Shorin-Ryu Karate Classes in Mesa & Gilbert, East Valley Phoenix

Karate on the Rocks - Hall of Fame martial artist, Soke Hausel demonstrates side kick on 1.4 billion year old Sherman Granite west of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

We teach karate, kobudo, self-defense and samurai arts at the Arizona School ofTraditional Karate in Mesa. Right across the street is Gilbert (60 W. Baseline Road) and a block down the street is Chandler. To find our Mesa Karate School, just follow the map, or drive east of Baseline Road from Country Club road and turn left at the second traffic light after Country Club. You will see KARATE over our door. We are conveniently located near Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Mesa Community College and Arizona State University.

We have the TOP-RATED Karate Classes in the PHOENIX valley.

The size limit of our Mesa Karate and martial arts classes is 20 adults. The Kids Shorin-Ryu classes are not available to the public. However, our adult and family martial arts classes are open to the public.



A Hombu dojo (martial arts school) is the administrative headquarters of a martial art association or system and is occupied by the world head (Soke) of the system. We are particularly proud of our affiliation with Juko Kai International - an extraordinary US/Okinawan martial arts association. Our school is the Hombu of Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo SeiyoKai.

Shorin-Ryu Karate has several branches, and our Shorin-Ryu is one of these. It was developed over many years and officially recognized and certified by Zen Kokusai Soke Budo Bugei Renmei in 1999. This was the style envisioned by Soke Hausel (grandmaster) as the best style in the world (for himself). Just like everything in this world, it may also be the best style of karate for you, or because of body differences, philosophy, etc; other styles may be better suit you.

Come join our family (ryu) at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa and Gilbert.

Prior to moving to Mesa, Arizona, Soke Hausel was a research geologist as well as Kyoju no Budo (Professor of Martial Arts) at the University of Wyoming for 3 decades, where he taught classes, clinics, seminars and university clubs in karate, kobudo, samurai arts, jujutsu and self-defense. He was elected to 15 Halls of Fame since 1998 for martial arts teaching, geological sciences, and writing and also awarded national and international awards for martial arts, geology as well as public speaking and art. He moved to Arizona in 2006 and taught karate classes for a year at Arizona State University. But moved from ASU because of scheduling and parking problems at the university. At that point, he decided to open a private martial arts school in Mesa.

At our martial arts school in Mesa, we periodically have groups from around the world visit and train in our karate school. We also offer special martial arts clinics for martial artists and non-martial artists in self-defense and karate. In addition to these, our school has training in karate, kobudo, kobujutsu and self-defense four nights a week. We also have a super Tai Chi group that teaches out of our dojo - you will need to visit their website to get their hours.


UW Campus Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo Club- Soke Hausel (6th from left in front row).

Tuesdaysat the Arizona School of Traditional Karate, begin at 6:45 pm, ending at 7:45 pm. This class focuses on basics (kihon), forms (kata) & applications (bunkai). It is a great class for Adult and Families who are new to martial arts. You will join our regular martial arts class and train with all of our members until you reach a point of confusion. At that point, we will place you with another instructor until you catch up with the rest of the class.

We spend a lot of time on kata at our martial arts school in Mesa.. Kata is karate - and cannot be separated. Kata is basically specific forms containing dozens of powerful self-defense applications incorporated into a pattern that builds your martial arts abilities and helps you develop effective martial arts strategy and applications.

Much of the group trains with Soke (the Grandmaster of Shorin-Ryu Karate - Seiyo Kai) in kata and bunkai, while new members train with either with Shihan Neal Adam (5^th dan), Sensei Bill Borea (2^nd dan), Sensei Paula Borea (2^nd dan) or with Senpai Dan Graffius (2nd dan), Sarah Kamenicky (2^nd dan) or Dan Lang (1st dan). 

Kata training at the dojo in Mesa and Gilbert

This class is followed by Advanced Shorin-Ryu Karate from 7:50-8:20 pm. Advanced Shorin-Ryu Karate is for students with at least 9th kyu rank or higher. Currently we are focusing on Naihanchi Nidan and Meikyo kata and bunkai.

Wednesday'sare a little different. We have a karate and kobudoclass at our martial arts facility in Mesa in the afternoon from 3-4 pmfor kids and families.


We periodically have family members join in this karate class with their kids to help work on self-defense applications– athletic cups are highly recommended for fathers. The class is followed by another martial arts class for families that runs from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

Dr. Teulé provides Dan with a backfist during Wednesday's class

Wednesday Evening Classis from 6:45-7:45 pm. Self-defense night. We focus on empty hand (weaponless) self defense techniques for adults and periodically throw in some hanbo (half-bo), tanto (knife) or manrikigusari (short rope or weighted chain). In particular, I enjoy using the hanbo and its cousin the kioga (also known in law enforcement as the ASP tactical baton). The hanbo is a practical weapon – it’s just a stick about the diameter of a broom handle.

From 7:50-8:20 pm, don't be surprised when the dojo fills with samurai carrying katana (samurai swords). This is our Samurai arts class open to all of our members.

Thursday night’s martial arts class runs from 6:45-7:45 pm. This is kobudo (ancient Okinawa weapons) night and difficult for me, as I like to teach all weapons from the Bo (6-foot staff) to the kuwa (garden hoe) – but we don’t have enough time to cover everything. So I must be selective. Along with kihon (basics), members train in numerous kobudo kata and bunkai. Because of safety reasons, the strikes must not be too focused because weapons tend to break - and all members are encouraged to wear safety goggles. This is primarily for adults, but some families attend. Unlike many other martial arts schools in the region, we start training our students in kobudo very early.

This is followed by advanced Kobudo from 7:50-8:20 pm. This class is currently focused on hanbo, kibo and the common cane.


One night recently, we were introduced the class to hojojutsu which results in interesting photo shoots. Hojojutsu is an art in itself and involves restraining prisoners with a cord.

Melinda defends against attack by Steve using her nunchukuand knee.

Bill Borea and Charles Jean train in bunkai with bo (6-foot staff) and kama.




Not for everyone - shitai kori (Okinawan body hardening) practiced by Dr. Florence Teulé and Elena Finley.

We teach many other martial arts in clinics. For example, in some clinics that were taught at the Gillette, Wyoming dojo, Soke taught shitai kori (body hardening). We realize that shitai kori is not for everyone, so only those interested in learning this part of Shorin-Ryu Karate are taught this unusual art which is restricted to those at least 18 years old.



.



Shitai Kori is a method that teaches one how to harden their muscles so they can accept strikes to vital points in the body as well as learn how to follow-up with devastating responses to an attack. Part of this art involves body hardening of the arms, legs, hands, feet, stomach, chest, ribs and even the neck and groin. 

Dr.Teulé from Utah State University trains with Hanshi Andy Finley from Casper, Wyoming using bokken (wooden swords).

Right - Dr. Teulé trains with Hanshi Finley in iaido (samurai sword).

So, stop by and see us at our martial arts school in Mesa - we are always looking to expand our karate family and meet new friends.
(Sokeshodai@Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com).

Our dojo was recently invaded by a 'Nerdja' silicon valley's answer to the 'Ninja'. Here, Dr. Neal Adam (5th dan) from Grand Canyon University stands next to Dan Graffius (2nd dan) after demonstrating common every day weapons carried by professors (i.e., lap tops, pens, glasses, belt, high- water pants, etc.

Group photo of Soke with three of his favorite martial artists - left to right - Elena Finley (2nd dan) from the University of Wyoming, Heather From (3rd kyu), Colorado-Nebraska, Dr. Teulé from France.

Follow Us on Twitter:




And you can LIKE us on Facebook.



Ryan Harden from Mesa, uses uchi uke during training