Mesa, Arizona Karate for Seniors, Parents and Families

Seiyo no Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai Hombu

Welcome  - 'Yokoso'

Karate, when it was developed on the island chain of Okinawa, became one of the most effective, personal self-defense systems in the world, that has been mimicked by many other systems including Sport Japanese and Sport American forms of karate. Okinawa also is host to the most centurions per capita in the world, and the training in karate improves a person's self-respect, respect of others, and through proper training, allows people to lose weight, increase blood flow and oxygen to their brains, and become more positive overall. Traditional karate also incorporates mediation and 'mushin', allowing the brain to relax in alpha waves. There are many people who train in traditional, non-sport, Okinawan karate every week who range from about 10 to 100 years in age - so, it may increase longevity in some, but this has not been proven yet, as diet is also important for longevity.

So, many of the Okinawan forms of martial arts are incorporated in Shorin-Ryu Karate (and there are several branches of Shorin-Ryu), Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate, Okinawan kenpo, Tomari-te, Shito-Ryu, Shudokan, Uechi-Ryu, Toon-Ryu, Ryuei-Ryu, Toide and others. So, how do you tell if you are in a traditional Okinawan martial art vs a sport martial art? Most often this is easy. Few, if any, traditional Okinawan martial arts compete - this is why it is not considered sport. The traditional martial arts focus on self-defense applications and may or may not include kata.

Daniel San “All right, so what are the rules here?”
Miyagi “Don't know. First time you, first time me”.
Daniel San “Well, I figured you knew about this stuff. I figured you went to these before. Oh great, I'm dead. I am dead. You told me you fought a lot”.
Miyagi “For life, not for points”.

At the Arizona Hombu Karate dojo, you will have the opportunity to train in karate, kata, basics, self-defense applications (bunkai), kobudo, samurai arts. and even some jujutsu and ninpo.

Welcome to our karate family at the Arizona Hombu Karate Dojo, Mesa. We have many students in our dojo, this is only
part of our karate family. If you decide to train under Hall-of-Fame Instructor, Who's Who in Martial Arts Legends, and
former University of Wyoming professor of Okinawan martial arts - Soke Hausel, you will soon make many martial arts
friends. Our students include university professors, doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers, musicians, school teachers,
 nurses, personal trainers, accountants, soldiers, grandparents, parents, kids, and more. 
Plan to be educated and plan to have fun while you get in shape.

For some of senior students, until they improve on the size of their
hippocampus, we mark their feet.

Who's Who in Martial Arts | Arizona's Shorin-Ryu Sokeshodai (Grandmaster)

Mesa Arizona Karate Instructor, Grandmaster Hausel was selected as Marquis Who's Who in America
and also Who's Who in the World for 2015. Grandmaster Hausel is also a member of 16 different Halls
of Fame for Martial Arts as an instructor, pioneer and grandmaster. Grandmaster Hausel, featured as
the top instructor in Mesa, Arizona by Thumbtack, is also featured by the Superior Martial Artist.

The Arizona Hombu Dojo (Arizona School of Traditional Karate) invites you to experience training with a great martial arts instructor located in the East Valley of Phoenix in Mesa, Arizona.

After more than 5 decades of martial arts training vested in his lifetime, Soke Hausel looks back on his experiences and training which resulted in some of the highest awards presented in martial arts, along with national and international awards.

Anyone can check the Internet: search for Soke Hausel to find an extensive list of black-belts who trained under the grandmaster. Most of his black belts are not only successful in karate, but more importantly, successful in professions. The list includes many PhDs, university professors, school teachers, clergy, engineers, chemists, astronomers, geologists, anthropologists, biologists, physicists, military leaders, accountants, doctors, dentists, nurses, lawyers, psychologists, and law enforcement and military personnel. Teaching at four universities gave him access to many highly-educated people. According to Soke Hausel, "I don't make money teaching martial arts: it is a way of life I will not walk away from. I intend to practice traditional martial arts until my last breath, and at that time, I pray I will be judged favorable to continue in the Holy light  Traditional karate has many physical and mental benefits, and teaches us to respect and care for one another".

We're number 1 in Phoenix, Arizona!!!

And from 2018 to 2022, Grandmaster Hausel has been rated at the top of 364 martial arts instructors in the Phoenix valley by Expertise.

In 2006, Soke Hausel, grandmaster of Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo, decided to retire from the Geological Survey at the University of Wyoming. He and his wife packed up bags, mats, hundreds of rocks and books and moved to Gilbert, Arizona and opened the Arizona Hombu in Mesa, Arizona. Soke was a research geologist, geological consultant, and published author of more than a 1000 books, papers and maps. At the same time, he taught karate, martial arts weapons known as kobudo, self-defense, samurai arts including the samurai sword, spear, halberd, and jujutsu, and taught classes and clinics in women's self-defense and martial arts history. Some of the martial arts he taught at the University included karate, kobudo, self-defense, jujutsu, iaido, sojutsu, naginatajutsu, hanbojutsu, hojojutsu, kempojutsu, shitai kori and others. Each week for the past few decades, Soke taught classes to adults and families at the Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu in Mesa.

Soke Hausel has appeared in many Who's Who documents
including Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in America,
Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in Science &
Engineering, and many others.

In 2014, Soke was selected for Marquis Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World for accomplishments as a martial arts instructor, martial artist, and geologist. In 2015, he has selected for Marquis Who's Who in Science and Engineering, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World and also selected for other prestigious awards including the Cambridge and DaVinci awards. Soke exclaims he loves teaching martial arts as much as he loves hunting for gold and gemstones. In 2017, he was inducted into Who's Who in Martial Arts Hall-of-Fame with Korean Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, the father of American Taekwondo and selected for the 2017 Albert Nelson Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Achievement Award along with the likes of General Colin Powell.

In traditional Okinawan karate, one learns to bow to emphasize respect and students are never subjected to competition. The late father of modern karate, Gichin Funakoshi of Okinawa emphasized, "The Purpose of Karate Lies Not in Victory or Defeat, but in the Perfection of Its Participants".

Training in Traditional Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo at Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu, Mesa Arizona

Training in kata (forms) at the Arizona Hombu Karate Dojo in Mesa Arizona.

Sensei Ryan Harden at the Arizona Hombu dojo in Mesa trains in traditional Okinawan
karate and kobudo.

Amira, John and Suzette demonstrate hidari katana kata

The late O'Sensei Bill Borea (RIP), Soke's close friend and instructor.

Utah karate instructors Thadd trains with Luis applying choke hold

Training for the dentist office at the Hombu dojo.

Training in kama (kobudo) at the Arizona Hombu Dojo.

Dr. Adam trains with Ryan in hanbojutsu at the Arizona Hombu

Dr. Teule uses bo against tonfa during kobudo class at the Arizona Hombu

Suzette trains in iaido with the classical samurai sword (katana).

Arizona Hombu - Top Karate School in Mesa, Arizona.

 The more you sweat now, the less you will bleed in combat later. Adults and families at the Arizona School of Traditional
 Karate train in Karate, Martial Arts weapons known as 'kobudo', Self-Defense and samurai arts.

Our martial arts school was selected as the Best of Mesa three years in a row (author's note - Thanks to Fauci, CDC and Governor Ducey, we had to close our dojo in March, 2021 because of a dramatic loss of students).  Our martial arts school worked at being the best for adults and families.

Tuesday nights students and faculty train in kata (martial arts forms)

Women should train in traditional martial arts for health, self-defense and physical fitness.
Three of our outstanding black belts train in self-defense applications in Mesa, Arizona.

Members of Utah Shorin-Kai train in advanced karate techniques with Soke Hausel
in Mesa.

Students from the Police DAV school in India, pose after a week of training in Mesa, Arizona

Instructors from around the region train in Mesa with Soke. L-R, Sensei Kyle Linton
(3rd dan/Wellington, Colorado), Shihan Kevin Vance (5th dan/Laramie, Wyoming),
Soke (Gilbert, Arizona), Glenn Polk (4th dan/Cheyenne, Wyoming),
Dr. Neal Adam (6th dan/Phoenix Arizona).

November 2014 group photo at the Hombu, Mesa-Gilbert Arizona

2014 Utah Clinic at the Hombu in Mesa, Arizona

Senpai Kris Watson from Utah, defends attack at the Hombu, 2014

Things Women Can Do To Defend Themselves

Wyoming martial artists include Hanshi Finley (Casper) in
back. L to R in front are Uchi Deshi (Nebraska), Elena,
and Dr. Teule (France).

There are things women can do to defend themselves against physical attack: carry a gun and learn to use it, or take traditional karate at a legitimate karate school and practice martial arts every week.

A problem with the run of the mill self-defense clinics at your local civic center or college is learning self-defense in one evening leaves a person vulnerable. Centuries ago, Okinawa martial artists recognized the power of muscle memory in teaching automatic response to attacks. This can only be inherited by constant training using correct methods.

In traditional karate, women train weekly to acquire focus, power, muscle memory and instinct. During training, they also have the added benefit of making new friends, get some good exercise, muscle tone, lose weight, learn some Japanese language while keeping fit.

Outdoor training (gasshuku) attendees learn
use of hanbo (3-foot stick) for self-defense.

Last week was 'WOMEN's WEEK' at the Hombu. Over the years, instructors at the Hombu, taught many self-defense clinics for women at various universities, sororities, girl scout organizations, political groups, libraries, professional associations, businesses and Christian women groups. These are a great time for all, but one thing that always is lacking in these 2 to 4 hour clinics is the martial arts concept known as mushin! 'Mushin' is a karate mind concept that martial artists achieve in order to automatically defend themselves. The karate mind is mostly muscle memory, with muscle memory that is properly tweaked through constant practice so the individual can react to an attack without thinking, and focusing power to quickly end an attack. This cannot be done in a seminar or short course, so we try to get those who sign up for seminars to continue training. Otherwise, we highly recommend they write down the various techniques and practice (through shadow boxing) every week at home. Such seminars are also used to introduce common household weapons such as car keys, books, magazines, pens, pencils, kuboton, elbows and knees.

Another student trains with throwing stars
(shuriken)

Women's week began on Saturday, August 2nd (2014), when one of Shorin-Ryu Student from Utah was promoted to Yudansha Sho. Jasmina has been a long time student of Hanshi Rob Watson, 9th dan, who operates the Shorin-Ryu Karate dojo in Murray Utah. Jasmina successfully tested for black belt and was honored by presentation of her certificate by Soke at the Utah Gasshuku (outdoor training clinic) at East Canyon Resort to the east of Salt Lake City. This promotion was later celebrated by a Bosnian dinner at her family's home.

Soke returned to Phoenix on Monday and was greeted the next day by the return of one of the karate club's favorite martial artists: Sensei Paula Borea. Sensei had a knee injury that progressively got worse after training years ago in taekwondo, and finally had to be corrected. All were all excited to see her return to the dojo. Sensei Paula is Japanese-American who partially returned to her roots by training in traditional karate - Shorin-Ryu. Sensei Paula also has real samurai lineage! As a result, she is a real tiger. Few other people have such an extraordinary martial arts skills and spirit and everyone in the dojo loves her! She is the heart of our martial arts school!

Last week, the karate club also received three new female students: Debora, Suzette and Rihanna. In addition, Megan returned from Japan after spending the summer with her grandparents and two students were promoted on Tuesday and Thursday - both school teachers. Janet was promoted to 9th kyu and Alexi was promoted to 3rd kyu. The kyu levels in karate are known as colored belt ranks below black belt. Then we had another student from Idaho sign up - another Megan, who is training to be a bush pilot.

Sensei Paula Borea trains with husband, O'Sensei Bill Borea. You will 
not find two better people and martial artists as Paula and Bill.

Our martial arts association (Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai) featured one of our female martial artists in the 'Bushido' newsletter. Sensei Elena Finley from Casper, Wyoming finished graduate school at the Colorado Schoolof Mines in Golden Colorado and is in the final group of candidates for consideration by NASA for colonization on Mars! Wow, wouldn't that be a 'Kick' if she opened the first dojo on Mars! I'd bet there would be some serious jump kicks!

As an update (12/2017) to Women in Martial Arts in Mesa, Arizona, the Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu dojo welcomed Sensei Alexandra (3rd degree black belt & MD) from Arizona State University, saw the return of Sensei Tori (3rd degree black belt) after her visit to the Vatican in Italy. We also witnessed the promotion of Amira, Harmony, Rihanna, and Suzette to 1st degree black belt, and Janel to 2nd degree black belt, while Nancy was promoted to brown belt. At the Utah dojo, Kris was promoted to 1st degree black belt. We are all proud of the accomplishments and achievements of the women in our schools.

At the Arizona Hombu Dojo - 2017

2017 photo taken at the Arizona Hombu Dojo 

Just for Kicks

Photo courtesy of Hanshi Andy Finley, Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo, Casper, Wyoming, who
recently returned from Okinawa after training with Soke Tadashi Yamashita.

Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo are traditional martial arts. The Chinese ideographs (kanji) used to write Shorin-Ryu translate in Japanese as "Pine Forest Style". In Chinese, they translate as "Shaolin Style" indicating the unique Okinawa martial art ties to the Shaolin warrior monks.

In traditional karate classes, students learn a variety
of martial arts including basics, many forms (kata),
applications, self-defense, meditation, history,
some Japanese language, body hardening, and many martial
arts weapons. Here, our students and faculty train
with Okinawa sickles known as kama.

Karate was developed as a combat art designed for self-defense as well as self-improvement. In Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo KaiTM, students have the opportunity to learn karate, kobudo (nunchaku, sai, kama, tonfa, bo, sansetsukon, kuwa, eku, ra-ke, tsue) self-defense, samurai arts (iaido, naginata, sojutsu, jujutsu, hanbo, kuboton, kibo), kote kitae (body hardening) all for one price.

Soke Hausel, world head of Seiyo Kai Shorin-Ryu
Karate demonstrates white crane techniques at
Chinese New Year celebration at the University of Wyoming

Our classes include training in jujutsu and self-defense

Kobudo is an extension of karate. Sensei Paula demonstrates kuwa with Sensei Bill at
the Hombu in Mesa. So, don't ever be caught off guard while gardening again
(let alone shopping, jogging, etc).

Wax On, Wax Off, Traditional Okinawa Karate in Mesa

"Wax On, Wax Off" - Mr. Miyagi

Who can forget that wonderful scene in the Karate Kid?  Mr. Miyagi took Daniel San to clean his old, classic car and at the same time taught him to block by waxing a car. But does this make sense?

Respect is paramount in karate. This is shown in many
ways in the traditional karate school. One notable way
is that of bowing.

It does! Karate is about muscle memory, about rote and what we refer to as mushin. Mushin is a method of repetition to teach a student how to react without thinking. This is why Okinawa karate has been such an effective form of self-defense for hundreds of years.

As one progresses in martial arts, they start with no rank, known as mukyu in Japanese and wear a white belt to hold up their pants. But with each major step in karate training, they advance through the mudansha martial arts ranks (color belts). Hopefully, one day, after a few years of training, they will rise from mudansha (one without dan rank) to yudansha (one with dan rank) and put on the coveted black belt sought by all martial arts students.

Karate is about building life-long goals that also teach us to defend ourselves and at the same time teach us to grow as people. Respect and consideration of others is most important in this type of training in martial arts. We recognize this at our martial arts hombu dojo in the East Valley of Phoenix.

O'Sensei Bill Borea prepares to practice kata (karate forms) in Mesa.
O'Sensei is a retired air force pilot who spent time training in karate in
Japan with his wife - Sensei Paula Borea.

Martial Arts Instruction, Mesa, Arizona

Dr. Florence Teule, 1st degree black belt from France (formerly professor at the University 
of Wyoming and Utah State University) and currently at Casper College, trains in 
martial arts bunkai (applications) with Dan Graffius, 2nd degree black belt 
and Mesa engineer.

Visitors to our Mesa School in the East Valley of Phoenix are often pleasantly surprised by what they see. Our martial arts school impressed FOX 10 NEWS so much, that they did a special report in the fall of 2011 on our dojo and its instructors. It included a 3-minute news clip on TV as well as on their website for months following their visit.

While visiting the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa, Richard Saenz from FOX watched one class demonstrate tonfa (sometimes referred to as a side-handle baton). Then the martial arts training moved to self-defense against the Japanese knife (tanto). 

Self-Defense training on Wednesday evenings with Katherina and Lacy.

The Fox team also interviewed Hall-of-Fame martial artist and Karate Grandmaster Hausel who introduced two of his extraordinary karate students and teachers: both grandparents from Gilbert. Both were recently promoted to nidan black belt (二段) (2nd degree black belt) and presented title of Sensei (先生) (martial arts teacher). These two grandparents earned their second degree black belts and instructor's certificates after training for years in Japan and now in Mesa, Arizona.

A few things that really stand out in this Mesa martial arts school is its traditional Okinawan karate decor and its instructors. Students travel from Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Phoenix and all over Mesa to learn karate from Grandmaster Hausel. The martial arts school also does not take part in sport competition which is the tradition of Okinawa Karate created centuries ago. There is no effort to promote trophies instead the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa focuses on pragmatic self-defense and training in a large variety of martial arts. All students work with each other in a very positive manner.

Dr. Neal Adam, master instructor of martial arts and professor at
Grand Canyon University blocks strike by Rich Mendolia's bo
using a tonfa during traditional martial arts weapons training.

Students at this traditional martial arts school are from all walks of life. Adult karate students include retired air force pilots, retired geologists, geological consultants, hall-of-fame martial artists, hall-of-fame geoscientists, university professors, teachers, secretaries, librarians, computer specialists, engineers, accountants, nutritionists, foreign exchange students, several pilots, scientists, authors, artists, astronomers and physicists. Members of the international martial arts association include many university professors, students, priests, teachers, law enforcement officials, military personnel, lawyers, social scientists, doctors, etc. Overall, this martial arts association has a group of highly educated individuals due to Soke Hausel's past associations teaching martial arts at 4 universities.







Arizona Samurai Celebrates Birthday

Sensei Paula (samurai)

(photo by Bill Borea).

Just before Christmas of 2011, the Hombu Dojo student body celebrated the birthday of our Staff Samurai. Sensei Paula Borea spent her early years in the 'Land of the Sun' and returned to Japan later in life with her husband Bill (retired Air Force pilot). While in Japan they found information showing that Paula has samurai lineage - no wonder why all of the guys at the dojo fear her! On her birthday, and at the Hombu Christmas party, Sensei Paula showed up in one of her kimono and then dissected her birthday cake with katana (刀) (日本刀 samurai sword). For some reason, no one wanted to lick the icing from the katana?

Bill and Paula are two very important members of our martial arts group in Mesa, Arizona. We all take great pride in practicing traditional Okinawan-Japanese-American martial arts and being members of a Ryu (流) (family).

 Our Arizona members of our Mesa martial arts school include a wide variety of professionals such as geoscientists, biologists, university professors, teachers, engineers, nutritionists, retired military, secretaries, accountants, house wives, students, computer techs, librarians, cooks, etc. In our international organization (Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai) we also have members who include doctors, chemists, lawyers, law enforcement agents, counsellors, biochemists, priests, janitors, etc.  



A birthday cake fit for a samurai!

Shorin-Ryu Karate Classes in Mesa & Gilbert, East Valley Phoenix

Karate on the Rocks - Hall of Fame martial artist, Soke Hausel
demonstrates side kick on 1.4 billion year old Sherman Granite
west of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

A member of more than a dozen Halls of Fame, our grandmaster is also a Who's Who in the World and taught martial arts classes and clinics at Arizona State University, University of New Mexico, University of Utah and 30 years at the University of Wyoming. 

Not only do you learn traditional (non-sport) martial arts, you will learn philosophy, history, some Japanese and most important, we will guide you on your 'way' or path through martial arts. 

University of Wyoming Campus Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo Club- Soke Hausel (6th from
left in front row).

Kata training at the dojo in Mesa and Gilbert

 

Our dojo was recently invaded by a 'Nerdja'
silicon valley's answer to the 'Ninja'. Here, Dr. Neal
Adam (5th dan) from Grand Canyon University
stands next to Dan Graffius (2nd dan) after
demonstrating common every day weapons carried
by professors (i.e., lap tops, pens, glasses, belt, high-
water pants, etc.