History

• Peter Choo: Tang Soo Ko Korean Karate
• Joe Holck: Kodokan Danzan Ryu Jujitsu
• Adriano Emperado: Kara Ho Ryu Kenpo Karate Kosh
• Clarence Change: Sil Lum Kung Fu
• Frank Ordonez: Se Keino Ryu Jujitsu
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• Adriano Emperado: Kenpo Karate expert who learned from the legendary Masters William K.S. Chow and James Mitose
• Walter Choo: Welterweight boxing champion and Tang Soo Do expert
• Frank Ordenez: Judo & Jujitsu expert
• Joe Holke: Kodokan Judo stylist
• George (Clarence) Chang: Master of Chinese boxing and Si Lum Kung Fu

Most of these men had already cross-trained in other arts like Juijitsu, Boxing, and Karate, which made it easy to come together without any egos getting in the way. They realized that the striking arts of American boxing, Kenpo, and Karate were great while they were standing, but when a Judo/Juijitsu man would get a hold of them, they did not know what to do if caught in painful holds and chokes both standing and on the ground; and the traditional Judo/Juijitsu guys had a problem with strikers that could punch and kick in quick combinations moving and keeping them at a distance. In addition, gone were the Katana sword and men with spears and riding horseback and in their place was the street thug who could be carrying a knife, club, gun or could even have another friend or two. With that, they came together with the intention to modernize a new art. They took this task seriously enough to even go on welfare for two years secretly training almost every day in different abandoned warehouses.

Peter Choo - of Korean decent was a Welterweight boxing champion with training in both Karate and Juijitsu. He is the representative of both the KA and the BO part of KAJUKENBO. Prof. Choo is also reputed to have been a black belt in Tang So Do. Tang So Do is the equivalent of Japanese Shotokan Karate. Japan occupied Korea from 1912-1945 abolishing all Korean martial arts. Tang So Do was not invented till 1945. Furthermore, the Japanese let the Koreans train in their martial arts like Karate, Judo, and Juijitsu. After 1945 the Koreans wanted to gain their identity back as Koreans: Judo became Yudo, Aki-Juijitsu became Hapkido and Shotokan Karate became Tang So Do. Being that Prof. Choo was raised in Honolulu it is yet to be seen if he in fact was a Tang So Do black belt at the time of the collaboration or was instead a Black Belt in Japanese Karate. The Korean War came out in 1950, and Prof. Peter Choo was sent to Korea. While there, he said he learned the Korean arts and later returned to Hawaii in 1957. He traveled the world while in the service and trained in the countries' native arts. Status- unfortunately Prof. Choo passed away. He will be missed. I had the great opportunity to meet with him and talk story a few times.

Joe Holck- of Japanese decent had background in Dan zan ryu Kodenkan Jujitsu and Kodokan Judo under Prof. Okazaki. He was fortunate to train under the great Kosen Judo master Kimura. Kimura is the Judo master that went to Brazil on a challenge match from Helio Gracie (Gracie Juijitsu) and won by Helio's side throwing in the towel, but not till after Kimura broke his arm. The Kosen style is where Brazilian Juijitsu comes from with emphasis on Newaza or ground grappling. He was the main influence in the JU part of Kajukenbo. With emphasis on throws, holds, joint locks, spine locks, and chokes--both standing and on the ground. He was the one to name the art KAJUKENBO. Prof. Holck joined the service and was transferred to Korea during the Korean War in 1950. Status- Prof. Holck lives in Arizona and still active in the Judo/Juijitsu circle. His son Vincent Holck teaches their brand of Judo/Juijitsu and Kajukenbo with Choo/Holck's method of influence.

Adriano Emperado- of Filipino decent was the driving force behind the group. He had a background at the time of Judo, Boxing, Escrima stick fighting, and Kenpo Karate from his instructor Prof. William Chow (Kara ho Kenpo). Sijo was the KEN part of KAJUKENBO. He was already feared as a fierce street fighter and loved the hard contact. In 1950 he received his 5th degree black belt from Prof. Chow and Prof. James Mitose (Kosh-Ryu Kenpo). Sijo felt there was something missing in his training with Prof. Mitose. Mitose taught a lot of Makiwara board training for that one punch kill mentality. Prof. Chow took what he learned from Mitose and added the takedowns from his Judo training and put in his ground fighting. Sijo thought, if the attacker does not go down after one punch, then what. He knew that people in the west fought differently then they do in Japan. Boxing was what you were going to see more often on the street with combinations--not just one punch attack / block / and counter punch. He looked to add, where his art fell short. Not to mention putting in more realistic weaponry attacks and defenses from the Filipino martial arts that he learned from his stepfather, Alexander Peralta, who was trained in a combination of Ilocano, Visayan, and Tagalog martial arts. Mr. Peralta was a famous Civic Auditorium fighter that had won many Escrima fighting matches in Hawaii. This was back when there was no safety gear but real sticks, which sometimes resulted in permanent disfigurement or death. Status-Lives in CA and is head of the KAJUKENBO SELF DEFENSE INSTITUTE INC. Founder of Kajukenbo.

Frank Ordenez- of Filipino decent. Between the periods of 1947-1949, he was a close friend of the group and was the photographer. He has training in the Dan zan ryu Kodenkan Juijitsu from Prof. Okazaki and Judo from Sensei Sam Luke. He Kept with Sijo after Prof. Choo, and Prof. Holck left to the Korean War in 1950 helping Sijo teach and add to Kajukenbo. Status-lives in Honolulu, HI and is an active advisor of the KAJUKENBO SELF DEFENSE INSTITUTE.

George Clarance Chang- of Chinese decent between the periods of 1947-1949 was the writer of the techniques of KAJUKENBO. His background is believed to be in Si-lum pai Kung fu. He was a close friend of Prof. Ordenez and also left to the Korean War in 1950. Status- inactive, lives in Honolulu, HI.

Together this group was called the Black Belt society. They took the best of each art, using Kenpo as the base, and combined it making Kajukenbo an all around art for today's streets: KA-Karate, JU-Judo/Juijitsu, KEN-Kenpo, BO- American Boxing. In 1950 Profs. Choo, Holck and George Chang left to the Korean War leaving Sijo Emperado behind to continue to grow and add to the art including the 14 Palama sets which he changed from Pinan in 1993, for he learned just one form while under Prof. Mitose, the Naihanchi. He opened his school in Palama settlement, HI, joined first by Woodrow Mccandles, Joe Emperado, Frank Ordanez, and Marino Tiwanak. Testing and evolving Kajukenbo, adding the forms and other techniques from such systems as the Hawaiian LUA from Prof. Abe Kamohoahoa and Prof. Woodrow Mccandles, Filipino martial arts, and Chinese Kung Fu (Chinese Boxing). The most major change happened in 1959, when Sijo added Chuan Fa, the combination of both Northern and Southern Kung fu, which he learned from Prof. Wong, and Prof. Lau. It was these Professors and the Chinese physical society that gave Sijo the tittle of professor and the rank of 10 degree thus making BO- now stand for both American as well as Chinese boxing.

When the term Kajukenbo was first used universally, I am not sure. One would have to check back with senior instructors to see when it was first printed on their certificates as some of the first Kajukenbo black belts, like Prof. Marino Tiwanak's certificate, read Kenpo-Karate. However, the name KAJUKENBO SELF-DEFENSE INSTITUTE, INC was patented under the State of Hawaii on 14 December, 1960 # 9826. From that moment on there was no doubt Kajukenbo was Legitimate.

Sijo's trainings in the Islands were legendary and brutal, giving Kajukenbo the reputation of a no nonsense fighting system where the training frequently included broken teeth, broken bones, and knockouts. With Sijo's passion for the arts and realistic self-defense he allowed his students and instructors to expand their knowledge in other arts "use what works for you, add it to your flavor of Kajukenbo, and throw out what doesn't" and still belong under Kajukenbo, but to always keep Sijo's roots. This ingenious thinking back then has allowed Kajukenbo to evolve with the times and not become a dated martial art, giving Kajukenbo 4 distinct branches: Kajukenbo "Emperado method" original, Tum pai, Chuan fa, and Won hop kuen do.

Slowly Kajukenbo spread--first around Hawaii, then in 1957, a Kajukenbo black belt John Leoning spread Kajukenbo to California to be followed later by notable instructors Charles Gaylord, Al Reyes, Tony Ramos, Joe Halbuna, and Al Dacascos. Today Kajukenbo can be found all over the United States, Puerto Rico, Europe, South America and Mexico. Every year the KAJUKENBO SELF-DEFENSE INSTITUE, INC puts on a gathering to gather all the Kajukenbo ohana and celebrate Sijo's birthday. At these events they usually start with a seminar where you can find all different arts being taught like Muay thai, Kali, Brazilian Juijitsu, Kenpo, Hawaiian Lua, Chinese Kung fu, Russian Sambo etc. giving the Kajukenbo practitioner other tools to put in their tool box and make them well rounded martial artists that can handle themselves standing, on the ground, and with or without a weapon.

Finally, Kajukenbo has stood the test of time, making it a no nonsense martial science. Martial--meaning of related to or suited for war or warrior like, science--meaning the discovery of truth. Combined to mean the truth of realistic combat and self-defense, giving the practitioner many elements to end a confrontation.