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| 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.
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| 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).
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| Seiyo no Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai Hombu dojo in Mesa, Arizona |
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University of Wyoming Campus Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo
