Kajukenbo is America's first martial art system formed in what was then the U.S. territory of Hawaii in 1947. The name "Kajukenbo" is pronounced with and sometimes Romanized as Kajukembo with an "m". The term is in fact an acronym that defines its eclectic personality as the original American mixed martial art (MMA). The word Kajukembo stands for Korean Karate (Ka), Jujutsu and Judo (Ju), Kenpo, also pronounced with an "m" and sometimes Romanized as Kempo (Ken), and finally Kung Fu or Chinese boxing (Bo). Kajukembo Self-Defense Concepts (KSDC) as organized by Michael D. Park, 8th degree kempo jujutsu, is essentially a kempo karate system influenced by his life-long experiences in diverse martial arts and the original teachings of the founders, especially Sijo Adriano D. Emperado through his direct students, grandmaster James K. Roberts Sr. and great grandmaster Aleju Reyes Sr. to senior grandmaster Alii Don Nahoolewa. Michael Park went on to master other root systems to include karate and traditional Jujutsu before returning to his Kajukembo family. Today Master Park is an active board member of the American Kajukembo Association and a special advisor to the grandmaster. He is under the direct supervision of senior grandmaster Alii Don Nahoolewa, 10th degree and the first black belt student of grandmaster Aleju Reyes, Sr. History in Brief It is said that in the early seventeenth century two Japanese families, the Kumamoto and the Nagasaki brought their knowledge of Chuan-fa (Kempo) from China to Kyushu in Japan. The system was preserved throughout the generations with little change until its current form and was referred to as Kosho-Ryu Kempo, or Old Pine Tree School which infers a relationship with the southern Shaolin temple methods. According to oral legend, in 1916 at the age of five, 1James Masayoshi Mitose was sent from his homeland in Hawaii to Kyushu, Japan for schooling in his ancestors' art of self-defense called Kosho-Ryu Kenpo. The details of this "story" are not well documented and it is unclear with whom Mitose actually studied martial arts. Some accounts say that he studied with the famous karate fighter Choki Motobu (alleged to be his maternal uncle). Some say he studied with his grandfather, Sakuhi Yoshida and still others say only that he studied with the black belt students of Choki Motobu in Hawaii. The most famous and accomplished student of James Mitose was Kwai Sun "Thunderbolt" Hoon Chow who is credited as the first master to combine the terms "Kempo Karate" and teach this as one art. Professor Chow, as he came to be called in turn taught Adriano D. Emperado to master level (5th Degree black belt). Chow would later refer to his Kempo Karate as Kara-ho (Chinese method) Kempo which was more in deference to his heritage than to any modern influence from Chinese arts. Kajukenbo was developed in the Palama settlements of the United States territory of Hawaii during the years 1947-1952. Five instructors from diverse martial arts developed "Kajukenbo" to complement each style with effective self-defense at all ranges and speeds. The man credited with founding Kajukenbo is Siju Adriano D. Emperado who practiced Philippine Escrima and the Kenpo (later called Kara-ho Kenpo) that he learned from Kwai Sun Hoon Chow and James Mitose of Kosho-ryu Kempo. It was decided among the masters that "Kenpo" would be the scaffolding around which Kajukenbo would be built. The foundation arts of Kajukenbo are Korean Karate (Tang Soo Do), Japanese Jujutsu and Judo, the Kenpo I have referred to, and Gung Fu (Chinese martial art or "boxing"); hence the acronym and name of America's premier mixed martial art is Ka-Ju-Ken-Bo. It was easy to test the effectiveness of their original techniques as the five founders would often get into fights around the worst slum in Hawaii at the time called the Palama settlement. If the technique succeeded consistently in street fighting it was kept as part of the system. From these crude "field tests" came Kajukenbo Quins (known as the Palama sets (forms or kata), natural laws (self-defense), tricks (close-quarters fighting), and grab arts (escapes). Kajukenbo concentrates on being an effective art at all ranges of fighting, kicking, punching, trapping and grappling. While many schools of Japanese Karate and Korean Tang Soo do and other arts concentrate on kata, Kajukenbo stresses the self-defense movements over their relatively fewer forms. The practical emphasis is on relating to the movements of your attacker. The reasoning behind this is that a practitioner must be capable of defending himself in street fighting situations before turning inward to perfect the "art form" of Kajukenbo. Kajukenbo stresses follow-up techniques based on an opponent's reaction as opposed the one strike one kill philosophy of some other forms. The reasoning is that while one should strive to end a fight with the fewest techniques necessary, it is important to know how an opponent will respond to attacks, and how best to take advantage of his reactions. Another aspect of this is the recognition of how much punishment the human body can take and when in an adrenaline stress environment, an aggressor may not even notice a single well placed strike until well after the conflict is over. A major ethical point behind the instruction is: "If he starts the fight, you decide when it is over." The training can be physically intense and very demanding. Warm up exercise and stretching is an important part of the class structure especially in youth classes to help insure that practitioners will be physically capable of defending themselves outside of the dojo. Grandmaster Don Nahoolewa and Richard Peralta sought special permission from Sigung Emperado to spell their version of Kajukembo with an "M" and this was used for the American Kajukembo Association (AKA), GM Peralta's Kajukembo Self-Defense Systems and now the Kajukembo Self-Defense Concepts organization founded by Professor Park. Kajukembo History The founder or "Sijo" of Kajukembo is Adriano D. Emperado who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 16, 1926. He was born to Filipino-Hawaiian parents in the poor Palama section of Honolulu. Like a lot of poor areas, the Palama settlement was often a violent place to live. Confrontations and fights were a daily occurrence. Emperado started his self-defense training at the early age of 8. At this time in his life both his father and uncle were professional boxers, so of course he was first taught how to box. His next training came at the age of 11 while he was living with his older brother in Kauai. There he learned the basic 12 strikes of escrima. Later while in his 30s Emperado expanded his knowledge of escrima by training with his step father Alfredo Peralta. Peralta taught him a method using the single stick. Emperado described how they would take 2x4s and taper down handles and then train with them. He said that "after a workout with the 2x4 you could make a rattan stick go like lighting". At the age of 14 he found himself back in his old Palama neighborhood. There he trained in Judo under Taneo Sensei at the Palama Settlement Gym. A few years later at the age of 20, Emperado undertook the serious study of Kempo at the Catholic Youth Organization in Honolulu. These classes were taught by the legendary Professor William Kwai Sun "Thunderbolt" Chow. Professor Chow had been a student of kempo-jujutsu (later referred to as Kosho-ryu Kempo) by his instructor James Masatoshi Mitose, and also held a 5th degree black belt in judo. Emperado trained daily with Chow and soon became his first black belt. Emperado spent many years with Professor Chow becoming his Chief Instructor and attaining the rank of 5th degree black belt. This was well before many of the now well known "stars" of kempo built their reputation on the mainland. During the developmental years of Kajukenbo, Emperado would train with the four other co-founders during the day and then teach kempo karate classes for Chow in the evenings. Grandmasters and Co-Founders Peter Choo was a welterweight boxing champion and a black belt in Tang Soo Do (Korean karate that was heavily influenced with Japanese Shotokan Karate-do). Frank F. Ordanez was a black belt in Sekeino-Ryu Jujutsu and Kodokan Judo. Joe Holck was an 8th degree black belt in Kodokan judo and a student of Danzan-Ryu Jujutsu under Henry Okazaki. Clarence Chang was a master of sil-lum pai (Shaolin) kung fu. Along with his brother Joe Emperado, Adriano worked with these masters between the years 1947-49 to combine their techniques and create the original Kajukenbo. With the start of the Korean War, Joe Holck, Peter Choo, Frank Ordonez, and Clarence Chang were all drafted into armed services. This left Emperado to teach the new art. Emperado started the first Kajukenbo School at the Palama Settlement Gym in 1950. About the same time he started a serious study of various kung fu systems. He studied under Professor Lau Bun of the Choy Li Fut system and Professor Wong of the Northern Shaolin system. Several years later these professors and the Hawaii Chinese Physical Culture Association awarded Emperado the title of 10th degree professor. Also at this time he was awarded a certificate by Grandmaster Ho Gau of Hong Kong appointing him as an advisor and representative of the Choy Li Fut system. This certificate was signed by Grandmaster Ho Gau, Professor Cheuk Tse, and the directors of the Hawaii Chinese Physical Culture Association. This was truly an accolade when one considers that the Hawaii Chinese Physical Culture Association was the first kung fu school outside of China. Recognized Systems of Kajukenbo Unlike most of the Asian or so called "traditional" systems, Kajukenbo evolves constantly. To date there are four recognized systems within the style. Kempo Karate - The first of course is the Original or Emperado Method, often referred to as the kempo karate branch. This is the system largely practiced and taught at the Park School of Martial Arts. Tai Chi Chuan - The second system is the Tum Pai branch. This system was in development from 1959-1966 by Emperado, Al Dacascos, and Al De La Cruz. Development was suspended in 1966 when Dacascos moved to the mainland. Its development was then re-activated in 1984 by Jon Loren. The Tum Pai system incorporates the original Kajukenbo techniques along with tai chi chuan elements. Kung Fu - The third system is the Chuan Fa branch. This system started development in 1966. Again this was a collaboration of Emperado, Al Dacascos, and Al De La Cruz. This system incorporated the Northern and Southern styles of kung fu with the original method of Kajukenbo. The result was a blend of soft and hard techniques. The Chuan Fa system also opened the door to the richness and unlimited techniques that the Chinese arts had to offer. Won Hop Kuen Do - The last system is the Won Hop Kuen Do (combination fist art) branch. This branch was the brain child of Al Dacascos. When he moved to the San Francisco area in the early 60s Dacascos supplemented his Kajukenbo training with an extensive study of the Chinese and Filipino arts. In 1969 he saw that his Kajukenbo was becoming a blend of the various systems that he was learning. This system that he named Won Hop Kuen Do contained the original Kajukenbo forms and 25 exclusive fighting principles. Like all of the systems, Won Hop Kuen Do is in a constant state of evolution. Although Kajukenbo has four recognized systems, Sijo Emperado has always stressed that no system is superior to another and that they are no improvements on the original method. They are just Kajukenbo expressions that emphasize different techniques. 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. Grandmaster James K. Roberts Sr. (Ret) As a native Hawaiian, Grandmaster Roberts first experience with the martial arts was in 1947 when he joined a boxing club at Kaimuki Park and studied judo at the famous Henry Okazaki's dojo in downtown Honolulu. In 1957 he heard of an art called "karate" and went to an old Japanese school in Wahiawa where they were teaching this "mysterious" art. When he arrived, the doors were locked, but he could here the activity inside. In those days, all martial arts were taught in secrecy and only to family and friends. He eventually was allowed into the school through a friend and was impressed with what I saw. The class was small, consisting of maybe eight people. The system of was called Kajukenbo and he found it to be an effective street style system. After three years of hard training he earned his black belt and started teaching for Sijo Adriano Emperado at the Wahiawa YMCA. Among those training at the time were Joe Black, Alapac, Tokamoto, Tony Ramos, and Al Reyes, Sr. at the Wahiawa School, they were the first group of black belts promoted by Sijo Emperado. A few others and I were his second group of direct black belts. GM Roberts obtained permission from the founder to study Tang Soo Do before he left for assignment to Korea with the U.S. Army. After his Army career the Roberts School of Karate would be a powerful influence on martial arts on the east coast of the United States. GM Roberts recognized as a 9th degree by Adriano Emperado is now retired and living in his native Hawaii. Grandmaster Aleju Reyes Sr. Grandmaster Aleju Reyes was one of Kajukenbo's most loved and respected instructors. He was a direct student of Sijo Emperado and served as Sijo's Sergeant of Arms, keeping a journal of all the details of the Kajukenbo systems evolution thru the years. He is also credited with preserving the original kempo karate system at a time when Sijo was experimenting with and helping to grow the other systems. Outside of the Kajukenbo system "Al Reyes" was considered one of the best tournament officials in the country and hosted the Northern Pacific Nationals, which was nationally recognized tournament in the 60s and 70s. Grandmaster Reyes was one of the first Kajukenbo instructor's on the mainland and one of the founders of the Kajukenbo Association of America, in 1967. In 1969 he became the first president of the International Kajukenbo Association. Kajukenbo lost a great mentor, teacher, father, and friend when Al Reyes died in 1977; but his teachings live on. The spirit in which he taught is carried on by his many black belts around the world. Grandmaster Richard Peralta In 1959, while stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California, Richard Peralta's neighbor, Mr. Don Nahoolewa, introduced him to Aleju Reyes. Thus began Mr. Peralta's commitment to the art of Kajukembo. During his last few years GM Peralta dedicated himself to advancing his art further. In the tradition of the Black Belt society, Mr. Peralta entered a stage of semi-seclusion. Selecting a handful of dedicated black belts, he advanced the system by probing for weaknesses, increasing the difficulty of the threat, and incorporating advanced philosophical concepts into the techniques. GM Peralta was the founder and chairman of the Kajukembo Self Defense System (KSDS). At the urging of his good friend, GM Don Nahoolewa, founder and chairman of the American Kajukembo Association (AKA), GM Peralta affiliated his Kajukembo Self-defense System (KSDS) with the AKA. The goal was to standardize basic Kajukembo techniques across all affiliated schools and thereby restore the Kajukembo tradition, and to advance the system through communication and collaboration. GM Peralta's principal student, Sigung Agustin Lopez Campos, 7th Degree Black Belt, heads the KSDS branch in Madrid, Spain. In the United States professor Dan Frazier, 8th dan (later promoted by GM Nahoolewa) is the most senior active black belt of GM Peralta, however, it is generally understood that Burt Vickers, (promoted to 6th Dan by GM Don Nahoolewa) inherited the mantle of directing the KSDS within the United States after GM Peralta passed away. Senior Grandmaster Don Nahoolewa Alii Donald K. Nahoolewa grew up on the rugged back-streets of Honolulu, Hawaii. Although he trained with both Sijo Emperado and his brother, Joe, his principal instructor was Grandmaster Aleju Reyes Sr. Nahoolewa is known to be about as tough as a man can be, but with a heart of gold. During his days in the Military he was stationed for several years in Albuquerque's Kirtland Air Force Base. There he began teaching Kajukenbo to military personnel, except for one notable civilian Sam Allred. GM Nahoolewa is the founder of the American Kajukembo Association (AKA), which boasts thousands of members who are striving to standardize and unify the Art. Master Michael Park Michael Park earned his first black belt in 1969 and was added to the Kajukembo Ohana (family tree) in 1972 through James K. Roberts Sr. 9th degree grandmaster who as a native Hawaiian earned his first black belt as a direct student of Sijo Adriano D. Emperado. Park would later come to appreciate the ground effects or ground work techniques of Kajukenbo / Kenpo Karate while participating in a week long martial art seminar and demonstration with Chief Al Tejero of CHA-3 Kenpo Karate fame who was visiting from Hawaii. Michael Park had long heard of Kajukembo grandmaster Richard Peralta by reputation and in later years when he had an opportunity to seek him out he asked to be instructed in his form of (KSDS) Kajukembo. Although he attended a few classes and sponsored some seminars with grandmaster Peralta, the training was cut short for awhile due to Park's serious health issues at the time. Unfortunately, after his recovery Grandmaster Peralta passed away not long after Park reconnected with him. Always the innovator, GM Peralta was interested in complimenting his approach to Kajukembo with some of Park's previous Jujutsu experience. The "Peralta system" had evolved since Park's first exposure to Kajukenbo in the 70's so in this regard some of GM Peralta's last directions to his senior black belt students were to assist Park in "catching up". He said; "So he can see how we do our thing in Kajukembo!" After the passing of Richard Peralta, Park came under the direct supervision of senior grandmaster Alii Don Nahoolewa. Since he retired from a covert government program, Michael Park teaches regular classes in Kajukembo and Aiki-Budo in Dallas (Plano), Texas. In 2007 he was elected to the honored position as an active board member of the American Kajukembo Association. In 2008 he was appointed as a special advisor to the AKA grandmaster. 1 Mitose later died in California while serving time in prison for murder. By all accounts, Mitose was a poorly educated "con-man" however, he was the spark that ignited world wide renewal in the study of kenpo karate.