Seiyo Kai International

Much of modern history of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu centers on Wyoming. In 1976, Soke Hausel (a sandan at the time) moved to Casper, Wyoming from New Mexico to work for the US Geological Survey. In the following year, moved to Laramie accepting a position as Economic Geologist with the Wyoming Geological Survey at the University of Wyoming. At that time, he worked to organize the precusor to the University of Wyoming Campus Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo Club.  Over the years, he established an international reputation as a polymath in economic geology, martial arts, author, public speaker, and artist. 

The initial club in Laramie was recognized as the University of Wyoming Shotokan Karate Club and the off-campus Laramie Bushido dojo. After starting the university club on campus, club members met for several years in the University Union, the Kourt House Fitness Club, the Folk Dancer Building (formerly the Laramie Methodist Church) at the corner of East 2nd street and University, on the grass near the football stadium and at Dave Copeland's personal studio in south Laramie, and the club finally got a break with the University placing Pat Moran in as the director of Half Acre Gym. Unlike his predecessors who supported bureaucracy, Mr. Moran was pragmatic and very supportive of the group and provide space for training at Half Acre. Later the club moved to the University of Wyoming Education Gym. The club also trained at the Sandan School of Martial Arts in Saratoga, Wyoming for clinics and special training over several years.

In 1992, the club dropped its affiliation with the All American Karate Assocation, JKA and others, and affiliated with Juko Kai International. Soke Hausel was promoted to Yondan by Soke Sacharnoski and Soke Shian Toma in 1993 (Branding Iron, 1993, v. 96, no. 49). In 1995, at a rare exam, Hausel was promoted to Shihan, 5th dan, after testing in front of Dai-Soke Sacharnoski and about 150 to 250 black belts at the JKI National Black Belt Clinic in Florida.

The club continued to grow. At times, the club had more than 60 members during peak periods of growth. Members took part in a variety of demonstrations at university basketball games, taught self-defense classes on and off campus and gave lectures in the history of karate. Hausel also taught beginning karate and jujutsu through the Physical Education Department, the Department of Kinesology, and taught dozens of self-defense classes through the School of Extended Studies. Due to the strong influence of Dai-Soke R. Sacharnoski, the style of karate taught at the University of Wyoming changed with influences from many Okinawan and Japanese systems taught at the Juko Kai Hombu. The UW club also sponsored international clinics by Dai-Soke Sacharnoski in 1996 and Sensei Yamashita in 2003.

In 1999, the UW club was awarded top honors by JKI as the top JKI-affiliated club in the world. In that same year, Hausel's hybrid style of karate, kobudo and jujutsu was certified as unique by the Zen Kokokusai Soke Budo Bugei Renmei and Hausel was certified as the Soke (Grandmaster/President) of Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai and Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Budo and Bujutsu. In 2004, he was promoted to Judan in Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo by Juko Kai International and 3 other international associations.

Today, affiliated clubs are located at (1) the University of Wyoming, led by Sensei Lenny Martin; (2) Cheyenne Wyoming, operated by Shihan Kevin Vance and Shihan-Dai Glenn Polk, (3) at Casper, Wyoming, operated by Hanshi Andy Finley, and in (4) Gillette, operated by Sensei Kyle Gewecke.

If you are a non-violent person, looking to gain physical, mental and spiritual health, we look forward to seeing you at our dojos across the Cowboy State.