Gilbert, Arizona Karate Instructor Receives Awards

Soke Hausel hugs two of his favorite people. Karate instructors - Sensei Paula Borea and O'Sensei Bill Borea - 
at the Arizona Hombu in Mesa.

What does it mean to be a 'traditional' karate instructor? Ask any person who trains in martial arts about their instructor(s). Plan to sit down and listen for awhile because they are going to tell you about all of the stories. Our first karate instructors along with some later ones are branded into our minds. We see them like our grandfathers or grandmothers, or a favorite uncle. The thoughts of these people are almost always favorable as they influenced our lives in one way or another. There will always be many stories. Such people must be ethical, moral, and show concern for their students; otherwise they might leave that nasty taste of Cobra Kai in one's mind. We need to remember these mentors as our personal Mr. Miyagi. A person who is willing to do most anything to help his/hers ethical students in life.  Yes, because of the lineage of martial arts, they are liken to monks. 

HALL OF FAME MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR Grandmaster Hausel of Gilbert, Arizona has received many awards for teaching martial arts throughout his 5 decade martial arts career. This spark of excellence takes a leap beyond martial arts - he has also received national and international awards for public speaking, geological sciences, writing and sketching. Since 1998, he entered the halls of several Martial Arts Halls-of-Fame for unique teaching methods. Some of the Halls that recognize his excellence include the North American Black Belt Hall of Fame, the World Martial Arts Black Belt Hall of Fame, the American Karate Association Hall of Fame, the World Karate Union Hall of Fame where he was awarded Instructor of the Year, International Instructor of the Year, and Grandmaster of the Year. His latest inductions in 2014 and 2015 demonstrated his abilities as a polymath: Marquis Who's Who in Science and Engineering, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. 

Over the years, Soke Hausel learned devastating martial arts techniques through his kyokusinkai, wado-ryu, shotokan, shorin-ryu, and juko-ryu training. But at the same time, he has a heart of compassion for his students.

There is no question Soke Hausel loves to teach martial arts, so he teaches a variety of traditional martial arts at the Arizona Hombu (he has certifications in 16 martial arts) in Mesa, Arizona. He is a grandmaster (Soke) of Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo and a master (Shihan) of Juko-Ryu Bujutsu. He is a member of Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai, Zen Kokusai Soke Budo Bugei Renmei, and Juko Kai International and was awarded one of the highest honors for a martial artist in recent years - that of meijin wa jutsu. A title reserved for only a few of the most dedicated martial artists. 

HALL OF FAME GEOLOGIST. Many people are fascinated by the hit TV program Gold Rush that focuses on a couple of groups of prospectors as they search for gold and gemstones such as diamonds in the Yukon and elsewhere in past seasons. As amazing as it sounds, Grandmaster Hausel has been inducted into two Halls of Fame for geological research and public education and was even awarded one of the more prestigious awards in economic geology for finding gold: the Thayer Lindsley Award for a major mineral discovery. While consulting in Alaska for a gold company, Grandmaster Hausel and six other geologists discovered one of the largest gold deposits in North America - a deposit that has 2 and a half times more gold than mined throughout the entire history of mining in the Yukon! But, because of his contract, he was only paid consulting fees and did not get to keep any of the gold.

But he still loves geology and teaches prospectors and rock hounds how to search for gemstones, gold and other valuable minerals through magazine articles, books, lectures and websites and writes informative blogs to educate the public on diamonds, gemstones, gold and martial arts.

After receiving so many awards over the years including three of the highest honors in martial arts, one of the highest in geological sciences, and one of the highest in rock hunting, one would think nothing new would surprise him. But on April 2nd, 2015, he was totally surprised by his students as he was preparing for to teach karate and kobudo classes in Mesa.

Sensei Bill Borea surprises Soke Hausel with plaque showing
recognition by all of the Grandmaster's students scattered worldwide.

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

After arriving at the martial arts facility at the 60 W. Baseline Center on the border of Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa, Soke Hausel was greeted by two of his senior students requesting permission to speak to the class. Class began at 6:45 pm with a traditional ceremony followed by warm-up exercises and stretching. Soke Hausel stood aside and gave the floor to Sensei (instructor) Bill Borea and Sensei Paula Borea of Mesa. 

The plaque reads: "This certificate is presented to W. Dan Hausel, 12th dan/Soke. One who leads the Way" 
"In recognition of Outstanding Accomplishments and Contributions for 50 Years of Dedicated Devotion to the
 Martial arts. The Knowledge, Understanding, Teaching and Embodiment of and Sharing that with your Many
 Students. We Your Dedicated Students Say Arigato, January 2015, Mesa, Arizona.

Sensei Bill Borea began by mentioning the first time he ever heard the term "karate" was in 1968, four years after Soke Hausel began training in Karate as a teenager. Sensei Paula Borea acknowledged she was aware of karate as a teen since she was born in Japan, but knew little about the art. Sensei Bill Borea went on to tell the Arizona students that the karate he trained in while serving in the US Air Force in Japan and later in New Jersey was the same taught by Soke Hausel, with all of the traditions, Japanese commands and terminology, emphasis on power, body hardening, forms and practical applications. He emphasized this was the real thing and included an entire curriculum that was even unmatched by most Japanese schools.

Soke Hausel talks to students at the Arizona Hombu, 2015.

On behalf of Soke Hausel's Arizona students, as well as all of those scattered around the world, Sensei Borea presented a 'Certificate of Achievement for Dedication and Devotion to the Martial Arts over the past 50 years (1964 to 2014)'. It was noted, Soke Hausel touched many lives through martial arts while at four major universities including Arizona State University, University of New Mexico, University of Utah and the University of Wyoming. 

Soke Hausel with students at the University of Wyoming, 1999

Soke Hausel with students at the University of Wyoming Black Belt clinic. Students include Hanshi Andy Finley
from Casper, Soke Dai Eric Hausel from Parker, Shihan Kevin Vance from Cheyenne, Shihan Ben Froidevaux
from Switzerland, Shihan Kyle Gewecke from Gillette, Sensei Jessica Ricks from California 

Soke Hausel with Murray Utah Shorin-Kai students

Soke Hausel with students and Hanshi Ron Smith at the 2013 Juko Kai Clinic in New Braunfels, where he was awarded an honorary title from his instructor and martial arts legend Dai-Soke Sacharnoski.

Two Arizona Karate Instructors Receive National Awards

The Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu, Mesa, Arizona

Dr. Adam, a 6th dan (6th degree black belt) in Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo (and professor at Grand Canyon University) has been training in traditional martial arts for more than 3 decades. He initially trained in Shotokan karate (a variety of Shorin-Ryu Karate) prior to training with Hall-of-Fame Grandmaster, Hausel at the University of Wyoming in 1990. After they both moved to Arizona in 2006, they met again and continue to teach Karate. Dr. Adam was selected for the Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hall of Fame in 2015 for his many contributions to the martial arts.

Upon arrival to Arizona, Soke began teaching at ASU as well as at Gold's Gym in Gilbert, Mesa, and Ahwatukee and at the Civic Center in Chandler, and then opened the Arizona Hombu (world headquarters) in Mesa where he began teaching adults and families. 

Two Gilbert residents who had trained in traditional karate in Japan, Bill and Paula Borea, found the Arizona Hombu and began training under Soke Hausel. Both had trained in Japan where Paula was born. After training with the grandmaster for several years, they were promoted to nidan (2nd dan) and Sensei Bill Borea was later promoted to sandan (3rd dan). Recently, the two senior citizens were inducted into the Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai Hall-of-Fame and both continue to train at the hombu in Mesa. They were hi-lighted on Fox 10 News for their martial arts accomplishments a few years ago. Sensei Bill Borea is a retired air force pilot, and Sensei Paula Borea is Japanese-American of samurai lineage.

Hausel, a member of Juko Kai International and Zen Kokusai Soke Budo Bugei Renmei, two of the more prestigious martial arts associations in the world. Hausel is also an inductee in several Halls-of-Fame. He has been presented national and international awards in martial arts.

Dr. Adam often entertains members of
Hombu with his creative martial arts.

Sensei Bill Borea trains with Sensei Paula Borea

In 2015, Soke was elected to Marquis Who’s Who in America (70th Platinum Anniversary Compendium) scheduled for publication in 2015. This induction recognizes contributions as a polymath in martial arts, geological sciences, writing, art and public speaking. Earlier, he was also elected to Who’s Who in the World 2015 and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering 2016-2017 (12th Edition). Along with these honors, the Arizona Grandmaster was selected for an international award by IBC. The award (DaVinci Award) recognizes his successes as a polymath. And earlier, Soke Hausel was presented an award by his students recognizing his golden anniversary in martial arts.

In 2011, Soke was selected for the ABI Man-of-the-Year for lifetime accomplishments, but turned down the award. Previously, he had been awarded ABI Man-of-the-Year and IBC International-Man-of-the-Year in 1994 and 1995.

Students Honor Soke Hausel’s 50th Anniversary as a Martial Artist

In 1964, a long-haired teenager from a popular rock n’ roll band in Salt Lake City walked into a local dojo (Black Eagle Federation) in Sugarhouse and began training in karate. In 1964, he had no idea what karate was other than a form of self-defense. This became a lifelong journey with Soke training in many martial arts and receiving more than a dozen certifications in different martial arts. Not only was he awarded sokeshodai (grandmaster) of the Seiyo Shorin-Ryu karate-do and karate-jutsu, he has been awarded Shihan (master) of 4 other martial arts.

Award presented to Soke Hausel at the Arizona Hombu by his Students.

In 2015, Thumbtack also high-lighted the Arizona Hombu as well as Grandmaster Hausel. And then the Arizona School of Traditional Karate (which is part of the Arizona Hombu) was awarded Best of Mesa for the third year in a roll.

Members of Seiyo Kai International pose with Hanshi Ron Smith at the JKI Hombu in New Braunfels, Texas in 2013, 
where Soke Hausel was honored as a martial arts genius!

Best In Mesa, Arizona.

ARIZONA KARATE INSTRUCTOR - WHO'S WHO IN THE WORLD

Fred Marks Editor-in-Chief of Who’s Who in the World writes that many famous people have biographies that appear alongside the biography of Phoenix, Arizona’s outstanding martial arts instructor and grandmaster.    


Professor Hausel, hall of fame martial arts
instructor from Arizona, demonstrates a
restraint on Sensei Jason Gies from Chicago
during a jujutsu class at the University
of Wyoming (UW photo).

In the recently published Who’s Who in the World 2012 (29^th edition), Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton), named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2011 by Time magazine, Didier Faivre, appointed Director of the Galileo program and navigation-related activities for the European Space Agency, Professional cyclist Cadel Evans, winner of the 2011 Tour de France, Dilma Rousseff, inaugurated in 2011 as the first female President of Brazil, Carolyn S. Miles, newly appointed President and CEO of Save the Children and others’ appear alongside the biography of Arizona Polymath W. Dan Hausel.



Geoscientist Hausel discovers the Grizzly Creek
colored gemstone deposit in Wyoming in 2004.

Hausel is a world-renown Martial Arts Instructor and member of more than a dozen Halls of Fame scattered worldwide. He is a geoscientist, author, public speaker and artist, and in the past worked as a guitarist for some rock n' roll bands and was employed as an astronomer. He also conducted geochemical research on some of the first lunar samples recovered by the Apollo program. But as a geoscientist, he may be best known for his many discoveries.

Each year the Who’s Who staff researches people from around the globe who merit inclusion in Who's Who in the World. Beginning with the first edition of Who's Who in America in 1899, which featured such luminaries as Thomas Edison and Mark Twain, Marquis Who's Who publications have represented the most comprehensive sources available for information on human achievement.

Grand Canyon University Professor Earns Master Degree

SO How Does a PhD Earn a Master Degree? Easy! Join a Traditional Okinawan Martial Arts School.

Dr. Neal Adam is awarded both godan (5th degree black belt)
and Shihan (Master Instructor) certificates by Soke Hausel at
the Seiyo Kai Hombu in Mesa.

Wax on, wax off.  It takes decades of dedication & training to master a martial art. When most people think of a master of martial arts, they often visualize an old, wise monk; or a faster than life karate master who is indestructible. But to be a true master of martial arts, one must not only master the physical skills of a martial art, but they must also master oriental philosophy, history and traditions.

It is also rare for a PhD to earn a Master Degree: not the master’s degree from a university, but a master degree in Shorin-Ryu Karate. Remember Daniel-san from the original Karate Kid?   Mr. Myagi taught Daniel-san Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate - the same art taught at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa and Gilbert at 60 W. Baseline Road. Reaching the level of PhD and Professor requires dedication to a particular field of study and research leaving little time for anything else. And to do the same in martial arts is rare.

Dr Neal Adam, associate professor of biology at Grand Canyon University, has dedicated the past 30 years to learning karate while pursuing a career in science. His love for karate reached a high level of comprehension of Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Seiyo Kai Karate and Kobudo. To reach this level of expertise, one must understand the mechanics and physics of karate, they must comprehend the philosophy of the art, they must learn dozens of complex forms and be able to demonstrate these forms without thinking and with extraordinary power and focus, and they must master ancient weapons, and must learn to defend themselves effectively.

Mild mannered Dr. Adam in his traditional
university professor uniform

The Master degree is a measure of one’s expertise and translates in Japanese as Shihan. Dr. Neal Adam reached this level and was presented certifications of Shihan and Godan (5th degree black belt) after testing in front of Soke Hausel, world head of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo at the Hombu (world headquarters) in Mesa.

In addition to demonstrating an understanding of karate and kobudo, Dr. Adam was also required to develop new forms of kobudo. He created a new form of hanbo (3-foot staff) and applications for self defense, and also developed a new form using common everyday tools of his trade for self-defense: eye glasses, rulers, pens, belt, etc. The new form was named the Nerd-ja kata.

Grandparents Earn Black Belts at HOMBU in Mesa Arizona

Soke Hausel, Paula Borea and Bill Borea pose for FOX 10 news
interview and discussion of what traditional martial arts is all
about.

The Arizona School of Traditional Karate, also known as Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu, in Mesa, Arizona congratulated Bill and Paula Borea of East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona after successfully passing exams in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate for nidan (二段) on September 8th, 2011. It's not rare for two people to earn black belts, but it is rare for a married couple who are also grandparents. Furthermore, the two earned 2nd degree black belts.

According to Grandmaster Hausel (十段) this is the first time he has ever heard of a married couple who are senior citizens earning black belts on the same evening. Hausel has taught martial arts for more than 40 years and promoted a Canadian couple to black belt during the same evening, but they were in their mid-20s. Another couple from the University of Wyoming earned 3rd degree black belts (三段) in the same year, and were later married. They were also in their mid to late 20s. As far as senior citizens, he did have one professor earn a 1st degree black belt (初段) in his 80s, but this is rare.

Sempai Paula Borea trains with the heart of
a samurai at the Mesa Hombu after receiving
promotion to nidan black belt. Actually, Paula
is of a samurai blood line.

Bill and Paula Borea underwent 1.5 weeks of exams in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo (martial arts weapons). Both were required to demonstrate advanced forms (known as kata 型), Okinawan weapons (known as kobudo 古武道) and Samurai Arts (known as kobujutsu 古武術). They also had to demonstrate karate (空手) & jujutsu (柔術) defenses against a variety of attacks including an assailant with a knife, gun and rifle. They were successful and promoted to Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in karate and kobudo at the Arizona dojo in Mesa (60 W. Baseline Road).

But there are even more unusual circumstances about this couple that is made for a movie script:

•   Few ever reach the level of 2nd degree black belt in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu karate. This is because of extreme dedication and many years of training that are required.

•   Both Bill and Paula Borea have been training for years and each trained in Japan (日本) while Bill was stationed in the orient as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

Sensei Bill Borea trains with kobudo
class at the Arizona School of Traditional
karate. Here he trains in nunchaku-jutsu.

•   Paula Borea's story alone is the kind of stuff made for a novel or movie. She is half Japanese. After World War II, she was born to a Japanese mother and American serviceman. Being a child of two opposing cultures, much of her Japanese family disowned her and she was given up to adoption at the age of 5 (her life was threatened by one Japanese uncle).

•   Later in life, she returned to Japan with, where she met her mother for the first time since the forced separation and the two shared many tears.

•   Paula is not only of Japanese descent, she is also of samurai (侍) lineage and has always had an interest to her heritage. This led her on a search for a traditional martial arts school in Arizona that would bring her closer to her Japanese heritage. She found the Arizona Hombu dojo in Mesa provided her with that part of her life that was missing and started training under Grandmaster Hausel (宗家) in 2006.

Watch out Bill! Paula is showing her samurai lineage again!

•   Both Bill and Paula are grandparents who show that with the right attitude, anything can be accomplished.

•   Bill and Paula Borea show this everyday in their lives. People who claim they cannot work out because of physical limitations need to met these two extraordinary people - one recently had back surgery and the other open heart surgery. Both continue to train at the school in Mesa 2 to 3 times a week. Paula reports that the Arizona School of Traditional Karate is as traditional as anything she saw in Okinawa. Bill reports that karate training saved his life by greatly improving his health.


Sensei Paula Borea in traditional Japanese
kimono.

Several months later, January 6th, 2012, Soke Hausel certified both Bill and Paula Borea to Sensei (先生). Most Sensei in the Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Seiyo Kai system are ranked at sandan. However, Soke saw that Bill and Paula were unique individuals who are also leaders and certified the two as instructors.

Chandler Librarians Use Books and Knees

Librarians at the Chandler Public Library in Arizona listen to
Hall-of-Fame Grandmaster Hausel discuss the use of library
tools for self-defense.

Imagine – you’re in-between bookshelves at the public library just before closing – someone sneaks up behind and grabs you. What do you do with that book in your hand?

Several librarians and staff of the Chandler Public Library were confronted with this and other imaginary scenarios at a recent seminar taught by Hall of Fame martial artist and grandmaster, Soke Hausel from the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa (60 W. Baseline Road, Mesa) and world head of Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai in Gilbert, an international association of Okinawan Karate and Kobudo. Kobudo is a martial art that teaches use of Okinawan farming and fishing implements, as well as modern garden and construction tools, as weapons of self-defense. Hausel was assisted by Senpai Charles Jean (nikyu brown belt and librarian).

During the seminar, Hausel taught the attendees how to escape from wrist grabs, lapel grabs and bear-hugs, by using their elbows, knees, feet and hands and how to use books, magazines, coins, pens, belts, and car keys for self-defense tools against aggressive attacks. The attendees were surprised to find they were working with potential self-defense weapons every day and even checking them out to the public. Who would have thought that a book or rolled up magazine could be so effective in self-defense.

Over the years, many librarians have taken up martial arts training with grandmaster Hausel. In fact, the University of Wyoming Campus Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo Club had some librarians in its group and the club is currently taught Shorin-Ryu Karate by a university librarian.

Hausel taught similar self-defense clinics and seminars to local political groups, EMT, university faculty and staff, military, scouts, teachers, women’s clubs, sororities, religious groups, martial arts instructors, etc. He is a professor of martial arts who taught at four universities in past years and currently teaches karate, kobudo and self-defense in the East Valley.

We thank Charles Jean (nikyu brown belt on the right) for setting up the self-defense clinic for the Chandler Public Library.

And what should a librarian know about their knees and feet?