Arizona Martial Arts Weapons Classes

Summer is here in Arizona and time to cut the heat with kama. Kama is an Okinawan farming implement used by peasants to defend against samurai, bandits, CDC and other government agents. This simple farming implement was used very effectively in the hands of an expert, who could produce sliced samurai in seconds.  

A kama is simply a sickle and used to trim crops. Since we love gardening in Arizona, we are getting ready to start training in this martial art at the Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu. 

And you think its hot in Arizona? Try training with Okinawan kama and
learn what hot is. In traditional martial arts, students & faculty learn
all aspects of karate along with kobudo (martial arts weapons). 

Karate was created on Okinawa centuries ago as was Kobudo. These two were blended into one art known as Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo and taught to Okinawan royalty, their body guards and peasants. This is a traditional martial art, not sport. The difference is that in traditional martial arts, students are taught traditions, martial arts history, philosophy, respect, basics, kata (forms), applications of all techniques in kata referred to as bunkai, body hardening, and powerful strikes. There is no competition, and the only type of kumite (sparring) taught in traditional karate is one step in order to keep students from losing focus and power. 

Extreme body hardening.  
Hausel accepts full-force kick to
ribs by Sensei Gillespie, 3rd dan

Don't try this at home. Professor
Hausel takes full-force kick in
groin (unprotected) at half-time
at a University of Wyoming
basketball game and smiles.

Traditional martial arts are combat arts (jutsu) and many traditional arts include guidance for self-improvement (do). You will never see a trophy in a traditional martial arts school as competition and tournaments are considered antipathetic to progress in martial arts. 

In sport karate, one gears up with protective pads, cups, body armor, etc. In traditional karate, one learns how to accept full force strikes to vital body parts without any protective equipment. Most of our ladies are not into body hardening, so most skip this part of training as do several of the men - and it is not required.

Dai Shihan Neal Adam (6th dan) defends attack with gama
from Sensei Bill Borea (3rd dan) with bo, during kobudo
classes at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate. 

So, this summer, why not take a slice out of the heat and join our adult and family traditional martial arts school at 60 W. Baseline Road on the border of Mesa and Gilbert. Stop in and see why our martial artists are enjoying themselves and why everyone in the school are good friends. And why you are at it, we will teach you how to use the kama, other kobudo arts, samurai arts, self-defense and traditional karate.  Shorin-Ryu.

Adam Bialek practices with wooden gama and Neal Adam with bo during kobudo classes
at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa, Arizona.