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, created in 1947.
Sijo Adriano D. Emperado, a Chinese-Filipino, living in 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.
Sijo Emperado 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 Y.Y. Choo" introduced to EMPERADO'S new system.
The JU in KAJUKENBO represents the Japanese JUDO of Joe Holck, and the Japanese JU-JITSU of Frank Ordonez that were incorporated into KAJUKENBO.
The KEN in KAJUKENBO is Sijo Emperado's own extensive KENPO training, from which KAJUKENBO is chiefly derived.
The BO in KAJUKENBO stands for the Chinese Boxing (Chuan-Fa 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 Sijo Emperado who developed the techniques, tied the loose ends together, and opened the first school in the art, in Palama Settlement. In 1949, Sijo Emperado started the KAJUKENBO Black Belt Society. In 1950, Sijo Emperado created the "Kajukenbo Self Defense Institute" of Hawaii.
Sijo Emperado certainly wasn't lacking in credentials, he had received his 5th Degree Black Belt in KENPO from "Professor William K.S. Chow", and earned his Instructor's Certificate from "Great Grand Master James M. Mitose", the 21st Generation Head of his family's art of Japanese KOSHO-RYU KENPO. Another great martial artist who comes from this lineage of great instructors is the founder of American Kenpo, Grand Master Ed Parker.
Training at Sijo 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 gloves, foot pads, chest guards, and head shields 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, Sijo 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 primarily a 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.
Sijo Emperado went so far as to break KAJUKENBO down philosophically (KA - Long Life, JU - Happiness, KEN - Fist, BO - Style or Way) and 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 such that the KAJUKENBO students were banned from competition in traditional Karate Tournaments due to their intense training in strictly real life 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 students (opponents) were too great and too often.
Today's KAJUKENBO Instructors have gotten away from the secrecy, and have incorporated tournament and sporting aspects as a part of their training, so as to give their students the opportunity to compete in traditional Karate Tournaments.
KAJUKENBO students today can be found competing in various types of martial arts competitions to include; Karate, Judo, Boxing, Kick-Boxing, and Grappling.