Grandmaster Maurice Msarsa – Karate 5 Dojo Sensei

“First” in Karate Five      
The Karate Five is a traditionally focused Isshinryu school with a unique 
mix of martial arts incorporated into its core program.  The other arts--Ju  
Jitsu, Modern and Military Arnis have opened up a whole new spectrum 
for the Karate Five’s skills and performance levels, particularly noted in 
their continuous successful history at tournaments and competitions .  
After years of making its mark in the martial arts community, Karate Five 
expanded and now has two schools located in Northeast Knoxville at 
3816 Oakland Drive and 324 South James Street, Morristown, TN.

Karate Five has many “first’s” in its history, which has helped make its 
mark as an elite organization in a highly competitive field.  Of notable, 
one of the these “first” is five masters of the “first” generation under 
Grand Master Long who was responsible for bringing the Isshinryu 
system back from Okinawa.  These five individuals received their black 
belts or master belts under the sensei’s eye:  they are Grand Master 
Maurice Msarsa, Grand Master Willie G. Wilson, Master Melbert Lee, 
Master Fredrick Brabson, and Master William Faulkner.

Grand Master Msarsa was the “first” in Karate Five to train in the 
organization and the “first” to receive his grand master belt from the 
late Master Long and the International Isshinryu Karate Association
 (IIKA).    Master Lee was the “first” black man to receive his black 
belt from Master Long and the “first” black man to be named on the 
IIKA board.  
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 Mrs. Linda Wilson, a former board member and sensei of the Karate 
Five, was the “first” black woman in this area (Southeastern District) 
to receive her black belt in Isshinryu Karate and the “first” woman to
 be a board member and female instructor of the Karate Five.  Grand 
Master Wilson is the “first” black to earn his Grand Master Belt in a 
mixed martial arts and at this time holds an 8th degree in Isshinryu.  
Master Wilson along with Master Msarsa, Master Lee, Master Brabson, 
Master Mason, Sensei Daryl Cox, and Instructor Anston Wilson hold 
numerous Hall of Fame awards.

Another great “first” for the Karate Five is Master William Mason who 
was the “first” black to bring Shorin-ryu back to East Tennessee from 
Okinawa.  Master Mason also is the “first” to have a karate program 
in the city of Morristown at the Talley-Ward Recreation Center.  

Karate Five’s “first” board members were Mr. Lee, Mr. Wilson, Mr. 
Brabson, Mr. Faulkner, and Mrs. Linda Wilson (wife of Master Wilson).  
The board members have been limited to only a few individuals with 
the retiring of Mr. Brabson, Mr. Faulkner, Linda Wilson and the passing 
of Clarence Allen, the board now consist of Willie Wilson, Melbert Lee, 
William Mason, Daryl Cox and Jon Whitehead.  The Karate Five is a 
proud member of the IIKA, an organization that was created by Mr. 
Long and now run by his successor, Grand Master Jay Burris.  

Both Mr. Wilson and Mr. Lee hold board memberships in this elite 
organization.  Mr. Wilson is also a board member of the World Union 
Hall of Fame in Pennsylvania; another Hall of Fame initiated by Mr. 
Harold Long.  So many “first’s” to mention--who had the privilege to 
train legends like pro footballers, the great Reggie White (now deceased) 
and Willie Gault.  Some of the great sensei’s who have developed the 
Karate Five’s future have been Master Glenn Webb and Cas Cox.  The 
Karate Five has been privileged to train under Masters who have created 
their own systems such as Professor Moses Powell, Professor Florendo 
M. Visitacion , and Professor Lisa McManus.  Karate Five also had the 
privilege of training with Master Denny Shaffer who is now creating his 
own system, Dragon Sen-I Ju Jitsu located in Anderson, SC.

The Karate Five has trained and participated in seminars and instructors’ 
seminars with masters of great and distinguished abilities.  Particularly 
noteworthy are those such as Grand Master Jeff Delaney of modern arnis; 
Grand Master Floyd Mims, art of breathing; Grand Master Torres of Vee 
Jitsu; and the dragon jam of Grand Master Shaffer who has dozens of 
masters--too many to list.

Having a lot of “first’s” tremendously impacts an organization.  For the 
Karate Five founders and students to have experienced and grown amid 
this type of committed passion for the martial arts through training competition, 
social development, country loyalty and support, a lot of “first’s in this 
organization have resulted in life-long impacts to this organization.    Without 
a doubt, it has been proven by the Karate Five’s successful and impressive 
history, the legacy it is handing down to the students and instructors that 
this organization’s founders have not failed to pass on its indomitable spirit, 
respect and passion for the martial arts.

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 Karate 5 Association Board of Directors – 2007
From left to right, Grandmaster Willie Garfield Wilson,
Master Melbert Lee Sr, Master William Mason, 
Sensei Daryl Cox, Sensei Jon Whitehead