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.

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?