Mesa Martial Arts Weapons Classes

Soke Hausel demonstrates kama at the Arizona Hombu dojo, Mesa, Arizona

Okinawan karate and kobudo (martial arts weapons) go hand in hand. In fact, they are inseparable. They are like wheels on a bicycle. You need both to make the bicycle (and martial arts) go. But most martial arts schools do not teach both, and of those that do, many teach what some term as 'cheerleader' kobudo. Lots of twirling but no pragmatic use.

In Shorin-Ryu Karate, practitioners use kobudo as effectively as they use karate. This is important as both build on one another. Students of Shorin-Ryu also learn what every move in every kata (martial arts forms) is used for and use dozens of techniques as kobujutsu (combat arts). The students practice with weapons training with uke (a partner), so the weapons begin to feel very natural. In the advance stages of kobudo, they practice kumite (sparing) with weapons.

As the Shorin-Ryu student becomes more and more familiar with the weapon, just like in the empty hand (karate) techniques, they learn to use full power and focus with the weapon, both in practice during kata as well as in combat training with bunkai (self-defense applications from the kata). This is a very important part of the evolution of their karate and kobudo. Without achieving this last step, their kobudo can become a liability rather than an asset. 

Shihan Gewecke (5th dan) applies wrist lock using
kibo on law-enforcement officer Brett (2nd dan).

So how can this happen? Karate and Kobudo are dependent on muscle memory. It is common knowledge in the martial arts that "one will defend as they train". If a martial artist practices with little effort, power and focus, muscles learn to defend with the same lack of enthusiasm. 

If you are a martial artist, ask yourself each time that you punch the next time you are in a dojo (martial arts school): "will my strikes and blocks stop an aggressor?"  Can my punch or kick knock down an attacker with one strike?  Does my partner flinch when I block? 

If you cannot give a positive answer to these questions, your karate and kobudo need to be tweaked. To train properly, you need to educate your muscles - send them to martial arts graduate school and teach them to punch, block and kick with full force. This is done by practicing full force, power and focus with everything you do in the dojo. You can also practice the same way with a partner as long as you direct strikes to the side of your partner and not directly at them. This is important, because no matter how long you have been training, every once in a while a muscle forgets distancing. Myself, I've been training for 5 decades and every once in awhile, I miss (to error is human).

Soke Hausel trains with katana in Arizona.

Our students learn to use a large variety of martial arts weapons and our curriculum is growing as new weapons are learned and new weapons are developed from common, modern everyday tools such as books, magazines, keys, cell phones, pens, etc. Soke Hausel has been greatly assisted by the creative Hanshi Neal Adam in developing and testing new martial arts weapons.

After joining Juko Kai International in 1992, Soke found this martial arts association was superior to any other  association and offers excellent instruction. Soke learned dozens of additional traditional Okinawa and Japanese martial arts weapons. 



Ryan from Arizona trains with Thadd from the Utah Shorin Kai
using hanbo (police baton)

Adam takes rifle from his uke.



Two of Soke Hausel's black belt students train in
kobudo. Dr. Adam (6th dan) defends attack from Kathy (1st dan)
in kobudo classes at Mesa, Arizona

Today, members of Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai and the Arizona community can learn traditional Okinawan martial arts at the hombu dojo (martial arts school) in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler Arizona. Classes focus primarily on adults and the adults are a group of very likable individuals. Many people believe it is Hausel's background of being a professor of martial arts that attracts the positive type of people found in his dojos around the world.

For members of the Phoenix community - we highly recommend learning martial arts for self-defense - remember, you have to get to your gun to defend yourself, while in martial arts, you are carrying your tools (hands, feet, knees, elbows with you at all times.



O'Sensei Bill Borea uses kama against bo attack by Charles

For women, we highly recommend learning to use hanbo (3-foot stick), kuboton (short stick), nitanbo (two sticks), bo (6-foot stick), kibo (Police expandable baton), tonfa, nunchaku, tekko, tanto, book, magazine, car keys, manriki (chain), hojo (rope), purse, computer, coffee mug, pen, cell phone, coaster, rake, hoe, shovel, etc in ways that are hard to imagine.

And please remember, we only support social media that supports America. So, no, we do not support facebook, twitter, linked-in nor the other medias that censor our friends, family and other martial artists.



Officer Philbrick (2nd dan) applies arm bar to Shihan-
Gewecke (4th dan) after striking and throwing his partner
with kibo (ASP).

We teach our students to get a 'kick' out of gardening. Here Sensei Paula Borea
a real samurai from Japan, defends bo attack by O'Sensei Bill Borea using the
kuwa (garden hoe).

Adam trains with sai defending attack by O'Sensei Bill Borea

Arizona's Karate and Kobudo Classes, Schools and Instructors

Nunchaku training in Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai. Photo
 shows (from Left to Right) Dr. Adam, Sempai Scofield, Sensei
Borea and Sempai Lang.

Traditional Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate training also involves training in kobudo (the ancient art of traditional weapons), jujutsu, shitai kori (body hardening) and much more. Our adult students learn to effectively use hands and feet as well as common every day tools and the traditional kobudo tools from Okinawa used by farmers, merchants and fishermen for weapons of self-defense.

Soke Hausel also teaches private clinics with a variety of modern weapons - including magazines, books,  car keys, rocks, coins, pens, etc..

shitai kori (body hardening)

Dr. Adam poses after demonstrating use of common everyday tools for self-defense for
a typical nerd. In this demo, he used pens, classes, belt and even his trousers as weapons.

Dr. Adam demonstrated the use of the Corn Huskers tools as self-defense
weapons. He stand here with a corncob pipe, farmers hat, corncob chuks
handkerchief, and suspenders, all potential weapons.

Been to the library lately? Soke Hausel teaches clinic to Chandler librarians
 on common tools for self-defense that included cell phones, car keys,
PC computers and even books.

Dr Adam hooks back of Rich's knee during bunkai training with kuwa (garden hoe) and
bo (6-foot staff) at the Arizona School of Traditional karate in Mesa, Arizona