Kajukenbo

In the late 1940s, the Palama Settlement was a violent area. Because of this environment, five martial artists from varying backgrounds, initially known as the "Black Belt Society", came together with the goal of developing an art that would be practical and effective on the street. These founders sought to develop one style that would complement each of their individual styles and yet allow for effective fighting at a greater variety of ranges and speeds.[9][10][11]

The five founding members of Kajukenbo were:[6][1][2]

• Adriano D. Emperado — Kosho Shorei-Ryū Kenpo, Arnis and Ng Ying Kung Fu[12]
• Joseph Holck — Kodokan Judo
• Peter Young Yil Choo — Tang Soo Do (Moo Duk Kwan),[13] Boxing and Shotokan Karate
• Frank F. Ordonez — Sekeino Jujutsu
• Clarence Chang — Sil-Lum Pai Gongfu (Ng Ying Kung Fu and Chin Na)

Of the five, Adriano Directo Emperado is often attributed to be the founder.[14][15] In its conception, the founders followed a simple rule: if a technique worked consistently on the street (or against one another), then it stayed in the system; if it did not, it was discarded. This allowed the style to maintain its self-defense focus, while covering limitations found within each of their traditional arts.[16]

For two years (1945-1947) these five teachers put their knowledge into practice, rehearsing every day possible situations of aggression in real life. Furthermore, it was designed to exemplify the best aspects of American culture, such as courage, pragmatism and deep personal conviction, all the while maintaining the rich cultures of their induvidual Asian heritages.[9] Later they decided to call this system kajukenbo (referring to the initials of the martial arts that compose it) and created the Black Belt Society.

Initially, the school that would become the first Kajukenbo school was run by Windel McCandels in Palama Settlement, Honolulu. After having studied under William Chow, Emperado had studied under McCandels. After McCandles had died, Emperado took control of the school and renamed it Palama Settlement Kajukenbo Self-Defenses Institute of Karate.[17]

Shortly after its conception, the Korean War broke out, and with it Joe Holck, Peter Choo, Frank Ordonez, and Clarence Chang left Hawaii on active military service, leaving only Adriano Emperado to continue teaching the system.[18][14] Although Adriano Emperado was the listed as the chief instructor of Kajukenbo Institute, most of the instruction was handled by his younger brother, Joseph "Joe" Emperado.[19]

After the death of Joseph Emperado, the Kajukenbo Institute fell in chaos, causing 14 Black Belt-level instructors to leave the school after the week of his death. The Institute remained remaining inoperable for 3 months, until classes eventually restarted under the instruction of Joe Delacruz and Adriano Emperado.[20]

In 1958, over time the teachings moved to the Pacific Coast of the United States, specifically to a student from the institute, Aleju Reyes, who opened the first school outside the Hawaiian Islands, at the Travis Air Force Base (in California). One of his students was Richard Peralta, who started kajukenbo in 1959. That same year, Adriano Emperado integrated wushu techniques into kajukenbo, turning his art into a fluid combination of hard and soft techniques.

One example of a Kajukenbo crest

Charles Gaylord, Tony Ramos, and Aleju Reyes, who had received their black belts from Emperado, passed down kajukenbo in the United States. Each of them opened their own kajukenbo school in California. With first being Tony Ramos in 1960, and followed by Reyes, Gaylord, Joe Halbuna. In 1965 Al Dacascos would follow.[9]

In 1967 Charles Gaylord, along with other accomplished Kajukenbo practitioners Aleju Reyes, Joe Halbuna, Tony Ramos, and Al Dacascos formed the Kajukenbo Association of America (KAA.) [21]

Kajukenbo continues to evolve with each generation and maintains its primary focus on realism and practicality. There are usually martial arts schools that will change along with time to fit into the day's society. It is generally thought that "unfair" moves, such as strikes to the eyes or groin, are perfectly acceptable, as is whatever else the practitioner feels is necessary to get home that day.[22]

Currently, Kajukenbo includes more grappling techniques and more throws than other Kenpo schools. The defense techniques of this martial art are a fusion of blows taken from different styles, which, in a deadly sequence, leads to the immobilization, often definitive, of the opponent. It includes: joint locks, connections between two bones, low blows, and attacks with the help of different combinations. While it contains certain aspects of competition, it mainly focuses on real combat and the meaning of practical analysis. In general, people who practice Kajukenbo think that actions considered ethically "disgusting and extremely unpleasant," such as hitting the eyes or genitals, may be permissible, if they help with the defense against the attacker. Most Kajukenbo schools avoid the spectacular but impractical tricks and moves. The curriculum include different counterattacks against punches, knives, sticks, firearms and grappling.

Although the different types of Kajukenbo originate from a common base, variations are possible. This martial art is based on four different styles. It is impossible to incorporate them entirely: specialization is inevitable. An open approach therefore pushes Kajukenbo schools to incorporate strikes and techniques from other martial arts into their practice. Examples are Filipino Escrima and Japanese Aikidō.

Certain Kajukenbo schools direct attention to 26 fundamental forms ("Kata"). These Kata had been divided into 13 "Pinyans" and 13 "Concentrations". Each one has its own specific name: for example, the first one is called "crane strike/tiger's claw". The name of each "Concentration" describes its characteristic movement. So, the first concentration includes a crane strike and a tiger claw. These sequences are incorporated into Kajukenbo to enhance the student's skills. Each movement in these forms has its own meaning. For example, the first beat in "Pinyan 1" is a right outside strike that moves into the backbend position during the beat. This motion can be applied to block a blow with a punch. These sequences also focus on combat that faces more than one opponent.

Frank Ordonez's Kajukenbo Prayer includes a consistent mystical practice that most schools lack. Over time, students of this martial art have been taught that Kajkenbo is based on three fundamental elements: spirit, mind and body. Throughout the teachings the students and the instructor alike open their hands to represent peace; then they salute with a curtsey to express respect. Salute is practiced in many schools: in the same way, both students and instructors, when entering the gymnasium, greet people who have reached the level of black belt.

Kajukenbo "Emperado Method" or "Traditional Hard Style".

The original style of Tum Pai might have been put together by Adriano D. Emperado, Al Dacascos and Al Dela Cruz in the early 60s to create an advanced style for the Kajukenbo system.[24][25][26] In the mid-60s the developments that made up Tum Pai became incorporated into what was called "Chu'an Fa". In 1971 Jon A. Loren started incorporating the concepts of Tai-Chi and Southern Sil-lum into his Kajukenbo classes. This was called Northern Kajukenbo until 1976. In 1976, while staying with Emperado in Hawaii, he demonstrated his concepts and techniques and asked if he could call it Tum Pai and bring the name back to life. Emperado granted permission with the acknowledgment that the original Tum Pai followed a different path than the revised Tum Pai soft style. The name Tum Pai, which means "central way", fits the Tai Chi concept blended into the Kajukenbo format.[9]

In Hawaii during the early 1960s Adriano Emperado, along with students Al Dacascos and Al Dela Cruz, incorporated innovations of the style Tum Pai and other martial arts into their Kajukenbo training.[27] Later it became obvious that they were no longer doing Tum Pai and it would have to be named something else. In the mid 60s Al Dacascos moved to Northern California and continued training in the Northern and Southern styles of Sil-lum Kung Fu to enhance his Kajukenbo training. It was in 1965 that the name Chu'an Fa was introduced.

Wun Hop Kuen Do was founded by Al Dacascos. In Cantonese Chinese Wun Hop Kuen Do means "combination fist art style". Wun Hop Kuen Do techniques identify with, and are based on, the Kajukenbo system.[28] This martial arts style incorporates techniques from many different styles including Northern and Southern Kung Fu systems and Escrima. Since this style is always being developed it is not a fixed system, practitioners of the style are always striving to improve it by the incorporation and improvement of useful methods or techniques. In addition the philosophy of remaining "unfixed" also applies to the defense techniques, in that there is no defined response to a given situation, and they attempt to fit the situation as it arises. This idea leads to self-defense that is creative and allows one to think about what is the best response. This is one of the primary things that sets this style apart from most others; it is a martial art that asks you to think for yourself and use your own common sense to actually see what you should do next. There are many drills to allow practice of this type of fluidity and creativity that lead to the ability to respond reflexively to any situation—which is in contrast to many other training methods where one is supposed to mimic techniques which are often not practical, except under very defined circumstances.

Founded by Sijo Adriano Emperado, it exists as an umbrella aiming to bring all branches of Kajukenbo under Sijo's umbrella. One body, while appreciating each different part of the body. The KSDI welcomes all true practitioners of Kajukenbo. The KSDI is currently under the administration of GM Kimo Emperado with deputy administrator GM Glen Fraticelli.[29]

In 1967 Charles Gaylord, along with other accomplished Kajukenbo practitioners Aleju Reyes, Joe Halbuna, Tony Ramos, John Ramos and Al Dacascos formed the Kajukenbo Association of America (KAA.)[30] The KAA organization lasted until the early 1970s, but it was brought back in 1980 under the leadership of Charles Gaylord who had recently received his 9th degree black belt under founder Adrian Emperado. Fifteen years later in September 1995, the KAA's black belts promoted Charles Gaylord to the honorary rank of 10th degree black belt. Grandmaster Gaylord's traditional Kajukenbo curriculum continues to be taught by his chief instructors who operate Kajukenbo schools in Hawaii and other parts of the United States and Japan. as of the last 5 years sgm.hemenes has taken the gaylord method world wide and is now in over 40 countries wwkaa.com [5] This is an issue of contention because Hemenes had left the Gaylord Branch and was refused re-entry.

The Kajukenbo Tum Pai Association is dedicated to help unite the practitioners of the Martial Art of Kajukenbo Tum Pai. The Association has a compiled registry of all Black Belts from all Tum Pai lineages. A current and updated Kajukenbo Tum Pai family tree is available at their website.[31] They have information about schools and instructors who teach Kajukenbo Tum Pai.[32] The Association organizes the annual Kajukenbo Tum Pai Association Annual Black Belt Meeting, Kajukenbo Tum Pai Annual Workshops, and the Tum Pai Association Family Luau.[33]