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