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The History Of
Kajukenbo
Out of the dangerous, rough and tumble streets of the Palama Settlement on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu, grew one of the first Martial Arts America could call her own, the Kajukenbo system of self defense. This style was created in 1947.
Adriano D. Emperado, a Chinese-Filipino living in the Palama Settlement during the late 1940's, recognized that Americans were physically, a large people who fought with great ruggedness, and because of their big frame structure, were stronger than many of the other peoples of the world. He felt the need for a street-effective system of self-defense that was tailored to their superior size and strength. He called the principles and techniques he came up with; Kajukenbo, a hybrid system, blending five distinct styles with an emphasis on training for reality.
The KA in Kajukenbo stands for Karate, or more specifically, for the Korean "Tang-Soo-Do" that "Peter Choo" introduced to Emperado's new system.
The JU in Kajukenbo represents the "Kodokan Judo" of "Joe Holck", and the "Ju-Jitsu" of "Frank Ordonez" that were incorporated into Kajukenbo by Emperado. Frank Ordonez also wrote the Kajukenbo Prayer which is still recited in almost all sections of Kajukenbo.
The KEN in KAJUKENBO is Emperado's own extensive "Kenpo" training, from which KAJUKENBO is chiefly derived.
The BO in KAJUKENBO stands for Chinese Boxing, or Kung-Fu, that "Clarence Chang" added to the system. In today's KAJUKENBO this has also come to represent American Boxing, and Kick-Boxing.
Although several people contributed to the system, it was Emperado who developed the techniques, tied the loose ends together, and opened the first school in the art, in the Palama Settlement in 1948, "The Kajukenbo Self Defense Institute of Hawaii ". In 1949, Emperado started the Kajukenbo Black Belt Society.
Emperado certainly wasn't lacking in credentials, he had received his Black Belt in Kenpo from "William K.S. Chow", and earned his instructor's certificate from the late "James Mitose".
Training at Emperado's school was not for the weak at heart, or body for that matter. Because of Kajukenbo's emphasis on street reality, full contact self-defense training was the order of the day. Pulled punches were unheard of. Protective padding was not allowed. Protective cups, gloves, and kicks were not around yet. Broken noses, arms and teeth were common place. Knockouts were an everyday occurrence. The training was so violent, many students couldn't take it and were ordered to leave. Those who stuck it out and were able to attain the rank of Black Belt felt a strong sense of pride in knowing that their training was as close to reality as any martial art could possibly get.
In 1959, Emperado initiated a major change in the Kajukenbo system, incorporating the Chinese Chuan'Fa or Fist Style, which redirected the emphasis of the self-defense art from a primarily hard style to a combination of hard and soft. This brought about more of a well-rounded fighting art, stressing simplicity and practicality in self-defense. It was still representative of a strong street style, yet contained the ideals and philosophies of soft styles in its' flowing, repetitive combination techniques.
Emperado went so far as to break Kajukenbo down philosophically:
KA - Long Life
JU - Happiness
KEN - Fist
BO - Style or Way
He developed a meaning for his self-defense art:
"Through This Fist Style, One Gains Long Life And Happiness."
For years the system was taught and practiced behind closed doors to only a select few, and was developed to such that the Kajukenbo students were banned from competition in traditional Karate Tournaments due to their intense training in strictly life and death situations, and not as a game or sport. Kajukenbo students found it very difficult to control their techniques and stop them short. They seemed to other traditional Karate practitioners to have no control, and the injuries to their opponents were to great and to often.
Today's Kajukenbo people have gotten away from the secrecy, and closed door policy, and have incorporated tournament and sporting aspects as a part of their training, so as to give their students a chance to compete in tournaments.
Kajukenbo students today can be found competing in various types of martial art tournaments to include; Karate, Judo, Boxing and Kick-Boxing.
Kajukenbo people are a very proud and prejudiced group, we believe our system is the best, because we have the best of every system.
"Train Strong To Remain Strong"
This page was last updated: 01/02/03
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