Chandler Arizona Librarians Learn Self-Defense from Hall-of-Fame martial artist in Mesa, Gilbert

Imagine – you’re between bookshelves at the Chandler public library – someone sneaks up behind and grabs you. What do you do with the book in your hand? Check it out, or check out the Aggressor?



Bring the tiger out in you - try Shorin-Ryu Karate (sketch by Soke Hausel).

Librarians and other staff of the Chandler Public Library were confronted with this and other scenarios at a recent seminar taught by Hall-of-Fame martial artist and grandmaster, Soke Hausel of the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa (60 W. Baseline Road, Mesa) and world head of Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai in Gilbert. 

Hausel, a former Professor of Martial Arts at the University of Wyoming taught martial arts and martial arts history to a few thousand students at the University Karate Club and karate, kobudo, jujitsu and self-defense classes in the Department of Physical Education, Department of Kinesiology and Department of Extended Studies;  and martial arts clinics to sororities, student associations, military, law enforcement, church groups, boy scouts, girl scouts, martial arts groups, EMT, firemen, airline travelers, women's clubs, geologist and prospector groups and rock hound clubs.

Books are for reading & self-defense. Soke Hausel
demonstrates use of book as Kobudo weapon with
Charles Jean, librarian and martial arts student.

An important part of karate is kobudo. Kobudo is a martial art that teaches the use of Okinawan farming and fishing implements and modern garden and construction tools, as weapons of self-defense. And this can even be applied to books at the library, cell phones, PCs, back packs, magazines, pens, car keys, belts and much more.

During the seminar, Hausel taught the attendees how to escape wrist grabs, lapel grabs and bear-hugs using elbows, knees, feet and hands. They learned to  use books, magazines, coins, pens, belts, and car keys for self-defense tools against aggressive attacks. The attendees were surprised to find they were working with potential self-defense weapons every day and even checking them out to the public. Who would have thought that a book or rolled up magazine could be so effective in self-defense?

Soke Hausel demonstrates how to use your knee when a
person grabs your wrists.

Hausel has been a martial arts instructor for more than 40 years. He moved to the Phoenix valley in 2006 and has been teaching in the land of sun ever since leaving Wyoming.

Recently, he and the Arizona School of Traditional Karate have been offering a special personal neighborhood self-defense clinic for individuals with at least five friends or neighbors. These popular mini-clinics are inexpensive and focus on the individuals needs for self-defense. 

For more information, contact Soke Hausel at Sokeshodai@Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com. 

Students learn serious self-defense applications but at the same time enjoy the training.

Teaching air force ROTC at the University of Wyoming

Sensei Kyle Linton of Wellington Colorado defends knife (tanto) attack by Hanshi Andy Finley of Casper, Wyoming during one of many self-defense clinics.

Hall-of-Fame instructor Soke Hausel with Hanshi Finley teaching self-defense at the University of Wyoming