The Karate Five Dojo Is an inner
city dojo. It was established in 1975.
Over the years different black belts
formed the "five".
Currently, the Board Members are:

Grandmaster, Willie Wilson, 9th Dan
Grandmaster, Melbert Lee Sr., 9th Dan
 Sensei, Jon Whitehead, 5th Dan
Sensei, Melbert Lee Jr., 5th Dan

The Board is supported by
other black belts:

     
    

Master, Maurice Msarsa, 9th Dan
Master, Fredrick Brabson, 7th Dan
Master, William Faulkner, 6th Dan
Instructor, Anston Wilson  4th Dan
 

The Dojo black belts are trained in,
and hold rank in, different disciplines
of the martial arts. Cross training
includes Isshinryu, Sanuces Ryu,
Vee Jitsu, and Modern Amis.

the Dojo black belts are well respected
in the martial arts circles. They have
performed demonstrations on TV and
at school, civic, and church functions.

Several of the Dojo masters have been
honored with multiple inductions into
Halls of  Fame.

The Karate Five students receive
first class training in the martial arts
They routinely place in the winning
brackets at tournament competition.

Isshin Ryu
GRANDMASTER TATSUO SHIMABUKU
FOUNDER OF ISSHINRYU

Grandmaster Shimabuku was born in Okinawa in 1906.
He began his study of Shuri-ti Karate at the age of 8.
After achieving a degree of skill in this system, he went
on to formal training in Kobayshi-Ryu, first under 
Chotoku Kiyan and then under Choki-Motobu, both 
masters and legends of their time. Master Shimabuku
also studied the art of the bo and sai, as well as the
tui-fa (Tonfa). His teachers, Hirara Sinken and Yaby
Ku Mo Den, were responsible for providing Okinawan
instructors with these skills.

Master Shimabuku first won recognition for his karate
abilities during a large martial arts festival in the village
of Fatima. The Master performed the katas in a very 
powerful and meaningful manner. His reputation throughout 
Okinawa reached a peak early in World War II. During the 
war years, karate was practiced and taught to only a select 
few. Master Shimabuku taught karate in private to some of
the Japanese officers occupying the island of Okinawa.
After the war, Master Shimabuku returned to farming 
and practiced karate privately for his spiritual and physical 
needs. He was then recognized throughout Okinawa as the
leading practitioner of both Shorin-Ryu and Goju- Ryu.

Shortly after World War II, Master Shimabuku began 
considering the idea of combining the various styles of
karate into one style. He consulted with the Masters on
the island. At first there was general acceptance and 
agreement. Later the idea met resistance. The masters
of the different systems feared loss of identity and position. 
Master Shimabuku decided to proceed with his idea, and
on January 15, 1954 in the village of Chun, Isshinryu was born.

In developing Isshinryu, Master Shimabuku combined the
best and most practical elements of Goju-Ryu and Shorin-Ryu.
He also introduced a vertical punch with the thumb locked on
top instead of the twist punch.

It is interesting to note that Master Shimabuku’s given name
was Chinkishi. He changed his name to “Tatsuo” during his
karate days…his chosen name which means “dragon boy”.
 

Isshin Ryu

Harold Long, an East Tennessee native, studied under
Master Shimabuku while in the US Marines and
stationed in Okinawa. Master Long was the first to
teach karate in East Tennessee starting in the 1950's.
Several of the Dojo black belts are first generation
karate practitioners under Master Long.

Grandmaster Moses Powell founded Sanuces Ryu...
a fighting style that combines karate, boxing, and
arnis with the joint locking and nerve attacks of Ju Jitsu.
Master Powell attributes his success to his teacher,
Ihe late Grand Professor Florendo Vistacion, founder
of Vee Jitsu Ryu. The Sanuces warrior is taught to
walk the Earth in peace and never to be the aggressor.

What do you see when you look at a Dojo Patch? Does it give a message? 
Is it judged for its shape, it’s content, or its beauty? Recently, the Karate 
Five Dojo completed its design of the new Dojo Patch. A lot of thought and 
effort were given to its contents and message. The gold, blue, and black are
 the Dojo colors. The patch embodies  the Dojo’s character. At the heart of 
the Patch is a fire-breathing dragon curled in the shape of a 5…the symbol 
of the Karate Five Dojo. Within this patch, the dragon embodies the dojo’s 
masters, sensei’s, and the karate-ka. The head is the Dojo’s Sensei and mentor. 
The heart is the one of the Five that serves as head instructor. The dragon’s 
four legs are the remaining Masters/Sensei’s of the Five that support the Dojo’s 
activities. The dragon’s strength and weapon of attack is the tail…as such, the 
Dojo instructors adorn that part of the dragon. The dragon’s body is the embodiment 
of the Dojo’s karate-ka.  In the martial arts culture, the dragon is the mythical fierce
 fighting monster that has the power to fight against hostile and evil forces. Master 
Shimabuku envisioned the dragon as a part of Isshin-Ryu’s Mizu-Gami.   The dragon 
rests in a golden pyramid with blue background. The pyramid is the symbol of 
longevity, stability, and a firm foundation. At the base of the pyramid is ISSHINRYU …
the firm foundation of the Dojo’s martial arts training. Cross training at the Dojo of 
VeeJitsu, SanucesRyu, and Modern Arnis complete the boundaries of the pyramid. 
Surrounding the blue background of  the pyramid is a black circle with the Dojo’s 
name etched in gold. The circle is the symbol of unity, wholeness, and infinity. 

The Dojo’s Masters, Sensei’s, instructors, and karate-ka are united to merge and be 
what the Dojo Patch embodies. The Dojo colors of black, blue, and gold are symbolic 
of the Dojo karate-ka, its environment, and the training within. Masters, Sensei’s, and 
instructors wear the black Karate Five Dojo shirts. Black is the opposite of white. A 
white belt identifies a karate-ka as a beginner. A black belt identifies a high level of 
expertise. Black indicates the absence of color…it represents protection shrouded in 
humility. Blue symbolizes the calmness of the discipline. When one views a blue sky, 
the destination is heavenward. It represents those that are able to overcome obstacles 
and live in the environs of peace and success. Gold is usually identified with wealth 
and purity. The gold in the patch symbolizes a wealth of information and skills. Studying 
martial arts enriches our life. Gold is put through fire to rid it of impurities. Once out of 
the fire…it is pure.

Trial by fire leads to victory.