Shorin-Ryu Karate Instruction

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. I teach them Karate, Kobudo, Self-Defense and Samurai Arts. I also offer special clinics for women's clubs, sororities, church groups, clubs etc, in self-defense.

Q. Describe three recent jobs you've completed.

A. Taught the Chandler Librarians self-defense including how to use a book, pen, car keys for self-defense applications.

Several members of the Utah Shorin-Kai flew into Phoenix from Murray to train in hanbo (3-foot baton) samurai sword and practical self-defense. This was taught in April, 2012.

Finished teaching my kobudo (martial arts weapons) students in tonfa (Okinawan baton) and how to use it in self defense. They just started in Okinawan Sai (May, 2012)

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Be sure that the instructor is certified to teach. This is a problem in this industry. Look at their credentials on their walls, check to see what organization they are associated with, watch them teach a class.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. How much experience does the instructor have? Being a pioneer in Traditional Martial Arts in the United States, I have considerable experience and contacts in martial arts.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Seiyo Kai International is a traditional Shorin-Ryu martial art that focuses on Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai and its members in more than 2 dozen countries. We offer training in Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo and self-defense clinics. Our association is headed by Soke Hausel, Judan (10th dan).

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. Training other martial artists, writing books and articles about martial arts and teaching the layperson self-defense. To see people discover their potential is very exciting as an instructor.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. What kind of kobudo (weapons) are taught in Seiyo Shorin-Ryu? We teach a few dozen traditional weapons including eku (oar), kuwa (hoe), cane, bo (6-foot staff), hanbo (half-staff), nunchaku, kama (sickle), kusarigama (chain and sickle), manrikigusari (chain), tonfa (batons), kioga (expandable police baton), sai, katana (sword), naginata, yari (spear), kobuton (short stick), nitanbo (two sticks), tanto (knife) and more.

Why doesTraditional Shorin Ryu Karate appear to be much more powerful than competition (sport) karate? This is because Traditional karate focuses on self-defense and blocking and striking with full force in every practice and in every situation. In sport, one must learn to hold back on strikes.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I played guitar in a rock n' roll band in the 60s. Having long hair was not popular so our entire band took up karate.

I was the only one who stayed with the training and in 1999, I reached the highest level possible - I was certified as Grandmaster of Seiyo Kai Shorin-Ryu Karate. In 2004, I was awarded 10th dan red belt, the highest rank in Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. • 2012 Inducted into Action Martial Arts Magazine’s Hall of Honors (Outstanding Contributions to Martial Arts).
• 2009 Juko Kai International Honor Award ‘One Who Points the Way’.
• 2008 USHOFMAA International Hall of Honor, Maryland. Appointed to the Supreme Elite Warrior’s Council.
• 2008 Appointed Member of the International Examiners Committee, Seishinryoku Kai.
• 2008 Appointed International Representative of Arizona/USA for IOSKDKA, Athens, Greece.
• 2008 Appointed World Sokeship (Grandmaster) Council, Seishinryoku Kai.
• 2008 Lifetime member International Okinawa Seishinryoku Karate-Do Kobudo Association.
• 2007 Appointed United States Soke Council.
• 2006 USHOFMAA International Hall of Honor Inductee, Maryland.
• 2005 World Martial Arts Black Belt Hall of Fame Inductee, Malaysia. Awarded Grandmaster of the Year.
• 2004 World Head of Society (International Council of Masters and Grandmasters) Hall of Fame Inductee, Philippines. Awarded Honorable Grandmaster & Lifetime Member.
• 2004 American Karate Association Hall of Fame Inductee, Cincinnati Ohio. Awarded Instructor of the Year.
• 2004 US Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee, Nashville, Tennessee.
• 2004 Lifetime member, World Organizer of Martial Arts, Department of Martial Arts Affairs, Delaware.
• 2003 Latin America Martial Arts Society Worldwide Hall of Fame Inductee, Puerto Rico. Awarded International Grandmaster of the Year.
• 2002 Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee Orlando, Florida. Awarded Founder of the Year.
• 2002 World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee, Springdale, Ohio. Awarded Grandmaster of the Year.
• 2001 North American Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee Lakewood, California. Awarded International Instructor of the Year.
• 2001, Lifetime Member, Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Kokusai Kempo-Karate-Do & Kobudo Federation.
• 2001 National Rock Hound & Lapidary Hall of Fame inductee. Presented Education Award.
• 2001 Appointed to the board of the World Soke Council.
• 2000 Top Juko-Kai International affiliated ‘Soke of the Year’.
• 2000 World Karate Union Hall of Fame Inductee, Tannersville, Pennsylvania. Presented Lifetime Achievement Award.
• 2000 American Biographical Institute’s Millennium Hall of Fame Inductee. Presented Lifelong Contributions to Martial Arts Award.
• 1999 - Headmaster of the JKI Top-Rated Martial Arts School of the Year (University of Wyoming Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo Club).
• 1998 KB Karate Hall of Fame Inductee Pocono, Pennsylvania. Awarded Grandmaster Instructor of the Year.
• 1997 Presented Kyoju (Professor of Martial Arts) credential.
• 1996 Received JKI Samurai credentials.
• Inductee, Who’s Who in Martial Arts, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in the West, Who’s Who in America, Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America, Who’s Who in the 21st Century, ABI’s Men of Achievement, 2000 Notable American Men, Ten Thousand Personalities of the World, and others.