On the 27th of September, 2008, the Karate 5 Association met at Grandmaster Joe Laney's Steelhand Dojo to participate in the I.C.A. training session. There was 16 participants and 2 supporters in the Karate 5 contingent. As is our custom, we gathered outside to have prayer before we entered the dojo. After the prayer we entered to learn and share our knowledge with others. |
Although he is recovering from major surgery, Grandmaster Wilson refused to be just a spectator. He actively led Karate 5 in their knife self defense presentation. |
Grandmaster Maurice Msarsa, a longtime practicioner of Isshinryu, led an impressive array of Grandmasters and Masters who participated in the event. Not many events in this day and age are graced by so many years of experience. |
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Karate 5 Association led off the training with knife self defense. Grandmaster Wilson always has something extra up his sleeve so he enlisted Grandmaster Laney to assist him in a "demo within a demo" to show what could happen if someone was lulled to sleep by thinking they had the upper hand. Grandmaster Wilson had what appeared to be an ordinary cane to assist him as he limped to the demonstration area. As Grandmaster Laney approached as an armed "uke", Grandmaster Wilson in a flash, unscrewed what turned out to be cane with a knife concealed in it. A perfect example of things are not always what the appear to be. |
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Karate 5 started it's empty hand knife self defense based on a technique that Grandmaster Harold Long taught many years ago. We have developed an infinite number of techniques from that one technique as our base. We will always have that in our arsenal. One of our main goals in choosing to deal with knife self defense was to help people eliminate the "fear of the weapon". We realize that the weapon must be respected but not feared. With respect and training, the likelihood that you will react in a positive manner if confronted with a weapon is increased tremendously. Although you might get cut, you have a better chance to survive. With no training and fear of the weapon, you have a great chance to be a statistic. Instructor Naomi Mason showed how "flow" and training can be used to offset the effect of physical inferiority. We only scratched the surface of what we do with the knife, but you've got to start at the beginning and build on that foundation. |
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Master Melbert Lee, Sr. and all of the other Karate 5 Masters and Senior Black Belt Instructors took a "hands on" approach to showing the participants what we were trying to share with them. |
Instructor Jerry Lewis did a great job breaking down some of the Bunkai from Seisan kata and showing how it can be used in a practical self defense application. A lot of schools have no concept of Bunkai, original or variable. |
Grandmaster Denny Shaffer demonstrated elements of his Dragon Sen I, system of martial combat which is an " in tight, blocking, get to the meat of it system", which is ideal for real world encounters. |
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Master James Ogle delights in getting on the mat to expertly demo his brand of grappling. He always does it in a way that leaves no doubt that it will work. |
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TAKING IT TO THE STREETS .. . ) Grandmaster Laney is well known and respected for his approach and techniques that he uses to get the job done. As the majority of his "clients" are on the run, he has more latitude in breaking bones than others who are not in his profession. He has to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself. If that opportunity happens to be using the concrete as an ally when throwing someone, the curb ( makes it hard to "slap" out), or the bumper of a car, that's what has to be done. The bottom line is that you do what you have to do to get home safe. |
I TOOK IT TO THE STREETS ... ) I spent several years in law enforcement as the first "black" Deputy Sheriff in Hamblen County and later as the second "black" City Policeman in Morristown during the late '60's. If you're not familiar with the socio, political, economic, climate of that era, watch the movie "In the Heat of the Night" and you will quickly realize that breaking bones was not a very good option. Therefore, I had to rely on the Yin (soft), aspect of the martial arts to get the job done sometimes. As a public servant, there were some restraints that had to be dealt with that made the job harder. However, I also had to use whatever opportunity that presented itself in order to be successful in apprehending the people that I dealt with on a day to day basis. Also, when you are dealing with a family member or friend who might have had a little too much to drink, SOFT STYLE, might be more suitable. Those of you who have experienced the Karate 5 "pain compliance" techniques can relate to this. At Karate 5 we teach diversified techniques because that gives us what we need for any situation. Be it soft, medium or hard, we have to do what needs to be done to get home safe. "Friend or Foe", sometimes determines what needs to be done. Master William L. Mason |
Karate 5 is proud of the fact that we started cross training in 1977, long before it was the "in" thing to do. Listed below are some of our teachers. Grandmaster Florendo Visitacion - Vee jitsu-te, VeeArnis Assisting Grandmaster Vee was: Grandmaster Jonathan Stewart - also taught body massage and joint manipulation Master Frank Edwards, Sr. - Major and Minor katas of Vee Jitsu-te Master Frank ( cowboy ), Edwards, Jr. - Advanced breakfalls ( aerials, free ukemis and tomenages ) Grandmaster Moses Powell - Sanuces Ryu Jui-jitsu, Arnis Grandmaster Jeffrey Delaney - Modern Arnis Grandmaster Lisa McManus - Military Arnis, Modern Arnis Grandmaster Floyd Mims - Chi, Mastering the art of Breathing |
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