Seniors and some other adults assume they are too old for martial arts, and no schools are available to teach senior and adult martial arts. In traditional (non-sport) martial arts, schools that follow the old Okinawa traditions do not accept kids under the age of 16. At the Arizona Hombu Karate Dojo in Mesa, Arizona, the number 1 school in the Phoenix Valley, Soke (grandmaster) Hausel, the principal instructor, taught Okinawa Karate and Kobudo, as well as Japanese Jujutsu and Samurai arts (sword, spear, halbert, walking stick, cane, etc), and Self-Defense for some decades at Arizona State, UNM, U of U, and the University of Wyoming to adult students, staff and faculty. Only recently did he decide to accept teens as young as 13 to 16 years of age, as long as they train with a family guardian. One great advantage of this is adults train with other adults, while teens train in the same class with a family member - it develops strong bonds in families, and good technique in adults who do not have to be concerned about a 5-year old kicking them in the shin.
Grandmaster Hausel, a senior citizen, indicates all people should take up martial arts - not only for self-defense, but also for physical fitness. His students range from 10 to more than 80 years in age, and his personal instructor, one of the greatest martial artists in the world, is now in his 80s and is even more formable that at an earlier age.
Daughter-daddy night at the Hombu. Soke Hausel taught
his own daughter self-defense years ago, and she successfully
used it on an male attacker twice her height and weight.
Watch as two of our favorite family members train at the Hombu.
Years ago, one young boy trained with his grandfather at the Hombu, and was so
quick and fast, that his dad, a Mesa cop, periodically tested his son by attacking
him without warning. This continued for a short time until his son (about a 4th mass
of his dad) caught him with a perfect front kick to the groin. The test ended.
Traditional martial arts improve a person's outlook in life by staying healthy through physical and mental conditioning. The intense training of martial arts often burns calories and should result in weight loss, a good circulatory system, better balance, flexibility, good immune system, improved reflexes, focus, memory and more. Karate, in particular, is unique, in that the explosive starts of punches, blocks and kicks are well known for burning more calories than just about any other form of exercise. Kata (Okinawan forms), are like dances, but these forms contain many explosive strikes, etc, and work on balance by using periodic, one-legged stances, teach ambidexterity, proper breathing, stretching, meditation and typically lead to good diet and positive thinking. Just take a look at the Okinawa people who train in karate, kobudo, toide and other similar martial arts. Okinawa has many centurions, actually more per capita than any other group in the world. No matter where you are in the world, there is likely a school in your region that teaches adults the traditional martial arts. In the Phoenix valley, contact the Arizona Hombu Karate dojo, and start learning one of the best forms of exercise known to mankind.
Naihanchi shodan kata performed at the Arizona
Hombu Karate Dojo in Mesa, Arizona in 2021
