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.

Breaking Rocks, Restraining Prisoners, Defending Gardens - all in a day of the life of a martial arts master

Students at the University of Wyoming in Laramie line up to break rocks

Grandmaster (soke) Hausel from Gilbert, Arizona returned from teaching a martial arts clinic at the East Canyon Resort in the Oquirrh Mountains of Utah to the east of Salt Lake City in August, 2015. The 2015 Utah gassuku (outdoor training clinic for Okinawan martial arts) included a variety of martial arts such as tameshiwari, kamajutsu, hanbojutsu, hojojutsu and karate bunkai used in self-defense against an individual armed with a hand gun as well as a rifle.

During tameshiwari training, Soke taught the Utah students a little about geology and how to break rocks with their bare hands. Rocks can be challenging as they are not like boards and seldom provide a grain to break along. A couple of years ago, a taekwondo group broke boards at a demo at the Islands clubhouse in Gilbert. Honestly, it was pathetic as these boards offered no resistance and we had no idea one could purchase boards that thin. we've seen taekwondo demos in the past that were very entertaining - this one was not. Personally, we enjoy watching people break bricks or ice and putting some effort into breaking.

Hojojutsu training at the 2015 Utah gassuku

At the Utah Clinic, the group was quite impressed they could break rocks as none of them had tried before. Soke also gave them a little lecture on rock types and what kind of rocks are a little more user friendly and why they should avoid granite, gabbro, basalt and rhyolite (rocks common in the Phoenix valley).

Hojojutsu is a traditional samurai martial art that uses cord or rope to restrain prisoners. The hojojutsu is always a lot of fun for students who have never seen this art - actually its fun as there is nothing more satisfying than tying up your partner with a rope and watching them squirm. They usually look completely helpless.

Over the past few years, Soke Hausel has been teaching members of the Utah Shorin-Kai as well as members of the Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu the art of hanbojutsu. At the Utah clinic, soke reviewed strikes, throws and chokes with the hanbo (a 3-foot stick) and added a couple of new techniques. The hanbo is a great weapon as it can be carried anywhere - much like a cane.

Daughter and father train with hanbo (half-bo) at the Utah Clinic. 

Kamajutsu is a traditional Okinawan martial art that uses a pair of sickles for self defense. These are great weapons and we spent a few hours at the clinic practicing kata bunkai (practical applications hidden in kata).  Then it was time to train in self-defense against an armed attacker with knife, handgun and rifle. These techniques are simple, but must be practiced over and over again in case one ends up in a situation where an aggressor has a gun.

Kamajutsu training at the Arizona Hombu on Baseline Road, Arizona

Utah students train in hand gun defense at the Arizona Hombu in Mesa in the Spring of 2015