Traditional Karate, Kobudo, Samurai Arts & Self Defense Training, East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona

Traditional karate and kobudo - training in kamajutsu
at the Arizona Hombu dojo in Mesa.

At the Arizona School of Traditional Karate (aka the Arizona Hombu), students and instructors continued training in traditional karate in Mesa, Arizona. Classes were conducted in traditional Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate, Kobudo (Okinawan weapons), Samurai Arts (including katana, naginata, tanto, yari, hanbo, hojojutsu & jujutsu), practical self-defense, and a few other unusual martial arts including shitai kori (body hardening).

Members of the Arizona Hombu dojo also trained together with members of the Utah Shorin-Kai at the annual Spring Shorin-Ryu clinic in Mesa, Arizona. During these annual clinics, attendees focused on hanbo techniques, one several martial arts taught by Grandmaster Hausel of Gilbert. Hanbo translates as half-bo (3-foot baton) that has been used more than a century by law enforcement officials in Japan because of its effectiveness. So effective, the hanbo was actually used during the Menji Restoration (1868) to disarm samurai armed with swords.

The Utah martial artists trained with Arizona martial artists and the entire group learned kata and kata bunkai (self-defense applications). Kata are forms that teach muscle memory referred to as mushin in martial arts. If used properly, one can learn to develop incredible power, speed and self defense abilities just by practicing these forms. But if done improperly, the opposite can happen. So these mysterious forms must be learned the way they were intended.

Kata bunkai are the self-defense applications hidden in kata. These were developed by various Okinawan Karate masters over the past from pragmatic self-defense used in actual combat. Thus, they are tried and tested.

Sensei Paula Borea applies hiza ude garuma (arm bar) to
Shihan Neal Adam at the Arizona-Utah
 clinic (photo courtesy of Nemec Photography).

Jeff from Utah is on the receiving end of empi uchi (elbow strike) from his father Kim
during the Arizona - Utah Clinic (photo courtesy of Nemec Photography).

Arizona martial artists who train at these clinics drive from Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix, Tempe, Apache Junction and Scottsdale. After these clinics, classes resumed to normal schedules. In other annual Shorin-Ryu clinics over the years, members trained in many different aspect of the martial arts including jujutsu, advanced kata and bunkai, gun defense, tekko (Okinawan knuckle dusters), bojutsu, 

samurai arts, etc. 

Gifts presented to Soke Hausel (Mesa, Arizona) by Hanshi Watson (Utah) at the end of the Arizona-
Utah clinic (Photo courtesy of Nemec Photography)

In the summer, members of the Arizona dojo typically travel to New Braunfels, Texas to train at the Juko Kai Hombu. Soke has been doing this for nearly 30 years, since he was a Professor of Budo (martial arts) and Research Geologist at the University of Wyoming. During the years, some of Soke Hausel's students have been treated to these traditional Okinawan martial arts clinics held at various locations in Texas, Florida, West Virginia, Maine, Kentucky, and even at the University of Wyoming in 1996. 

In 2013, some Shorin-Ryu karate students from Gillette Wyoming traveled to New Braunfels, Texas with a few members from the Phoenix valley to train at the Juko Kai International clinic. Ryan Nemec from Mesa, Arizona was awarded "Outstanding Male Martial Arts Student of the Year", Soke Hausel was awarded "Meijin Wa Jutsu" and menkyo certifications in Juko Ryu Kijutsu were awarded to Kyoshi Neal Adam (Phoenix, Arizona), Shihan Kyle Gewecke (Gillette, Wyoming), Chase Cassidy (Gillette, Wyoming), Brandon Brown (Gillette, Wyoming) and Nick Jarvis (Gillette, Wyoming). These awards and ranks were presented by Dai-Soke Sacharnoski.

Arizona and Wyoming Seiyo Shorin-Ryu martial artists pose with
Soke Hausel (Arizona) and Hanshi Ron Smith (Virginia) in Texas  

Kobudo is part of Karate in the traditional Shorin-Ryu Arts. This photo shows Soke Hausel with traditional kuwa (hoe).

 In early August, Soke Hausel travels to the East Canyon Resort near Park City Utah to teach martial arts at the annual Gasshuku (adverse training) clinic sponsored by the Utah Shorin-Kai.

Attendees of the Utah Shorin-Ryu Gasshuku at the East Canyon Resort in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah.

Other clinics held at the Arizona Hombu in the past include training for members of the Police DAV Karate Team from India, Self-Defense for Chandler Librarians, Self-Defense for Girl Scouts, Self-Defense for the Tea Party, Sansetsukon, Tekkojutsu, Nicho Nunchaku, and others.

Those interested in traditional Okinawan martial arts are seldom bored at the Arizona Hombu because they are constantly treated to a variety of martial arts.

East Canyon Resort, Utah, 2018

East Canyon Resort, 2018

East Canyon Resort, 2007

East Canyon resort, Utah 2010

Annual Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Clinic, Mesa, Arizona, 2019

TRADITIONAL KARATE FOR ADULTS & FAMILIES

Kobudo training at our Hombu dojo in Mesa, Arizona with Dave and Dr. Teule.

Families are welcome. We ask all children train with their
parents during classes. Children's classes,
per sae are not scheduled and all children work with their
own families. Usually, children under 12 have poor focus so
we evaluate kids under 12 to see if they are mature & focused
enough to train in our classes. Thus,
individual adults only train with other adults and not with
train with other's children.

As we move forward and seeing some new faces in our traditional dojo in Mesa, Arizona, we continue to offer the original form of karate taught on Okinawa to our students. We are a traditional Okinawan Karate and Kobudo school that teaches powerful focus in technique that are perfect for getting in good physical condition, losing weight and gaining self-confidence. We focus on adults, and families are also welcome to train.

If you are unsure if this is for you, feel free to stop into our dojo and watch a class. WE do not pressure anyone into signing up and will not even bring up the subject unless you ask. You will feel comfortable in our traditional dojo as you will be surrounded by friends. Our members include about 30% women and we have a large percentage of academicians and professionals from around the world. We train in Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate and we are part of a Ryu or family.



Dr. Neal (5th dan) and Dr. Nagmeh (DDS) at our dojo



Our Samurai from Japan, Sempai Paula Borea trains
in karate.

Arizona KARATE INSTRUCTOR - A Who’s Who

Grandmaster Hausel of Gilbert, Arizona, demonstrates rare Hakutsuru Shorin-Ryu karate (White Crane Karate) at Chinese New Year Celebration at the University of Wyoming.

Arizona Karate Instructor, Soke Hausel of Gilbert, Arizona, a member of several Halls of Fame, will now be included in the 29^th edition of Marquis Who’s Who in the World (2012). The Hall of Fame instructor from Mesa, Arizona was contacted by Fred Marks, editor-in-chief of Marquis Who’s Who in the World  indicating that they have elected for inclusion in their prestigious biographical reference on the more productive people in the world. Soke appeared in Who’s Who in the World 2011 as well as Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering.

The Grandmaster was selected because of accomplishments as a polymath that include  martial arts, geology, public speaking, astronomy, art, and author. As a martial artist, he was promoted to Grandmaster of Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo (Seiyo Kai) in 1999. In 2004, he was promoted to 10^th dan black belt (red belt) In the past, he taught martial arts at four universities before opening the Arizona School of Traditional Karate and Seiyo Kai Hombu at 60 W. Baseline in Mesa.

In the past, the grandmaster was inducted into several Halls of Fame including the North American Black Belt Hall of Fame, World Martial Arts Black Belt Hall of Fame (Malaysia), World Head of Society Hall of Fame (Philippines), Latin America Martial Arts Hall of Fame (Puerto Rico), World Karate Union Hall of Fame (Pennsylvania) and American Karate Association Hall of Fame (Ohio) for martial arts and the National Rock Hound and Lapidary Hall of Fame and Millennium Hall of Fame for geological sciences, teaching and writing.

He has been awarded teaching achievements by international martial arts associations including Instructor of the Year, International Instructor of the Year and Grandmaster Instructor of the Year.



Early photo of then Sensei Hausel at the University of Utah with geophysicist Tim Smith, demonstrating yoko tobi geri (flying side kick).  Soke Hausel jokes that he flew so fast that much of his hair fell out and turned gray.

Soke began training in karate in 1964 and has since taught at four differnt universities and several health clubs. He currently operates the Hombu for Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo Seiyokai in Mesa.

Soke Hausel poses at the Utah Gasuku in East Canyon Resort, Utah.

WHO's WHO Acknowledges Mesa Karate Instructor

Noted geologist, writer, lecturerm artist and martial artist, Soke Hausel was awarded membership in Who’s Who in the Science & Engineering 2011-2012 (11th edition) for contributions to the geological sciences, writing and public speaking. Since Who’s Who began publishing this prestigious biographical reference book and awards, Hausel has been inducted into seven of the Science editions. He has also been inducted into Who’s Who in the West, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in the 21st Century, Living Science, Great Minds of the 21st Century and 2000 Outstanding Scientists of the 21st Century. But how does a grandmaster of martial arts end up in Who's Who in Science and Engineering for geological science? Easy suggested Hausel - "one must learn which rocks to 'break; and which ones not to 'break' ".

Grandmaster Hausel teaches his students tameshiwari as he does most every spring or fall - the breaking of rocks.

He is only one of a handful of geologists in history to discover several major mineral deposits that include gold, colored gemstones and diamonds. His discoveries included a major gold deposit in Wyoming and also a world-class gold deposit in Alaska. Because of being a contract research geologist, he was unable to benefit financially from any of his research.

It may take many decades to realize how valuable some of these are. For instance, two of the gold deposits found in 1981 and 1988 in Wyoming and Alaska are just now in the exploration stage. And his discoveries of world-class colored gemstone deposits in the central Laramie Mountains remain unmapped and mostly unexplored due to questionable dealings of the state of Wyoming and the past Democrat administration.

Soke Hausel, former VP of US Exploration for Aussie
 Diamond Company, DiamonEx Ltd.

Prior to 1977, Wyoming was thought to be gem-poor other than jade. Today, Wyoming is considered to be the Gem Capital of North America, because of dozens of gemstone discoveries made over 30 years of mapping and research. Wyoming is now known for diamonds, ruby, sapphire, water sapphire (iolite) and numerous other gem deposits.

As an author of >1000 books, professional papers, magazine articles, abstracts and geological maps, and >1,000 km2 of original geological mapping, he stands alone.

He has been presented numerous awards over the years including the President's Award, the Archimedes's Award of Geological Sciences, the Wyoming Geological Association's Distinguished Service Award and was inducted into the National Rock Hound Hall of Fame and Millennium Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into 13 other Halls of Fame for Martial Arts.