Top-Rated Okinawan Karate, Kobudo & Self-Defense in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Arizona

Following decades of fulfilling a lifetime dream with the opening a commercial dojo to teach
others about traditions of Okinawa martial arts, Hall-of-Fame martial artist, Soke Hausel
had little choice but to close the Shorin-Ryu training center in Mesa Arizona on March 1, 2021.  

Following decades of training in traditional martial arts, Soke made a decision to close the Arizona Hombu dojo (Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu dojo) after 60% of the members stopped training during the pandemic. So, the facility closed in March, 2021, but we continue training at two private dojo in Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona. We hope to one day re-open a commercial dojo if the economy improves soon.

Rest in Peace

We lost three black belt members to the plandemic, who we all miss tremendously: Sensei Lenny Martin from Wyoming (Bushido Newsletter, 2021, v. 81, no. 4), Sensei Corey Westbrook from Murray, Utah (Bushido Newsletter, 2021, v. 81, no. 3) and Sensei Alex Hurowyj from Mesa, Arizona (Bushido Newsletter, 2020, v. 17, no. 4). May their souls rest in peace in the presence of God. 

But, we are not finished. Even though dozens of dojos in the Phoenix valley closed, three of our absolutely incredible members offered training facilities to keep us going, which we are so grateful for.

2019 group photo at the Arizona Hombu (Seiyo no Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai) in Mesa, Arizona

In June, 2022, some of our remaining members of the Hombu dojo traveled from the East Valley of Phoenix to Seguin, Texas to train at the Juko Kai International annual clinic - which we've made this an annual event since 1992. The JKI training focused on combat arts including defense against an attacker armed with a gun and with a knife.

Arizona Karate & Kobudo practitioners in Sequin, Texas for Juko Kai National Clinic, 2022.

Arizona-Utah Black Belts Train in Hanbojutsu

Luis from Utah performs Ago Senage on Todd during black belt clinic in Mesa, Arizona

Members of the Utah Shorin-Kai trained in Hanbojutsu (半棒術) at the Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu in Mesa Arizona (April 12-14th, 2012) under the direction of Grandmaster (Soke) Hausel. The training reviewed several waza (techniques) including chokes, strikes, blocks, restraints and throws (nage waza) and Soke Hausel taught several new techniques that the group had never seen before. The hanbo, known as the Half-Bo can be a very effective weapon as it is a stick about the length of a cane and can be carried essentially anywhere and is considered part of the Kobudo Program at the Arizona Hombu.

Renshi Stoneking applies royote garumi on Luis during hanbo training at
Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa.

Ryan applies  koshi ori ni kata on Thad at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate, in Mesa Arizona during the Utah-Arizona Black Belt Clinic. High ranking martial artists from Murray and Salt Lake City Utah trained with martial artists from Gilbert, Mesa and Chandler, Arizona in the ancient Japanese art of Hanbo jutsu along with Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kenjutsu.