Arizona Karate

.

We are excited to receive recognition for our blog as a trustworthy and reliable source. Information on Arizona Karate, Martial arts weapons, our Mesa Martial Arts Classes, Mesa Martial Arts Schools and Mesa Self-Defense Schools are included in this and other blogs. We thank Snippet from the United Kingdom for recognizing our efforts to educate the public and other martial artists about the traditions, history and classes of Traditional Okinawa Karate.

Adult and Family Karate-Kobudo students and sensei

Traditional Okinawan Karate in Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler Arizona

Traditional martial arts are different from sport martial arts and MMA. The purpose of traditional martial arts is self-improvement, self-confidence, learning to respect martial arts, karate instructors, students, and in particular, to pay homage to our God. Traditional martial arts also focus on self-defense, traditions, lineage and developing positive affirmations. A positive characteristic about learning these attributes is a person can gain good health while learning a valuable art.  Remember the 1984 movie ‘The Karate Kid’. There were  two opposing philosophies depicted in the movie: (1) sport (Cobra Kai) karate & (2) traditional Okinawa Karate (Miyagi Ryu). We hope most sport karate schools are not as aggressive as the Cobra Kai, but it should give you a general idea of the differences. At the Arizona Hombu Dojo –  TRADITIONAL Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate is taught – just like Mr. Miyagi's karate. 

"No such thing as bad student. Only bad teacher." -Mr. Miyagi

Shorin-Ryu Karate is essentially the original form of karate developed on Okinawa. It was created for the body guards of Okinawan royalty as likely as a self-defense art for some Okinawan peasants and included both empty hand (karate) and weapons (kobudo).  Shorin-Ryu Karate evolved from Shaolin Gung Fu. In fact the kanji (Chinese characters) used for Shorin-Ryu refer to the Chinese Shaolin Temple. 

According to legend, Gung Fu was developed in ~550 AD when a Indian monk named Bodhidharma traveled to China to teach Zen Buddhism.  The Indian monk ended up in the Shaolin Temple in the Henan Province where he introduced the Chinese monks to Zen. However, during meditation, the Chinese monks often fell asleep. Thus Bodhidarma instituted an exercise program that required the monks to train in Zen and also in a combat form known as Shi Pa Lohan Sho - which translates as the '18 hands of Lohan'.  And just like that - martial 'arts' were created. And we do emphasize the term 'arts'. This is why MMA and other combat forms are not martial arts - they have no esoteric value which was introduced by blending Zen philosophy with combat.

"Karate and Kobudo can be likened to tires of a bicycle. Both are needed to make the bike move"

Dr. Adam trains with family member

Today, karate includes the original Okinawa form of the martial arts that blend both the empty hand (karate) and weapons (kobudo) and other styles that have branched from Shorin-Ryu. Unlike most other forms of karate taught in the US and mainland Japan, Shorin-Ryu includes education in both weapons and empty hand. Thus, students of Shorin-Ryu learn both from the beginning, as was the original intention. In other forms of Japanese karate, kobudo is not taught, or kobudo, if taught, is only introduced at the yudansha (black belt) level. And many martial arts school tack on extra fees to teach weapons. But both karate and kobudo use the same movements and stances, so it seems backwards not to teach both at the beginning. At the Arizona School of Traditional Karate, the students all learn a large variety of weapons.  Stop in and see why our karate has so much power and focus and why we are all such good friends. 


KARATE, KOBUDO, SAMURAI ARTS & SELF-DEFENSE classes for Adults - You don't have to worry about being kicked in the shin by a 5-year old in your taekwondo class anymore.

Taught by our own Mr Miyagi (Soke Hausel)- the  2001 International Instructor of the Year.

Charles (a librarian) trains with Ryan (a nutritionist)

Arizona Martial Arts Classes

WHY train under a HALL-of-FAME martial artist with more than 4 decades of teaching experience?


Soke Dan Hausel, 10th dan, at a University of
Wyoming Shorin-Ryu clinic in Laramie (photo by
Lenny Martin, Sensei).

A martial artist awarded: 

(1) the 2001 International Instructor of the Year by the North American Black Belt HALL-of-FAME, 

(2) the 1998 and 2004 Instructor of the Year,

(3) the 2000 Top JKI-Affiliated Soke of the Year,

(4) the 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2005 Soke (Grandmaster) of the Year (all awarded by unrelated martial arts associations and Halls-of-Fame).

(5) An inductee of Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in Martial Arts, Who's Who in the 21st Century, 2000 Notable American Men, 10,000 Personalities of the World and others.

Well, Why Not?

Classes in Traditional Shorin-Ryu Karate, Kobudo (Martial Arts Weapons), Self-Defense and Samurai Arts at the TOP-RATED MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL in the Phoenix Valley by the TOP-RATED INSTRUCTOR: Arizona School of Traditional Karate (Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai).

Soke Hausel demonstrates wrist throw

Soke Hausel, a geologist, teaches his students his own variety of rock identification.

Ryan Harden performs outward block

GRANDPARENTS & PROFESSOR earn black belts in Mesa

Sensei Bill and Paula Borea train with kuwa at Arizona
School of Traditional Karate in Mesa following black
belt exams.

Many karate instructors and students congratulated Bill and Paula Borea of Gilbert and Dr. Adam of Phoenix for successfully passing advanced black belt exams. All three underwent 10 days of exams in Traditional Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo in Mesa. The group was required to demonstrate advanced forms (known in Japanese as kata), Okinawan weapons (known as kobudo) and Samurai Arts, and had to defend against a variety of attacks including assailants knives, guns and rifles. Dr. Adam also developed new forms including kata for hanbo (baton) and kata using a variety of modern tools including ruler, pens, glasses and belt. All three were successful and were promoted at a celebration Thursday evening (September 8th, 2011) at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate at the north end of Gilbert and south end of Mesa.

Bill and Paula stand with Soke Hausel. Both Bill and Paula were promoted to 2nd degree black belt (nidan) in Shorin-Ryu karate and kobudo at the Hombu dojo in Mesa. 

The ceremony was completed with presentation of certifications followed by tonfa-jutsu training and demonstration of a new kata by Dr. Adam. 

Tonfa is an ancient Okinawan weapon that at one time was used by nearly every law enforcement agency in the world, providing an insight into how effective this tool can be if one is properly trained. The weapon was originally a grinder handle attached to rice mills in Okinawa.

What makes this so unique is due to very unusual circumstances made for a novel or movie script:

Very few people reach the level of 2nd degree black belt in Shorin-Ryu karate. This is because of extreme dedication and years of training. Even so, it is very achievable and all it takes is serious dedication.

Very few reach the level of Shihan (Master) and 5th degree black belt. This is considered one of the highest levels in martial arts – to be a master of an art.

Bill and Paula have been training for many years trained in Japan while Bill was stationed in the Orient as a pilot in the US Air Force. They also trained at other martial arts schools in the US.

Paula’s story alone is made of the stuff for a movie. She is half Japanese. After the World War II, she was born to a Japanese mother and American serviceman. Being a child of two opposed cultures, resulted in her Japanese family giving her up for adoption at the age of 4 to 5.

Dr. Adam (R) receives rank certifications

Later in life, Paula returned to Japan with her husband Bill, where she met her Japanese mother for the first time since separation at birth - and they shared many tears.

Paula is not only of Japanese descent, she is also of samurai lineage and has always had an attachment to this heritage and searched for a martial arts school in Arizona that could bring her closer to her culture. She found that the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa provided her with that which she was missing and started training in Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo and various samurai arts in 2006. She is the honorary Samurai of the Arizona School of Traditional Karate and Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai.

Both Bill and Paula are grandparents who show that with the right attitude, anything can be accomplished. The Boreas show this everyday in their lives. People who claim they cannot work out because of physical limitations should meet these two extraordinary people. Because of their dedication, both were also certified as Sensei (instructors).

Seiyo no Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai Hombu dojo in Mesa, Arizona

University of Wyoming Campus Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo 

Traditonal Shorin-Ryu KARATE & Kobudo

Demonstration of a self-defense

application against an assailant

(Hanshi Andy Finley) who pins a

defendant against the wall. Turn

the table on them & ram their head

into the wall using ‘atana waza’ – head

throw.

Traditional Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo taught at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate is designed to build self-confidence while learning self-defense, martial arts history and traditions.

It is important all individuals learn to defend themselves using their feet and hands. Why? Because you can't always get to a gun or escape in the event of an aggressive attack. So, at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa and Gilbert in the East Valley of Phoenix, we focus on training our students in self-defense as well as in the traditions of karate. Learn to use your hands and feet as weapons of self-defense.

Karate has proven to be the most successful method of hand to hand combat self-defense in the world for several hundred years. When one trains in 'TRADITIONAL' karate, they are taught pragmatic self-defense, respect for others, ethics, and are taught the time honored method of mushin. Mushin is basically teaching your muscles to think while your brain takes a break. You must learn to react without thinking to be successful in self-defense.

Sport karate is very good for exercise and competition, but it is Traditional karate that was created on Okinawa a few centuries ago and developed as an effective method of self-defense (remember Mr. Miyagi in the Karate Kid?).  Traditional karate focuses all of its resources as well as philosophy and traditions of martial arts - and our students are taught to defend with power and focus, not to win points in competition.

With so many attacks occurring to people of all ages in the US, it is time to learn karate - no matter your age. At the Arizona School of Traditional Karate we have students from 8 to 70. Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo schools are also found in Arizona, Utah and Wyoming. Around the world we have students as young as 91 training in karate and kobudo.

Every year, we teach a group of self-defense and karate clinics. We also have groups who travel to Phoenix to train in Self-Defense at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa and Gilbert. Clinics for women's clubs, associations, business and church groups are also available and can provide a very interesting and entertaining evening of self-defense training - something no woman or person be without!

At the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa; karate, martial arts and self-defense clinics are taught to other martial artists, members of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate and to layman groups and clubs. We find airline traveler associations and flight attendant groups, sororities and women's to need self-defense training!


At the Arizona School of Traditional Karate, we are considered to have the in the entire Phoenix Valley.

Group photo shows Hanshi Finley (7th dan) in back, Heather From (3rd kyu) to
the left, Senpai Finley (1st dan) and Dr. Florence Teule (1st dan), members of
Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai.

Self-Defense clinic taught to the faculty, staff and student body at the University of Wyoming in 2010.

Comments on our 2010 self-defense clinic.

“We became dangerous and had a great time doing it!” Posted by Jill.



"We had a wonderful time at the self-defense clinic. You people put on a great program". Posted by Tim and Tina.  

"Myself and friends attended your public self-defense clinic - now we feel more confident with running around campus and town, but also had a super night. The techniques and Wit was a great combination". Posted by Jamie R.

Someone grabs your wrists to try to drag
you into a car - how would you defend?

"What a wonderful clinic! We had a super time. This was sooooo fun and entertaining. You should take this on the road and teach it at every university. Very practical and easy to use self-defense with levity. Thank you and thanks to the UW Karate Club". Posted by Diane & Kara.


"Got a real kick out of your clinic. Had a great time learning practical self-defense and had a super evening of fun". The best entertainment and education we've had at the university!"  Kim and Nancy

Self-defense with a smile - at the University of Wyoming
self-defense clinic.

At the University of Wyoming public clinic, we  started the attendees with their elbows. Elbows (and knees) are good weapons as most people can generate a lot of force with little practice. We also taught the attendees to escape wrist grabs, lapel grabs, hair pulls, chokes and more. Some of the enclosed photos demonstrate the techniques taught at the clinic and other photos appear on a couple of blogs as well as on our website.

Defense against a wrist grab - University of Wyoming self-
defense clinic, taught by Soke Hausel of Mesa Arizona and
the University of Wyoming Campus Shorin-Ryu Karate Club.

On Saturday morning, we started training at the Yudansha (black belt) clinic. We had a great time Friday night but Saturday morning we were up for training at 9 am.  We started with warm-ups, followed by dozens of kihon (basics) and combinations. Some combinations in the kata Gankanku (meaning crane on a rock) were incorporated into the Kihon to start providing muscle memory for learning the kata. After about an hour of kihon, I introduced Gankanku. This kata was initially known as Chinto (and is sometimes referred to as Rohai) and was introduced to Japan by the legendary Okinawan master, Gichin Funakoshi.

Demonstration of Teisho Uchi - palm
hand strike

We ended Saturday’s training at about 4:30 pm with training in the kata’s bunkai (applications).

That night, were treated to an old-time gunfight in downtown Laramie while at the local Thai restaurant. It was an evening of food and Western ghosts wandering the streets of Laramie.

Sunday, we awoke to another day of training starting at 9 am. We learned and practiced some of my favorite combinations (these all require very powerful blocks followed by strikes and ending with throws. The clinic ended with instruction of body hardening (Shitai Kori) training at about 1 pm.

Bring a date to our dojo - Dr. Rado with
 Dr. Nagmeh at the Arizona School of Traditional
Karate in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler

As I had predicted, the end of October in Laramie brings snow. And indeed, I woke up on Monday to find Interstate 80 closed west of Laramie. This is not like Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona where the weather stays pleasant throughout the fall and winter. I was feeling like it was time to get bac to the Arizona School of Traditional Karate to train in the worm climate. Lenny I and left for DIA a little early by way of US 287 to the south and the road was fine. It was a reminder of what Wyoming really stands for – WIND. There was plenty to go around, but maybe it was because the upcoming elections.

We arrived at DIA on time, but my plane sat on the runway for an hour (after boarding 45 minutes late) as only one runway was open. Even so, I made it back to Phoenix.

Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler

I would like to thank the University of Wyoming Residence Halls & Dining Services for their grant, the University of Wyoming Campus Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate Club, Sensei Lenny Martin, Professor Flo Teule’ (club advisor), University of Wyoming Club president Eddie Yaracz for making this clinic possible. I also would like to thank my personal uke’s for the clinic – Hanshi Andy Finley, Shihan Matt Larson, and Sensei Kyle Linton. As always, it was great seeing all of you again!



The Police DAV karate team from India visits and trains at the Arizona School
of Traditional Karate under direction of Soke Hausel (10th dan).

.

Members of Utah Shorin-Kai from Murray Utah travel to Phoenix to train under Soke Hausel (10th dan).