A Martial Art Legend in Gilbert, Arizona

Soke posses while teaching tekko (Okinawan Horse shoes) 
during Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo classes at the Arizona Hombu dojo 
in Mesa, Arizona.

Hall-of-Fame Grandmaster of Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo could have chosen most anywhere to open a dojo, but after teaching karate, kobudo, samurai arts, self-defense, jujutsu, kempojutsu, sojutsu, self-defense for women, etc., for more than 30 years at the University of Wyoming, he decided to move to the East Valley of Phoenix and relocated to Gilbert where he opened nearby Hombu dojo in Mesa, Arizona in 2008, known as the Hombu Dojo. Hombu is a rare dojo that is recognized as the world headquarters of a martial arts style, system and or association, and is also the home of the grandmaster of that martial arts style.

Soke Hausel, nominated and selected for the Albert Nelson
Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hausel has always been considered to be a very good martial arts instructor. While at the University of Wyoming, he was certified as Professor of Budo (martial arts) by Juko Kai International, and taught martial arts classes in four different colleges including Club Sports, Extended Studies, Physical Education and Kinesiology. Over the years, he was awarded national and international awards for his teaching and even recognized by the University President and the Governor for his outstanding contributions to martial arts and the education of hundreds of students. And just as outstanding in geological sciences as in martial arts, Hausel won many awards for his achievements in geology. Many consider him a workaholic and a person who loves to work and to help others.

In addition to teaching traditional martial arts at UW, he also taught martial arts at the University of Utah, University of New Mexico and Arizona State University. Last year, he was selected for awards recognizing his lifelong dedication to martial arts, geology and writing. Along with General Colin Powell, he was selected for the Albert Nelson Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award. And along with Grandmaster Jhoon Goo Rhee from Korea, Grandmaster Hausel was inducted into in Who’s Who in Martial Arts Legends in Washington DC, and this year, he received recognition as an outstanding alumni of the Who's Who in Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Students of all ages - from 10 to 100, learn karate and kobudo. Children train with a parent or grandparent.

At the start of his sojourn in martial arts, he signed up for in kyokushin-kai karate in 1964. The powerful karate style created by Mas Oyama built the foundation Hausel, who was at the time a teenager in a rock n' roll band. Later, Hausel studied other forms of martial arts including Wado-Ryu Karate, Shotokan Karate, Kempojutsu, Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo, Yamanni-Ryu kobudo, Dai Yoshin-Ryu samurai arts, jujutsu, and others. Each martial art gave him another perspective.

Hausel, a polymath, reached the highest level of achievements and twice was inducted into Halls-of-Fame for contributions to both martial arts and geological sciences in the same year. And several years, Marquis Who’s Who recognized his martial arts, geological sciences, writing, art and public speaking accomplishments.

So, you can learn traditional martial arts from anyone, or if you are in the East Valley of Phoenix, you can learn martial arts from one of the best. Soke Hausel trained a few hundred black belts around the world as well as hundreds of lower ranked students. Most of these people now are productive members of society as engineers, scientists, accountants, physicians, accountants, priests, high-ranking soldiers, mechanics, university faculty and staff, university students, school teachers, lawyers, nurses, pilots, etc.

According to various researchers, training in traditional martial arts helps improve physical and mental conditioning. Part of the reason for this is getting into better physical health, but also because martial arts requires students to use both sides of their brains an appears to expand brain mass, IQ, memory, concentration, and even social skills through training in the traditional Okinawa Shorin-Ryu martial arts.

Hausel dreams that one day he will meet a benefactor as devoted as he, so a permanent martial arts school can be constructed to offer many different aspects of the traditional Okinawan and Japanese martial arts to the public in the Phoenix valley, and train people to respect others and be ethical, something that is not practiced by politicians.

In one recent (2018) US study reported by Dr. Ashleigh Johnstone from Bangor University, children between the ages of 8 and 11 were tasked with traditional martial arts training that focused on respecting others and defending themselves as part of an anti-bullying program. The children were taught to maintain a level of self-control in heated situations.

Researchers found martial arts training reduced the level of aggressive behavior in boys, and the boys were more likely to step in and help someone who was being bullied. Significant changes were not found in the girls’ behavior, possibly because they showed lower levels of physical aggression before the training than the boys did.

Interestingly, this anti-aggression effect is not limited to young children. A different research project found reduced physical and verbal aggression, as well as hostility, in adolescents who practiced martial arts.