Soke Hausel

Central Hombu

Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai.

sokeshodai@Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com

Mizu no kokoro – Mind like Water! A mind like water is calm allowing a martial artist to flow with an attack

Self-Defense Clinic University of Wyoming, Laramie (April 1st, 2011) 5:30-7:30 pm (Rendezvous Room, Washakie Center).

Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Samurai Clinic University of Wyoming, Laramie (April 2nd -3rd, 2011). Education Building

Gym, Saturday (8 am to 4 pm); Sunday (8 am to 1 pm). Open to all members of Seiyo Kai International with

current 2011 membership card.

Juko Kai 50th Anniversary Clinic, Dallas, TX, June 11, 2011

Soke-Dai Wedding, Parker, CO, June, 11, 2011 (Soke-Dai Eric Hausel & Jodie Martin to wed).

Utah Gassuku – East Canyon Resort, Park City, Utah (August 6th, 2011).

Anniversary Clinic University of Wyoming, Laramie, September.

FEBRUARY DOJO KUN Karate ni sente nashi - There is no first attack in karate

ITOSU & FUNAKOSHI LET THE SECRET OUT OF THE BAG Anku Itosu and Gichin Funakoshi already let the world know that karate is no longer a secret. So please don’t

keep us a secret either. This is a family (ryu) art so bring your friends, family and co-workers to our Shorin-

Ryu family. This newsletter is designed to help promote our art, so please make a copy and give it to a friend or

two.

ABOUT US - SEIYO NO SHORIN-RYU KARATE KOBUDO KAI Seiyo Kai International evolved from traditional Shorin-Ryu Karate and was officially recognized as a unique

martial art in 1999. Thus our style, a gendai (modern) art, evolved from a koryu (old-school) martial art. Our

members (Seiyo Kai International) train in basics (kihon) of karate and kobudo which are taught over and over

again (but in different ways) to help muscle memory attain a level of mushin (a disconnect from the mind). If a

deshi (student) trains without full focus and effort, the training will leave negative imprints on one’s muscles and

they will defend with little force. You defend like you train. Look around your dojo and watch not only your

sensei, but also those who exhibit awesome power. These people are training properly – try to emulate their

effort.

BUSHIDO - THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR

SEIYO no SHORIN-RYU KARATE KOBUDO KAI

February 2011 W. Dan Hausel, Soke & Eric J. Hausel, Soke-Dai v.8, no.2

Newsletter of

SEIYO SHORIN-RYU CENTRAL HOMBU

Soke Hausel

Central Hombu

Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai.

sokeshodai@Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com

Yan Ma practices Pinan Godan kata.

In addition to kihon, members of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu practice kata (forms) and

bunkai (applications). We have a curriculum that includes more than 70 kata. Why

so many? Kata and karate are inseparable. This has been emphasized by great

Okinawan Shorin-Ryu masters of the past and I would agree. Kata is extremely

important since kata includes basics, balance, stances, breathing, self-defense

(bunkai), and timing & distancing (ma). Everything we need is found in kata. Katas

should also be practiced with distinct

timing in mind with timing breaks

(places where techniques are slow and

emphasized, where they are sped up, etc), they should be practiced

with focus while keeping bunkai in mind: they should never be

rushed. The practice of kihon and kata mixed with bunkai

provides excellent training as long as one includes power, focus

and Zen philosophy. Traditional karate requires traditional

methods.

Shihan Vance practices kata bunkai with Shihan-Dai Schroeder

We try to avoid competition. This has nothing to do with fear of

losing particularly since we’ve had members awarded regional,

national & even international champions in the past. It has to do with the

type of martial arts training required in competition and its philosophy. If

you ever have a chance to watch a tournament, most competitors have little

focus. A few years ago, the University of Wyoming club experimented

with competition and nearly every member who competed won a medal (or

was disqualified in kumite competition for striking too hard); however,

those who continued in this adventure lost most of their focus and power

within a year. We do not stop anyone from competing – this is a freedom of

choice, but it will likely end up with the deshi developing poor technique.

Self defense training. Sensei Kyle Linton of Wellington

Colorado defends against knife (tanto) attack by Hanshi

Andy Finley of Casper.

We practice kumite (sparring). BUT, free sparring must be

kept to a bare minimum and only introduced to students

when they acquire a good level of focus, power and control.

When I introduce students to kumite, it is primarily ippon

kumite (one step sparring). In this situation, uke (defender)

is attacked by tori (attacker). Sometimes the attack is

predetermined, other times it is not. When we practice

kumite, our sensei must watch closely for lack of focus.

When the focus is lost, we need to practice the technique

again and again with focus.

Soke Hausel

Central Hombu

Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai.

sokeshodai@Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com

At rare times free sparring (jiyu kumite) is practiced under the

watchful eyes of a sensei. Free sparring is practiced to teach deshi

to respond without thinking. As soon as any block, kick, or punch

is applied without focus, the practitioner must be stopped and the

same scenario practiced over and over again until it is done with

focus. Most karate schools in the US concentrate on free sparring

and this is one of the principal sources for bad technique in most

schools. So free sparing needs to be controlled and limited greatly.

Hanshi Finley of the Casper dojo is restrained during hojojutsu - an

ancient art taught to samurai to restrain prisoners.

Along with karate (empty hand) training, Seiyo Shorin-Ryu

students learn kobudo – the art of ancient weapons. Weapons in

our curriculum include bo (6-foot staff), hanbo (half-staff), kobuton

(short stick), nunchaku, sai, tonfa, kioga (expandable baton), kuwa

(hoe), kumade (rake), kuai (cane), kama, nitanbo, eku (oar),

manrikigusari (weighted chain), surichin (weighted rope), nireki

(two rakes), hari (fish hook), tekko (knuckle duster),

kusarigama (sickle & chain) and others.

Seiyo Shorin-Ryu members also have the unique

privilege of learning Samurai arts including iaido,

naginatajutsu, jujutsu, yarijutsu, bojutsu, and

hojojutsu. These arts include training with katana

(samurai sword), tanto (knife), naginata (pole arm),

yari (spear), hojo (cord) and jujutsu.

Ryan Harden of Mesa uses naginata tekubi kizu (wrist

cut) against Dr. Neal Adam’s shomen uchi with katana

(samurai sword).

Self-defense training is very important and we train in

defense against a variety of attacks. When a new

technique is introduced tori (the attacker) must begin by

give and take until uke (defender) learns the technique,

then tori should become more aggressive to provide

more resistance and speed, but always keeping in mind

safety and self-confidence issues. Tori must also

remember that he or she is not being struck with an

actual atemi (distracting strike) that assists uke in

escapes. Our association also provides self-defense

training for the lay-person through clinics and classes.

Sooner or later, all of our students break rocks. This is

a very minor part of karate, but a confidence builder.

After teaching karate for more than 40 years, I’ve only had one student unable to break a rock – it was a barrier

that this person built for herself and could not overcome even though this person was very capable. When

breaking boards, we do not pick plywood to break (or tree limbs), so with rocks, we look for good flat, limestone

and/or sandstone. So in a sense, it helps to be a geologist.

Soke Hausel

Central Hombu

Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai.

sokeshodai@Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com

For a few students, special miegakure (hidden) techniques are taught including kotekitae (kotekikai) (body

hardening) and tein hsueh (vital point strikes) are taught to help us master hitotsuki hitogeri (one strike

one kick knockouts).

Shihan-Dai Kyle Gewecke (4th

dan) of Gillette

takes on geology during rock breaking

training at the University of Wyoming.

The majority of classes taught at the Arizona

School of Traditional Karate, also known as

our Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu are taught to

adults and families. Each of our dojos is

different: some focus on families, others on

adults, and some have kid’s classes and

some have a mix of classes.

MARTIAL ARTS CERTIFICATIONS Few people in the West are familiar with

Koryu Menkyo or licenses of old Japanese

combat schools. For this discussion, we need

to understand the difference between Koryu

and Gendai.

Soke Hausel accepts completely unprotected full force tein hsueh kick by Sensei

Donnette Gillespie (3rd

dan) as an example of kotekikai (photo courtesy of the

University of Wyoming). Without proper training, procreation might be

questionable.

Although both are referred to as martial arts by the public and media, purists

point out that koryu schools are combat fighting styles (not ‘arts’) and gendai

schools are ‘martial arts’. Koryu schools were developed during the feudal

period of Japan to teach samurai pragmatic techniques designed to

eliminate their opponent as quickly as possible. Some will argue that koryu

techniques have all been tested on the battlefield by samurai. Of course, we

don’t know this for sure, as none of us were around to witness the application;

but it is assumed that since they were taught to samurai, they were battle-

tested.

But even this cannot guarantee a technique will work. As a member of the US

Army in 1972, we were taught ‘battlefield’ self-defense techniques. Since I had

already been training in karate for 8 years and some judo, I had an idea of what

would and wouldn’t work. The techniques the army taught would have gotten us in serious trouble in a local bar

or even candy store only because they were dangerous to ourselves. For example, one technique taught was o-

goshi (major hip throw). Experts in judo can use this technique only after many years of training, but even the

best of judo practitioners will fail in this throw in randori. In actual self-defense, I would never consider this

nage (throw) without first using a very strong atemi (disorienting strike). As a graduate student at the University

of Utah, I saw a world judo championship that included Olympians from many countries. During the contest,

Soke Hausel

Central Hombu

Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai.

sokeshodai@Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com

only one successful o-goshi was applied during three days of competition of the best in the world. So if these

people had a difficult time with this technique, how well would it

work for a bunch of draftees in the army?

Even though techniques for gendai schools likely were not field

tested by samurai; many have been used on the streets. But there

are impractical techniques taught in both schools that should be

weeded out or modified.

Clark Newbold of Laramie defends against knife attack by Ben

Corley (1st dan) of Colorado Springs at the University of Wyoming.

Koryu schools have few if any kata. Kata taught in koryu (or

jutsu) schools are short if they have any kata at all. This is unlike

karate, which has lengthy and sometimes esoteric kata. Even so, karate kata are designed to teach movement,

balance and focus. And many of the moves in karate kata were likely created to confuse the practitioner as to its

true purpose requiring a period of discovery as to its true sense – this is one of the Zen concepts introduced into

martial arts. Zen has been an important part of the development and teaching karate and gendai arts: the arts that

end with the suffix ‘do’. Even so, comparing Okinawan karate to Japanese koryu Japan is like comparing apples

to oranges. Karate was never developed for the

Japanese samurai and stands as a unique art.

Dai Soke Sacharnoski (right) presents lineage

chart of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo at

the 45th

Anniversary Clinic of JKI.

A few years ago at the Juko Kai International

45th anniversary clinic, I was presented a

lineage chart by Dai-Soke Sacharnoski

showing our lineage traced to the 18th century

– sounds like a long time, but koryu schools

may claim 30 to 40 generations of Soke

indicating some of these schools have been

around for many centuries.

Koryu schools have distinct lineage, present

their students with menkyo licenses, and almost always have the suffix ‘jutsu’ to describe their style. Whereas,

gendai (modern) schools provide kyudan diplomas and typically apply the suffix ‘do’. As an interesting note,

most karate taught today is considered karatedo even though it seldom has ‘do’ (pronounced ‘doe’) attached to

the art. This is assumed, so we could just as easily call our art Shorin-Ryu Karatedo and Kobudo.

But getting back to the reason why I started writing about koryu schools. Last month (Bushido, 2011, vol. 8, no.

1) we examined gendai certifications and their origin. Koryu schools use a certification known as Menkyo.

Menkyo (免許) translates as license and is presented to deshi (students) who achieve different levels of expertise

in koryu schools, such as jujutsu, bujutsu, iaijutsu and aikido rather than judo, budo, iaido or aikijutsu. But

having a jutsu suffix does not guarantee that you are in a koryu school as there are many jujutsu schools that are

gendai with no discernable lineage and award kyudan ranks because of the popularity of this ranking system.

Soke Hausel

Central Hombu

Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai.

sokeshodai@Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com

Kuwa training at the Seiyo Kai Hombu - Arizona

School of Traditional Karate. Bill Borea attacks our

resident samurai, Paula Borea of Gilbert.

In koryu schools, one seldom earns more than three

to five menkyo during their entire life. Compare that

to a gendai art, which may have 5 to 10 kyu and 10

dan levels. There are exceptions to these: for

example Shotokan Karate of America offers 5 dan

levels primarily because the individual who broke

off from the JKA (Japan Karate Association) was a

godan. And one art I trained in during the past,

Bujinkan ninjutsu taught by Soke Masaaki Hatsumi,

offers 15 dan levels (I don’t know why anyone

would need 15 dan levels – but that is up to Soke

Hatsumi) and claims to be a koryu school with

considerable lineage even though they offers

kyudan diplomas.

Many koryu schools award the following lower

level certificates - Shoden (lower level), Chuden

(intermediate level) and Joden (upper level student).

These could be considered equivalent to kyu ranks

of Gendai schools, but one could easily spend a

year or more in training before they achieve a

menkyo shoden. Some koryu schools may only offer

two lower level certificates – shoden and joden.

Higher level ranks could be considered equivalent

to yudansha (black belt). These can include Menkyo Okuden (advanced practitioner), Menkyo Kyoshi

(instructor), Menkyo Shihan (master), Menkyo Kaiden (high level instructor), Menkyo Soke (world head). A

Menkyo may or may not be accompanied by densho or makimono which would be a certificate of proficiency.

Menkyo Shihan is considered a master instructor and reserved for a handful of members of koryu schools. It

could take 20 to 30 years to achieve this certificate. Above this level is Menkyo Kaiden (免許皆伝), a ‘license of

total transmission’. This implies the exponent has learned everything in the combat system and is one level

below Soke-Dai. The individual who holds the Kaiden certificate in a koryu school has mastered the system and

often is the de facto successor of the Sōke. Seldom, more than one person will earn this certificate.

Many koryu schools have mokuroku (a registry) in which names are entered in official catalogues of the ryu. This

way, current and future generations can review one’s lineage and credentials. In Seiyo Shorin-Ryu, we have a

mokuroku of sorts, or a registry for yudansha that appears on our website. Some koryu schools have two levels of

registry that includes those of lower level known as shomokuroku and a higher level of gomokuroku.

KUWA KOBUDO Kobudo is a very important part of Shorin-Ryu karate and few weapons epitomize kobudo better than kuwa

(common garden hoe) also known as a gawa or kue. This is because kobudo is considered a peasant martial art,

Soke Hausel

Central Hombu

Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai.

sokeshodai@Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com

and what could better define a peasant than a hoe, a tool of the peasant class. There are few kuwa kata: I only

know of one known as Matayoshi No Kuwa Nu De (Kue no de), although I’ve seen variations of this kata.

Shihan-Dai Neal Adam (yondan) of Phoenix hooks Rich Mendolia’s (of Mesa) knee with kuwa in ippon kumite.

Dr. Adam, Paula Borea (1st dan), Bill Borea (1

st dan), Rich

Mendolia, Satish Andalam, Ryan Harden & Abimael Rolon all tested

and received kuwa certifications at the Arizona School of Traditional

Karate in Mesa in February.

Kuwa training can be done with modern garden hoe although one

must be careful using these as the majority are not well made and

tend to fly apart as some of you witnessed during my teaching of

kuwa several years ago at the University of Wyoming. One of my

first strikes during kihon practice sent the blade (egashira) flying

like a missile into our tatami (mat) against the dojo wall. It

surprised everyone including me. Luckily, I was in the front of the

class and no one was in front of me. Many of the Japanese style

grub hoe are usually better constructed. The kuwa consists of a butt

end (ejiri), handle (eii), head of the hoe (egashira) and blade edge

(kuwaba).

SAMURAI INVADE MESA!!! Following training in Kuwa, members of the Seiyo Kai Hombu gave up their peasant-ships and started training as

samurai. Thursday evenings are now devoted to katana (sword) and

naginata training. After we master naginata, our group will focus on

yari.

Paula Borea stands ready to remove the ears from any willing aggressor

with naginata.

Friday evenings, we focuses on self-defense including hanbo and

kioga. These are two

excellent weapons.

In our advanced

karate session on

Friday evenings, our

students have the

opportunity to work

on advanced kata

as well as kama

(sickles). We are

now working on

Gama shodan kata. Those who train Friday and Wednesday

afternoons are working with sai. Both sai shodan and sai

nidan have been taught and we will soon start sai sandan –

one of my favorite kobudo kata.

Breaking arms with a smile – Doc Adam applies hanbo

technique on Rich.

Soke Hausel

Central Hombu

Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai.

sokeshodai@Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com

PROMOTIONS In the late 15th century, King Shoshin of Okinawa issued a proclamation that left his country defenseless

(Okinawa unfortunately did not have a 2nd amendment!): bladed weapons were confiscated from the peasant

class & his subjects were no longer allowed to own or carry such weapons. It took some time, but Okinawa was

finally invaded by Japanese Samurai of the Satsuma clan with little to no resistance. This resulted in creation of a

secret, ancient, martial art known as kobujutsu, also referred to as kobudo - farming implements & fishing tools

used in self-defense. What the Okinawans needed was a NKA (National Katana Association).

Samurai invade Mesa. We began training in iaido (sword drawing) Thursday

evenings at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate. Left – Satish Andalam

(from Scottsdale) sporting a new mustache, draws his katana. Right – Charles

Jean and Ryan Harden thrust swords

during kata practice.

After training with garden hoe (kuwa)

for the past few months, students at the

Seiyo Hombu in Mesa tested for

certification by demonstrating kata

(forms), kihon (basics) and ippon

kumite (one step sparring). In addition,

a few students tested for kyu

advancement in Shorin-Ryu karate and

Rich Mendolia was promoted to 5th kyu

(green belt), Satish Andalam was

promoted to 7th kyu (blue belt), Ryan Harden was promoted to 8th kyu,

Mariana Pena was promoted to 8th kyu and Charles Jean was promoted

to 9th Kyu. Congratulations!

KARATE KA OF THE MONTH Check out our website for our Karateka of the Month. Shihan-Dai Kyle

Gewecke (4th dan) is our outstanding January Karate Ka. Congratulations!

Shihan-Dai Kyle Gewecke studies rock prior to breaking the sample during

geology 101 at the UW Campus Shorin-Ryu Karate Club. Kyle is now the

headmaster of his dojo in Gillette, Wyoming.

WEBSITES We are listed on many websites. Here are a few: (1) International Karate

Association, (2) Traditional Karate, (3) Wiki, (4) Hotfrog, (5) Merchant Circle.

(6) Merchant Circle Shorin, (7) Okinawa Icon, (8) Youtube, (9) BlackBelt,

(10) Shorin-Ryu, (11) links, (12) Karate organizations.

KNEE In 2011, I was nominated for Action Martial Arts Magazine’s Hall of Honors for Outstanding Contributions to

the Martial Arts. The event was scheduled at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey on

January 21st. I turned down the invitation because of my knee. A couple of you are aware that I tore the bucket

handle meniscus on my left knee in November, so I have been walking a little funny. Since this happened, we’ve

Soke Hausel

Central Hombu

Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai.

sokeshodai@Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com

been working on clearance for surgery (clearance has been as painful as the tear). So I had no idea when this was

going to take place and figured it would be sometime January – but we finally got the necessary paperwork and

lab work done and surgery was scheduled for February 11th. I discovered that due to Obamacare (which doesn’t

even take affect for a few more years) my insurance premiums have already increased $2,100/year (and I don’t

get any additional coverage)! Guess who I will not vote for in 2012. This was my 19th invitation for induction

into a hall of fame, 15 of which I accepted since 1998. It is an honor to be considered. So far in 2011, I’ve been

inducted into Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering. I

was also nominated for the 2011 Man of Achievement Award (which I graciously turned down).

But back to my knee. Following surgery last Friday, I am walking around without too much problem and hope to

start lifting weights this afternoon.

SEIYO TRAINING DVDs Seiyo Shorin-Ryu training DVDs available for members only can be ordered through paypal.

When the sun rises – train hard!

When the sun sleeps – sleep well!