respect and attention of his Karate Five peers for his loyalty, hard work and commitment. Karate Five is proud to recognize and award such loyalty and commitment as an example to other students.  Andrew possesses the certificates, recognition and awards to prove this meritous position.

Andrew Gaff, Sho Dan 2nd Degree Black Belt