KAJUKENBO SELF-DEFENSE SYSTEM- EMPERADO METHOD
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Professor Adriano D. Emperado, 
founder of the Kajukenbo Self-Defense Institute of Hawaii, was born
in Honolulu, June 6, 1926 and passed away April 4, 2009. Since a very
early age, he studied various martial arts. He received early martial
arts training from Professor William K.S. Chow, 10th Dan, and Professor
James Mitosi, Professor Chow's instructor. These men awarded him the
rank of 5th Degree on August 10, 1950. He was a master of Escrima, Ju-Jitsu,
and various Kempo forms, attaining proficiency by practicing diligently
full-time, six days a week. In addition he studied Okinawan Karate,
Chinese Kung-Fu, Hawaiian Lua, American Boxing and Wrestling, as well
as various weapon arts. Another aspect of Professor Emperado's martial
art training was the study of Kappo and Sehukujitsu, forms of restorative
massage, believing not only in the power of martial arts to injure but
in the need for the ability to reverse its effects by such treatments.
In 1947, with the aid of several other martial artists, Professor Emperado formed the Black Belt Society, which stressed instruction in Kempo Karate and methods of self-defense against weapons. As the emphasis changed from teaching a small select group of top Kempo artists, to training the general public, the name was changed to the Kajukenbo Self-Defense Institute. During this time, between 1947-1949, Professor Emperado is credited with founding the Kajukenbo Self-Defense System. This was accomplished with the aid of four masters of various martial arts:
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Philosophical Meaning of Kajukenbo: "Through this fist style one gains long life and happiness." |
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These instructors struggled together and came up with the first working origin of what is now the present day Kajukenbo style. Its prime objective was and still is: to form the ultimate in self-defense. The emphasis of early Kajukenbo was based on Kenpo techniques.
The greatest change
in the Kajukenbo system occurred in 1959 when Professor Emperado incorporated
CH'UAH-FA Kung-Fu into the system. This art, a soft style, places
more emphasis on the KEN-BO segment of Kajukenbo. The style combines
the Northern(hard) and Southern(soft) style of Chinese martial arts.
The Northern styles are characterized by their long range techniques,
while the Southern styles are characterized by their close-in fighting
techniques. These styles were combined to form an all-around fighting
art with the emphasis on practicality in self-defense.
Grandmaster Baker is on the board of the Kajukenbo Ohana Association.
What is Ohana?
In the Hawaiian culture, ohana means family. Members of an ohana could
be relatives by blood, non-relations who are accepted by the ohana,
as well as members of the ohana who have died. It, also, includes the
aumakua, the ancestral guardian spirit of the family.
The ohana is the unit that provides the food, shelter, and education
of the children, giving them emotinal support, love, and security. In
old Hawaii, the parents performed the daily work including farming and
fishing. The children carried food, water, and materials for the building
of houses, canoes, & other items. Children were taught by watching
and doing.
If a child showed a natural talent at something, he was sent to live
with an expert in that field.
Grandparents were a source of wisdom and understanding. They helped
care for the children and developed close ties with them. The spiritual
guardians provided a sense of well-being for the family.
Today, ohana still means family, including family members and friends
and people still believe in their amakua.
The meaning of ohana is used more generally now to refer to any group
of people with a common bond.