History of Kajukenbo
Kajukenbo was developed out of a group calling themselves the "Black Belt Society"
which consisted of black belts from various martial art backgrounds who met to train
and learn with each other. This was the beginning of an evolutionary, adaptive style
designed to combine the most useful aspects of the arts.
Modern day Palama Settlement
There are five men credited as founders of Kajukenbo, and it is from their respective
arts that Kajukenbo draws it's name.
Kenpo emerged as the core around which this new art was built. Although
unaccredited by name, other influences included American Boxing (Choo was
Hawaiian Welterweight Champion) and Escrima (Emperado also studied Kali and
Arnis Escrima).
In the late 1940's, Palama Settlement was a violent area and fist-fights or stabbings
were commonplace. From this environment, the founders of Kajukenbo wanted to
develop an art that would be readily useful on the street. As they trained and fought
in and around Palama Settlement, the founders of Kajukenbo quickly gained
reputations as formidable street-fighters. In 1950, Adriano Emperado, along with
brother Joe Emperado, began teaching the new art in an open class. They called the
school Kajukenbo Self Defense Institute (K.S.D.I.).
The emphasis during training was on realism - so much so that students routinely
broke bones, fainted from exhaustion, or were knocked unconscious. Nevertheless,
the reputation of this tough new art drew more students and Emperado opened a
second school at the nearby Kaimuki YMCA. Soon Emperado had 12 Kajukenbo
schools in Hawaii, making it the second largest string of schools at the time. John
Leoning, who earned a black belt from Emperado, brought Kajukenbo to the
mainland in 1958. Since that time, Kajukenbo has continued to flourish and grow.
From it's beginnings, Kajukenbo was an eclectic and adaptive art. As time has
passed, Kajukenbo has continued to change and evolve. Currently, there are a few
distinct, "recognized" branches of Kajukenbo: Kenpo ("Emperado Method" or
"Traditional Hard Style"), Tum Pai, Chu'an Fa, Wun Hop Kuen Do, and Gaylord
Method. In addition, there are numerous "unrecognized" branches, including CHA-3
and Kenkabo. While this may be confusing for an outsider, it is the essence of the
art. Students are not required to mimic the teacher, but are encouraged to develop
their own "expression" of the art.
Kajukenbo was developed out of a group calling themselves the "Black Belt Society"
which consisted of black belts from various martial art backgrounds who met to train
and learn with each other. This was the beginning of an evolutionary, adaptive style
designed to combine the most useful aspects of the arts.
Modern day Palama Settlement
There are five men credited as founders of Kajukenbo, and it is from their respective
arts that Kajukenbo draws it's name.
Kenpo emerged as the core around which this new art was built. Although
unaccredited by name, other influences included American Boxing (Choo was
Hawaiian Welterweight Champion) and Escrima (Emperado also studied Kali and
Arnis Escrima).
In the late 1940's, Palama Settlement was a violent area and fist-fights or stabbings
were commonplace. From this environment, the founders of Kajukenbo wanted to
develop an art that would be readily useful on the street. As they trained and fought
in and around Palama Settlement, the founders of Kajukenbo quickly gained
reputations as formidable street-fighters. In 1950, Adriano Emperado, along with
brother Joe Emperado, began teaching the new art in an open class. They called the
school Kajukenbo Self Defense Institute (K.S.D.I.).
The emphasis during training was on realism - so much so that students routinely
broke bones, fainted from exhaustion, or were knocked unconscious. Nevertheless,
the reputation of this tough new art drew more students and Emperado opened a
second school at the nearby Kaimuki YMCA. Soon Emperado had 12 Kajukenbo
schools in Hawaii, making it the second largest string of schools at the time. John
Leoning, who earned a black belt from Emperado, brought Kajukenbo to the
mainland in 1958. Since that time, Kajukenbo has continued to flourish and grow.
From it's beginnings, Kajukenbo was an eclectic and adaptive art. As time has
passed, Kajukenbo has continued to change and evolve. Currently, there are a few
distinct, "recognized" branches of Kajukenbo: Kenpo ("Emperado Method" or
"Traditional Hard Style"), Tum Pai, Chu'an Fa, Wun Hop Kuen Do, and Gaylord
Method. In addition, there are numerous "unrecognized" branches, including CHA-3
and Kenkabo. While this may be confusing for an outsider, it is the essence of the
art. Students are not required to mimic the teacher, but are encouraged to develop
their own "expression" of the art.
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| LAGANGS MARTIAL ARTS & FITNESS CENTER |
| 401 Sunset Drive Suite K Antioch, CA 94531 * contact: 925-753-7533 * email: sifuallan@lagangsmartialarts.com |
