Traditional Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo classes are offered to adults and families at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate (Seiyo Shorin-Ryu) at the border of Mesa with Gilbert & Chandler on Baseline just east of Country Club. Hall of Fame Karate instructor and grandmaster teaches the 'old' style of martial arts and traditions.
In spite of a global economic recession that world governments (including ours) refuse to correct or to be bothered with, we are having a good year so far in 2012. Our students are still very productive and we continue to see members from outside of Arizona visit our dojo at the corner of Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert. But most importantly, our family (ryu) of martial artists continue to build self-esteem and self-confidence.
The world head (Grandmaster) of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo feels it is very important to reach out to offer martial arts to the public. Why? Take a look at Japan. The Japanese have a relatively low crime rate compared to the United States. Part of this is due to the Japanese culture and part may be due to the fact that a large segment of their population has trained in martial arts. Not only does traditional martial arts preach non-violence, commitment and integrity, when much of the population is armed with such knowledge, it also acts as a deterrent.
Yudansha from Utah traveled to the Hombu dojo in Arizona
in April to train in advanced martial arts.
Thus we continue to offer special classes to the public and this year have added a new program - NEIGHBORHOOD SELF-DEFENSE Clinics. These clinics are schedule to 2 hours and only require a minimum of 6 people to sign up. Each person attending these clinics pays only $25 and then for two hours, World Black Belt Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the International Instructor of the Year, Soke Hausel, will teach this group of neighbors pragmatic self-defense to include powerful escapes techniques and how to use any tool in your possession as a weapons. Soke Hausel has taught more than a hundred self-defense clinics and classes over the years to a variety of people including martial artists, martial arts school owners, EMT groups, university faculty, university students and staff, librarians, church groups, sororities, women's clubs, girl scouts, scientific organizations, etc.
Cris applies body crush waza on Ryan during
hanbo training at the Arizona Hombu (Mesa).
In addition to our normal training in traditional karate, kobudo (weapons), self-defense and samurai arts, we have been visited by martial artists from Murray, Utah, Casper, Wyoming, Utah State University so far this year and looking forward to visits by others. We also continue to offer seven adult and Family classes each week along with one Kids Class.
Soke (10th dan) was also inducted into Who's Who in America (2012, 2013), Who's Who in the World (2012) and Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Honors (2012). Shihan Adam (5th dan) was promoted to full professor at Grand Canyon University, and Sempai W. Borea and Sempai P. Borea were both promoted to Sensei (teacher) in 2012.
The weekly training schedule at our dojo at 60 W. Baseline Road (Mesa) is as follows:
Tuesdays
6:45-7:50 pmShorin-Ryu Karate Kihon & Kata
7:50-8:20 pmAdvanced Shorin-Ryu Kata & Bunkai
Dr Florence Teule (1st dan) from France
practices backfist strike with Dan
Graffius (2nd dan) from Mesa
Dr. Neal Adam (5th dan) with Grand Canyon
University practices kobudo with Rich Mendolia.
Here they use a bo (staff) and tonfa.
In addition, FOX 10 news aired a program about two Arizona Grandparents receiving 2nd degree black belts in Shorin-Ryu Karate. The news team stopped by the Borea’s house in Gilbert and then moved onto the dojo filming forabout 3 hours before whittling in the tape down to 3 minutes. They did a great job (other than not mentioning the location of our dojo).
Some members of the Arizona School of Traditional Karate
Fox 10 News visited our dojo to see what a traditional Okinawan Dojo (school) was like. They were very impressed by the power and traditions.
Standing outside of the Hombu dojo, we greet the Fox 10 camera
crew.
Members of the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Gilbert and Mesa practice tonfa-jutsu on Thursday Kobudo night. Our members travel from Chandler, Glendale, Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe to train in traditional Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo.
For Phoenix area, national and international students who are also following a path of martial arts, our hombu dojo is easily found driving from Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix: just follow the map. We are conveniently located near Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Mesa Community College and Arizona State University in Tempe and we offer the TOP-RATED Karate Classes in the entire PHOENIX valley. In fact, the head instructor of the dojo on Baseline, has been a top-rated instructor for many years. He has been teaching martial arts for four decades, a former professor of martial arts at 4 universities, the North American Black Belt Hall of Fame international instructor of the year, the America Karate Association instructor of the year, and top-rated martial artist and instructor of several different martial arts organizations. He is also a member of several Who's Who organizations. A member of the World Martial Arts Black Belt Hall of Fame, Soke Hausel, 10th dan, loves to teach martial arts.
Take That! Dr. Teule (1st dan) from France practices Shorin-Ryu karate with Dan Graffius from Mesa (2nd dan).
Training at the Hombu dojo is for members of Seiyo Kai International as well as for members of the general public.
Classes for the general public are limited to 20 adults and family members for each class.
Nunchaku kata practice at Arizona School of Traditional Karate
A Hombu is the headquarters of Seiyo no Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai. It is occupied by the world head (Soke) of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate. Our Grandmaster is a judan (10th dan red belt) in Shorin-Ryu karate and kobudo. This is unique, as many styles of karate have their hombu in Japan. We are also affiliated with JKI. Our school is the Hombu of Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo SeiyoKai.
Shorin-Ryu Karate has several branches, and our Shorin-Ryu is one of these. Shorin-Ryu Seiyo Kai was developed over many years and officially recognized and certified by Zen Kokusai Soke Budo Bugei Renmei in 1999.
Prior to moving to Arizona in 2006, Hausel was a research geologist as well as Kyoju no Budo (Professor of Martial Arts) at the University of Wyoming for 3 decades, where he taught classes, clinics, seminars and university clubs in karate, kobudo, samurai arts, jujutsu and self-defense. He was elected to Halls of Fame for martial arts, teaching, geological sciences, and writing and also awarded national and international awards for these as well as public speaking and art. When he moved to Arizona, he taught classes for a year at Arizona State University in karate. But he moved from ASU because of scheduling and parking problems at the university. At this point, he decided to open a private dojo in Mesa.
At our dojo in Mesa, we have groups from around the world visit and train in our dojo. We also have special clinics for martial artists and non-martial artists in self-defense and karate. In addition to these, our school offers karate, kobudo, kobujutsu and self-defense classes four nights a week. We also have a super Tai Chi group that teaches out of our dojo - you will need to visit their website to get their hours.
OUR SCHEDULE & CLASSES
Soke Hausel demonstrates knife defense with Shihan-Dai Kyle Gewecke at University of Wyoming clinic in 2010.
Each weekat the Arizona Hombu in Mesa, our members train in Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo primarily in evenings after work. Periodically, groups from our international organization (Seiyo Kai International) travel to Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix and then to the Hombu dojo in at the border of Mesa and Gilbert to train with Soke Hausel. Or Soke travels to others regions of the West to teach special clinics. The following is a summary of the weekly schedule of Shorin-Ryu:
Tuesdaysat the Arizona School of Traditional Karate begin at 6:45–7:50 pmfocusing on basics (kihon), forms (kata) and applications (bunkai). Kata is karate - they are not separate. Currently we are learning Pinan Nidan bunkai. Pinan Nidan is a classical Okinawa kata or form that has many built in self-defense applications known as bunkaiSoke in Pinan Nidan, Pinan Sandan and Pindan Yondan while new members end up training with Shihan Adam (5th dan) or senpai Dan G. (2nd dan), Sarah (2nd dan), Bill (2nd dan), Paula (2nd dan) or Dan L. (1st dan).
Kata training at the dojo in Mesa and Gilbert
It’s unfortunate, but our senpai (seniors) have not had enough opportunity to train in advanced kata recently. Thus I recently added an advanced Karate Class from 7:50-8:20 pm to focus on advance kata and bunkai. So our senpai are now working on Naihanchi Shodan and Passai Dai kata and their bunkai. While this occurs, all other members who stay after class can train on tatami (mats) near the shomen (front) of the dojo separate from the advanced training.
Wednesdayis a little different. We have a small group of students who train in the afternoon from 3-4 pm. This was once a private class but things worked out so it is now an open to adults and families. Senpai Dan Graffius often assists. In this class, we are training in Pinan Sandan kata and its bunkai along with additional focus on sai-jutsu. Our students also train in kata bunkai, jujutsu, and kobudo on Wednesdays.
The class is followed by our Shorin-Ryu small people class restricted to a few, select, students. This latter class is a closed class and the only way anyone can enroll is to be a kid (physically) and the child must train with their family in the evenings until they reach a level of expertise and maturity that they will not slow down the other kids. At that point, they will be invited into the class.
The Kids class is currently working on pinan yondan kata and its bunkai along with bojutsu, nunchakujutsu and iaido. We periodically we will have family afternoon invitationals where parents will be invited to attend with their kids to help work on self-defense applications – athletic cups recommended for fathers.
The Wednesday evening class runs from 6:45-7:50 pm. This is self-defense night. We primarily focus on empty hand (weaponless) techniques, but we also periodically throw in a technique with the hanbo (half-bo), tanto (knife) or manrikigusari (short rope or weighted chain). In particular, I enjoy using the hanbo and its cousin the kioga (also known in law enforcement as the ASP tactical baton). The hanbo is a very practical weapon – it’s just a stick about the diameter of a broom handle. Currently, we are working on self-defense against bear hugs from the front and back. Last week worked on a technique (atana waza) used for plowing someone’s head into a wall. This is followed by our Samurai Arts class from 7:50 to 8:20 pm. Here our samurai learn jujutsu, samurai sword (iaido), kenjutsu, naginatajutsu, bojutsu and yarijutsu.
Thursday night’sclass runs from 6:45-7:50 pm. This is our kobudo (ancient Okinawa weapons) night and a difficult night for me, as I like to teach all weapons from the Bo (6-foot staff) to the kuwa (garden hoe) – but we don’t have enough time to cover everything. So I must be selective. Some nights, when we have a small group, we focus on samurai arts such as the katana (sword) and naginata that takes up a lot of dojo space. But for now, we are working on tonfa. Along with kihon (basics), members train in numerous kobudo kata and their bunkai. Because of safety reasons, the strikes must not be too focused because weapons tend to break - and all members are highly encouraged to wear safety goggles. This is followed by advanced kobudo from 7:50 to 8:20 pm.
Tonfa training on Thursday nights. Senpai Sarah (2nd dan) defends using gedan barai with tonfa against nuki te bo attack by Amber.
One night recently, we were introduced the class to hojojutsu which results in interesting photo shoots. Hojojutsu is an art in itself and involves restraining prisoners with a cord.
Dr. Neal Adam defends bo attack by Rich Mendolia. Tonfa (batons) are considered handles for rice grinder mills that were used by Okinawan martial artists in defense of their property. They were kept hidden from government officials and quickly retrieved at times of need (sounds familiar).
Currently, the kobudo classes are working on tonfa and will do so until our members are certified in this art. As time permits, we will review nunchaku, kuwa and bo along with all of the bunkai for the various weapons’ kata as well as kumite. During ippon and sanbon kumite practice, members are highly recommended to wear safety goggles (andbandages – just kidding about the bandages). Ippon kumite is one-step and three-step sparring.
Use of hanbo (3-foot stick) for self defense. Ryan Harden employs kubi nage (neck throw).
In the advanced kobudo class, our members are training in kama-jutsu. Kama was a classical Okinawan weapon used by Okinawan farmer peasants.
Bill attacks Paula with his bo while Paula defends with her garden hoe (kuwa).
Our members recently learned Gama Shodan kata and we are still studying bunkai from this kata before moving on to Gama Nidan. The kama was a very practical weapon used by Okinawan martial artists in defense of their homes over the past several hundred years and is still very practical. All one has to do is walk through a Sear’s garden shop to see many modern tools that can be used similar to kama.
Last April (2011), members of the Utah Shorin-Kai traveled to Mesa to learn an advanced kata known as gojushiho (54 steps) and its bunkai with members of the Mesa dojo.
Professor Hausel demonstrates kijutsu at University of Wyoming half-time entertainment. Shitai Kori like this requires special training with no protection!
On some Wednesday evenings, we train in shitai kori (body hardening) particularly when Ryan, Neal and Rich are present. We realize that shitai kori is not for everyone, so only those interested in learning this part of Shorin-Ryu Karate are taught this unusual art which is restricted to those at least 21 years old.
Shitai Kori is a method that teaches one to harden their muscles so they can accept strikes to many vital points in the body.
We periodically find time to include a variety of samurai arts in our training that includes iaido (sword fast draw), naginata, yari, hojojutsu, hanbo and jujutsu. So we always have something new to learn.
