Kajukenbo is America's first mixed 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 characteristics as the original American mixed martial art (MMA). The word Kajukembo stands for Korean Karate (Ka), Jujutsu and Judo (Ju), Kenpo, kung fu and western boxing, Kajukembo Mixed Martial-arts Association (KMMA) as organized by Professor Michael D. Park 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 Hawaiian students, grandmaster James Kaleohano Roberts Sr. and senior-grandmaster Alii-Don Nahoolewa, the first black belt student in the Aleju Reyes line. Over the years Michael Park mastered other root systems to include karate and traditional Jujutsu before returning to his Kajukembo family. Today he is an active board member and professor in the American Kajukembo Association, the American KEMPO Association and a special advisor to Senior-Grandmaster Alii-Don Nahoolewa. History in Brief The early history of the martial art and ways that we know as Kempo Karate is shrouded in poor documentation, half-truths, deception and wild speculation. It is said that in the early seventeenth century two Japanese families, the "Kumamoto" and the "Nagasaki" clans brought their knowledge of Chuan-fa (Kempo) from China to Kyushu Japan. According to this mostly oral legend the system was preserved throughout several generations in Japan. According to modern stories, 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 which he would claim many years later to be "Kosho-Ryu Kenpo" (old pine tree school) which infers a relationship back to the Shaolin temple systems of southern China. The details of this "story" are not well documented and it is unclear with whom Mitose actually studied martial arts. Of the over 700 known traditions of martial art in Japan there is no record of a Japanese "ryu" or kempo system known as "Kosho-ryu." Some accounts speculate that Mitose may have studied with the famous karate fighter Choki Motobu (alleged to be his maternal uncle) from Okinawa. Some say he studied with his grandfather, Sakuhei Yoshida and still others say only that he stayed in Hawaii and/or studied with the black belt students of Choki Motobu living in Hawaii at that time. The most credible lineage for "kempo karate" actually begins with Kwai Sun "Thunderbolt" Hoon Chow, the man that joined the twp expressions of the art and coined the name "Kempo Karate". He in turn taught Sijo Adriano D. Emperado to master level (5th Degree black belt) long before late-comers like Ed Parker, Ralph Castro or Al Tracy even began training. Chow would later refer to his Kempo Karate as Kara-ho which oddly enough is a Japanese term for "Chinese method." This modern naming 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 helped develop "Kajukenbo" to complement each style with effective self-defense at all ranges and speeds. The man credited with founding and preserving Kajukenbo is Siju (founder) Adriano D. Emperado who practiced Philippine Escrima and the original Kenpo that he learned from Kwai Sun Hoon Chow and James Mitose. During the developmental years of Kajukenbo, Emperado would train with the four other masters during the day and then teach kempo karate classes for Chow in the evenings. The co-founders of Kajukenbo are: Peter Choo - A welterweight boxing champion and a black belt in Tang Soo Do (Korean term for "karate-do" that was heavily influenced with Japanese Shotokan Karate-do). Frank F. Ordonez - A black belt in Sekeino-Ryu (Danzan-Ryu) Jujutsu and Kodokan Judo. Joe Holck - An 8th degree black belt in Kodokan judo and a student of Danzan-Ryu Jujutsu under Henry Okazaki sensei. Clarence Chang - A master of Sil-lum Pai (Shaolin) kung fu. Along with his brother Joe Emperado, Sijo Emperado worked with these men to combine their techniques and create the new art of 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 Sijo Emperado to teach the new art. Sijo Emperado started the first Kajukenbo School at the Palama Settlement Gym in 1950. The Tradition and Title of "Professor" is Born 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 Sijo-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 this was the first documented kung fu school outside of China. Today the title of "Professor" is used by many Kempo Karate style organizations to represent high master instructors, chiefs and grandmasters. The Aleju Reyes Line of Masters It was decided among the masters that "Kenpo" would be the scaffolding around which Kajukenbo would be built. Senior-Grandmaster Alii-Don Nahoolewa and Great-Grandmaster Richard Peralta later sought special permission from Sijo Emperado to spell their version of Kajukembo with an "M" and this was used for the American Kajukembo Association (AKA), the American KEMPO Association, GGM Richard Peralta's Kajukembo Self-Defense Systems and now the Kajukembo Mixed Martial-arts Association (KMMA) organization founded by Professor Michael Park. An Effective Method at all Ranges Kajukenbo concentrates on being an effective art at all ranges of fighting, kicking, punching, trapping and grappling. While many schools of Japanese Karate, Korean Tang Soo do and other arts concentrate on kata, Kajukenbo stresses the self-defense movements over 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 any martial art. 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, however, many modern instructors prefer to "teach smart" with an emphasis on proper technique and control. Warm up exercise, flexibility and strength training are all very important to martial art performance and yet often a regular gym is the best facility to acquire these attributes. One does not need a master of martial art to supervise your push-ups. Four Authorized "Styles" of Kajukenbo Unlike most of the Asian or so called "traditional" systems, Kajukenbo evolves constantly. To date there are four officially recognized styles within the system. Kempo Karate - The first of course is the Original kempo or Emperado Method, often referred to as the Kempo Karate Branch. This is the system largely practiced and taught at the Park School and the KMMA (Kajukembo Mixed Martial-arts Association). 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 styles, Sijo Emperado has always stressed that no style 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" historical branches, including CHA-3 KENPO Brotherhood, Kenkabo, Karazenpo and perhaps others. While this may be confusing for an outsider, it is the essence of the art. Students are not required to mimic their teacher, but after they have first mastered what is taught, they are then 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 he saw. The class was small, consisting of maybe eight people. The system was called "Kajukenbo" and he found it to be an effective street fighting or self-defense 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 GM Roberts 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 is recognized as a 9th degree by Sijo Adriano Emperado and 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. GGM Peralta was the founder and chairman of the Kajukembo Self Defense System (KSDS). At the urging of his good friend and sponsor, SGM Don Nahoolewa, founder and chairman of the American Kajukembo Association (AKA), GGM 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. One of Great-Grandmaster Peralta's principal students, Sigung Agustin Lopez Campos heads the KSDS branch in Madrid, Spain. In the United States professor Dan Frazier was promoted to 8th degree by SGM Nahoolewa and is the most senior active black belt within the Peralta System. Great-Grandmaster Peralta's senior black belts chose not to honor the joint KSDS / AKA goals established by their teacher and shortly after he passed away this group severed all ties with their here to fore respected seniors within the American Kajukembo Association. Grandmaster Don Nahoolewa Senior-Grandmaster Alii-Don Nahoolewa is a native of Hawaii and grew up on the rugged back-streets of Honolulu. Although he trained with Sijo Adriano Emperado his principal instructor was the legendary great grandmaster Aleju Reyes beginning in 1959 while stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California. SGM Nahoolewa was the first Black Belt promoted by Mr. Reyes and he is the originator of the American KEMPO Association, an umbrella organization for all Kenpo karate schools. He is also the founder and chairman of the board for the American Kajukembo Association (AKA) which consists primarily of martial artists descending from Aleju Reyes line. This lineage represents the "hard style" of Kajukembo often referred to as the Kenpo Karate branch. SGM 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 also stationed for several years in Albuquerque's Kirtland Air Force Base. There he began teaching Kajukenbo to military personnel, except for one notable civilian in grandmaster Sam Allred. The AKA closely follows the original Kempo Karate as taught by Sijo Emperado to Great grandmaster Aleju Reyes and finally Senior-Grandmaster Alii-Don Nahoolewa. Professor Michael Park Michael Park earned his first black belt in 1969 and was added to the Kajukembo Ohana (family tree) in 1972 through James Kaleohano 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. Always the innovator, GGM Peralta was interested in complimenting his approach to Kajukembo with some of Park's previous traditional Jujutsu experience. The "Peralta system" had evolved since Park's first exposure to Kajukenbo in the 70's so in this regard some of GGM 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 the Peralta system!" Although he attended a few classes and sponsored some seminars with grandmaster Peralta, the training was cut short for a while due to Park's serious health issues at the time. Unfortunately, after his recovery, Great-Grandmaster Peralta passed away not long after Park reconnected with him but not before he introduced him to his next master, the Chairman and Senior-Grandmaster Alii-Don Nahoolewa. After the passing of GGM Richard Peralta, Professor Park came under the direct supervision of senior-grandmaster Alii-Don Nahoolewa. Since he retired from a covert government agency, Michael Park teaches regular classes in Kajukembo Mixed Martial Arts in Dallas (Plano), Texas. He is an inducted master member in the Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame and in 2007 he was elected to the honored position as a board member of the American Kajukembo Association and a director in the American KEMPO Association. In 2008 he was appointed as a special advisor to Senior-Grandmaster Alii-Don Nahoolewa and promoted to "Professor" in Kajukembo. In 2010 he received the prestigious Aleju Reyes commemorative award for his on-going contributions to the Kempo Karate division of Kajukembo. 1 To add to the origin mystery it must be said that the Okinawa like Karate-do of Mitose is radically different from the Original Kempo Karate developed and passed on by Professor Kwai Sun Hoon Chow. Mitose later died in California while serving time in prison for murder and conspiracy. By all accounts, Mitose was a poorly educated "con-man," however, he was the spark that ignited the creative contributions of Professor Kwai Sun Chow that eventually led to the world-wide renewal in the study of kempo karate. His principal student, Sijo Adriano Emperado, created Kajukenbo.