Brief History of Kajukenbo

Between 1947 and 1949, Professor Adriano D. Emperado founded the Kajukenbo Self- Defense System in Honolulu. Hawaii. This was accomplished with the aid of other masters of Korean Karate, Kodokan Judo and Chinese Boxing (Kung Fu). From Professor William K.S. Chow and Professor James Mitosi Emperado received the rank of 5th Degree black belt on August 10, 1950. In 1951, he attended Instructors Advanced Training given by Professor Mitosi. Through the years, Professor Emperado has trained armed forces personnel, the Honolulu Police Department and Vice Squad, and thousands of men, women and children in the arts of self-defense. Despite all of his success, he remains a dedicated and intensely sincere man, whose chief aim for the martial arts is to build strong, honorable and dedicated students.

The Kajukenbo Method stresses physical conditioning, combining speed, power and accuracy. If an individual trains strong, he will remain strong because “A man who masters his own art will be a hard man to beat.” It will primarily depend on the individual himself because as he trains hard, he will make himself. The physical techniques for preparedness develop confidence in a beginner but as one studies the art in its deeper aspects, he will discover that self-confidence is just a stepping stone to humility and self-restraint. Through his increased knowledge, he gains confidence and respect, thus banishing fear and avoiding trouble. The standard by which he lives is that of humility and self-restraint and although he does not seek trouble, he expects it and is prepared. Speed and alertness with the coordination of mind and body is just another contributing factor to a longer existence.

Our originator of our art said “War and killing are wrong, it is also wrong not to be prepared to defend one’s self. We have no weapons, but we have our bodies. We have not knives, so make every fist into a mace. Without spears, every arm must be made into a spear, and every open hand a sword.”

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