"Soke" is the Japanese word for ‘Founder’. “Sokeshodai” is the term for ‘1st generation founder’. The Seiyo Shorin-Ryu style was founded by Soke W Dan Hausel and is based on his lifelong experiences in martial arts, life and Zen. Seiyo Shorin-Ryu is based on the principals of Okinawan Shorin-Ryu karate but blends other martial arts to provide many devastating applications and a well-rounded curriculum. Soke Hausel, through his more than 4 decades of training and teaching has taken his experience to produce what he feels is the best-possible martial art to match his philosophy. This art is designed to build power and focus in technique such that members can develop a one-punch knock out; it is designed to respond to attacks and never initiate attacks, and most importantly, it is designed to produced positive and productive members of society.
A Short Biography of Soke W Dan Hausel
2005 inductee, International Black Belt Hall of Fame, Malaysia.
W. Dan Hausel was promoted to Soke Shodai, 9th dan at the JKI Central Hombu in Murphy, North Carolina, on September 26th, 1999 and was later promoted to 10th dan in 2004. Soke Hausel founded Seiyo no Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai after 35 years of martial arts training. This powerful martial art is based on Okinawan principals and incorporates many Shorin-Ryu and Jujutsu techniques into a powerful martial art.
Soke Hausel began training in 1964 in Kyokushin-Kai karate, where he practiced full-contact kumite (sparring). Later he trained in American Kempo, Shotokan, Wado-Ryu, and Shorin-Ryu karate. His greatest frustration was that even though he was considered one of the best fighters and never lost a kumite match after he received his first kyu rank, he felt that the power to defend himself on the street did not exist. This concern led him to experiment with a variety of training methods resulting in the development of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu.
Since joining Juko-Kai International and training under Dai-Soke R. Sacharnoski, Soke Hausel has earned many distinctions. He has earned several black belt ranks including: (1) Menkyo Okuden (Juko-Ryu Kijutsu), (2) Menkyo Shihan (Dai Yoshin-Ryu Kempojutsu), (3) Menkyo Shihan (Bojutsu), (4) Menkyo Shihan (Naginatajutsu), (5) Menkyo Shihan (Yarijutsu), and (6) Judan (Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo).
Soke Hausel has been honored with the titles of Kyoju (Professor of Budo) and JKI Samurai. In 1998, he was inducted into the American Biographical Institute's Millennium Hall-of-Fame and was also awarded JKI's "Open Shorin-Ryu Instructor of the Year". In 1999, his drive for excellence led the University of Wyoming Campus Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo Club in being recognized as JKI's top dojo along with Soke Kent Bergstrom's dojo in Wisconsin. For a small isolated city with a population of only 26,000, this was considered a major achievement.
As a soke, he was certified by the Zen Kokusai Soke Budo/Bugei Renmei, and registered on 9/23/99 by Dr. Rod Sacharnoski, 10th Dan/Dai-Soke, President of the commission. Dai-Soke Sacharnoski is considered one of the greatest martial artists in modern history, has been a great influence on Soke Hausel, and is Soke Hausel's Sensei. Soke Hausel was promoted to 9th Dan black belt on 9/24/99 by Soke R. Sacharnoski and Shian Toma, 10th dans, and was later certified as 10th dan by Professor M.I. Tianero, Soke, head of the World Organizer of Martial Arts (recognized by World Soke Head Council of Japan) on February 22nd, 2004, and was also certified as 10th dan by Dr. Rod Sacharnoski in June, 2004.
When Soke Hausel isn't practicing martial arts, he is a geologist, public speaker, writer and artist, and has received national and international recognition in these disciplines. He is one of the leading economic and diamond exploration geologists in North America, has written and published more than 500 books and papers and has discovered several mineral deposits. He is also an accomplished artist (DanHausel.com) (FineArtAmerica). Fond of his artwork, one of his sketches (titled "self-portrait"), is the color pencil sketch of the leopard shown on this web site.
Some awards presented to Soke Hausel for accomplishments in geology include: American Association of Petroleum Geologist's 1992 President's Award, the Wyoming Geological Association's 1992 Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Endeavors and Contributions, the 1994 Laramie Lyceum's Distinguished Lecturer, the 1998 University of Wyoming Department of Geology and Geophysics Distinguished Lecturer and the 1998 Rocky Mountain Prospector's & Treasure Hunter's Prospector's Best Friend Award.
Soke Hausel was awarded the Medal of Achievement as one of 2,000 Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century. He was awarded the 2004 Distinguished Service Award by the Wyoming Geological Association and inducted into the 2001 National Lapidary and Rock Hound Hall of Fame for his contributions in Geoscience Education. In 2006, he received the Archimedes’ Award for Geological Sciences. He is a member of Who's Who in Science and Engineering, Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in the 21st Century, Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America, 2,000 Notable American Men, Man of the Year 1996, 10,000 Personalities of the World, International Man of the Year, 1996.
In 1998, he was inducted into the first of 14 Halls of Fame and was awarded the JKI Open Shorin-Ryu Instructor of the year. In 2000, he was inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was inducted into the 2001 North American Black Belt Hall of Fame. In 2002, he became a member of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was inducted into the Latin American Worldwide Hall of Fame and also received awards as Instructor of the Year, Grandmaster of the Year, and International Instructor of the Year.
In 2004, he was inducted into the International Council of Masters and Grandmasters Hall of Fame as Honorable Grandmaster & Lifetime Member; the American Karate Association Hall of Fame as Instructor of the Year; the US Martial Arts Hall of Fame; and was elected as a Lifetime member of the World Organizer of Martial Arts. In 2005, he was inducted into the International Black Belt Hall of Fame, Malaysia, and most recently was inducted into the 2006 USHOFMAA International Hall of Honor.
Grandmaster Hausel is a popular public speaker and has traveled around North America presenting more than 400 lectures. He is available to provide demonstrations, self-defense clinics, motivation talks, or as a keynote speaker for business conventions (call 307-761-0970; or email at soke@lonetree.com).
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