History

Last revised 2/14/2013
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What is Kajukenbo?
"Every strike is a block and every block is a strike" MSgt. Tony Lasit, USAF

Kajukenbo is a hybrid system of many self-defense martial arts and was designed to execute an opponent with fierce proficiency- hard and quickly. During World War II (1939-1945), the U.S. Territory of Hawaii was held under martial law due to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941 - October 24, 1944).  Due to martial law, all martial arts except judo, wrestling and boxing was prohibited in the US Territory of Hawaii.  At the time, kenpo karate was kept secret and trained underground in China Town, Oahu. Only the elite and military were invited to one of these underground fight sessions.  It was bloody and ugly.  Much of what was unheard of over 60 years ago are now seen everyday in mixed martial arts.
 



HISTORY
Note: There are many people that say, I started this, and I started that, however, what matters most is the best. The best prevails the rest.  Therefore, what does not go according to logic and protocol will not be mentioned on website.


Predating the history of Kajukenbo are the MMA Pioneers of the U.S. Armed Forces- military servicemen that trained hand to hand combat called self-defense.  Kajukenbo an American martial art which simply means Karate, Judo, Kenpo and Boxing.  and modified the most effective combinations of martial arts from four completely different systems, which are: Okinawan Karate, Kodokan Judo, Chinese Kenpo and American Amateur Boxing to it's maximum effectiveness in one practice of self-defense.  4.   Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_law#The_Territory_of_Hawaii.   "Basically, Kajukenbo is the first of it's kind of all origins in mixed martial arts.  Prior to it's known existence in 1947,  the history of Kajukenbo began when the USA was in war with Japan.  Before it became worldly known as Kajukenbo in the 1960's, we called it Kempo Karate."   - MSgt. Tony Lasit, U.S. Air Force, Ret., Veteran of WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Founder of the U.S. Kajukenbo Association.    Traditional  in this type of self-defense system is very simple since Kajukenbo is an evolving array of other martial art techniques and styles called, 'Mixed Martial Arts'.
it is also highly acceptable to constant modifications and changes and began when the USA was at war with Japan.





Note: Kajukenbo is a combination of martial arts designed effectively to execute an opponent hard and quickly in the act of self-defense.
Fact: Traditions of martial arts were altered to fit the living lifestyles of the military servicemen in the U.S. Armed Forces.

In the late 1940's, Palama Settlement was a community center in a violent area of Oahu where fist-fights or stabbings were commonplace.  From this environment, the founders of Kajukenbo wanted to develop an art that would be readily useful on the street.  As they trained and fought in and around Palama Settlement, the founders of Kajukenbo quickly gained reputations as formidable street-fighters.  In 1950, Adriano Emperado, along with brother Joe Emperado, began teaching the new art in an open class.  They called the school Kajukenbo Self Defense Institute (K.S.D.I.).

The emphasis during training was on realism - so much so that students routinely broke bones, fainted from exhaustion, or were knocked unconscious.  Nevertheless, the reputation of this tough new art drew more students and Emperado opened a second school at the nearby Kaimuki YMCA.  Soon Emperado had 12 Kajukenbo schools in Hawaii, making it the second largest string of schools at the time.  John Leoning, who earned a black belt from Emperado, brought Kajukenbo to the mainland in 1958.  Since that time, Kajukenbo has continued to flourish and grow.

From it's beginnings, Kajukenbo was an ecclectic and adaptive art.  As time has passed, Kajukenbo has continued to change and evolve.  Currently, there are a few distinct, "recognized" branches of Kajukenbo: Kenpo ("Emperado Method" or "Traditional Hard Style"), Tum Pai, Chu'an Fa, Wun Hop Kuen Do, and Gaylord Method.  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.

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   Founder, MSgt. Antonio Lasit USAF Ret.

2013 United States Kajukenbo Association 

Adams, Alexander J

Adams, Bentley C

Aikens, Steven L

Akers, Jason

Allen, David

Allen, Frank

Almond, Marvin

Alvarez, Edward

Amato, Robert M

Anderson, Russell K

Andrade, Rogelio

Apachee, Clayton

Apachee, Jessie

Armendariz, Ruben

Axum, Tucker "Trey"

Badgett Jr, Henry

Baker, Daniel G.

Baker, Rita J.

Baldeschuiles, Mike

Barnett, David

Barnhart, Tom

Barnhill, Jim R

Beasley, Gary A

Beauchamp, Michael Jay

Beauchamp, Rebecca L.

Beauchamp, Roberta L.

Beauchamp, Samantha J.

Beauchamp, Vanessa M.

Beaufort, Charles

Bedruz, Allen

Begay, Henry

Bell, David W

Bemier, John

Bennett, Eugene

Bergeron, Ricky

Berkman Jr, John L

Berron, Randall

Billings, John

Blue House, Kyra

Boone, Gene

Bowen, John

Brady, Harry Don

Brattain, Gary S

Brennon, Michael

Brent, Wliiiam

Bridges, Ken

Brock, Robert E

Brown III, Roy W.

Brown, Howard

Brown, Marvin

Brugger Jr, John

Brugger, Robert A.

Budlitz, Gary L.

Burns, Edward

Button, Jon

Byrd, Tommy

Caccavalla, Gina

Caldwell, Charlie

Caldwell, Darnelle

Caldwell, Mark

Calvo, Ben

Calvo, James

Cardena, Pedro

Cardwell III, Walter W

Carl Lee, Sr.

Carlson, Greg

Carpenter, David

Cejka, Mike

Chott, Christina

Christensen, Glen

Chumley, Cynthia

Clark, Larry

Cole Jr, Walter Y

Collinsworth, Jimmy

Counts Jr, Henry L

Couts, Kerry

Cowand, Kyle B

Cox, George C

Cox, Jeffrey

Craddock, James R

Crews, Marvin A

Crowder, Brian

Cruz, Juan S

Culpepper Jr, Louis S

Cumberland, John W

Dalkilic, Mike M

Dargitz, Darayl

Davis, Joe

Deberardino, Marc

Deer, James K

Desiardin, Richard

Devaulk, Dave

Diaz, Christopher A

Diblasi, Mario F

Dirks, Bill

Dittfach, Hugo

Dixon, Donn

Dixon, Ron H

Dockery, Ade

Dormitzer, Peter H

Doseo, Phillip

Doungfu, Uporn

Duggan, Michael

Dunn, June

Earley, Chad A.

Eaton, Carole Y.

Ebarb, Kirk

Eiland, Robin M

El, Neo

Emperado, Joseph

England, Edward

Epps, Tyrone

Esaw, Mark

Espanola, Rodolfo S

Esteban, Steven

Eston, Dilworth

Evans, Michael

Fashee, Mathew

Ferguson, Tim

Ferris, Albert M.

Ferris, Matt

Fischer, Gayle

Fisher, Susan

Fitzpatrich, Curt

Floyd, LeJerry

Floyd, Steven D.

Foote, Tommy

Fountain, Leslie

Frank, Marcus

Friedman, Scott

Gainforte, John A.

Gajewski, Dave

Galvan, Adriana L.

Galvan, Jorge L.

Galvan, Willie

Garcia, Hector

Garland, Joseph C.

Garza, Richard

Gauletas, David

Gay, Dennis J.

Gaylord, Bill

Gentry, Atraus

Gentry, Jack

Gentry, Joseph

Gentry, Kenyatta

Gipson, Steve

Gohring, Thomas

Goldman, Kristen

Gomez, Brian

Gonzalez, Juan

Gooden, Anthony

Goodman, Donald

Graebner, Karl E

Graham, Gene H

Gray, Dennis

Gray, Larry

Greatsinger, Kenneth

Greeson, Bill

Grey Hawk, Joseph

Griffin, Rodrick

Grubbs, Cory

Guerrero, Ed

Guier, Christian

Gust, Ervin

Guttila, Phillip

Halbuna, Joseph

Hall, Christopher

Hardin, Bud

Hardy, David

Hardy, Jesse

Harell, Daniel

Harper, James

Harper, Tommy

Harrington, Gabe

Harrington, Roy

Harris, Joe C.

Harris, Wayne D.

Harrison, James D

Hart, John

Hart, Richard C

Hawes, Gerald

Hedrick, Thomas

Henderson Jr, John

Henderson, Tommy

Hendrick, Thomas

Henry, Lance

Henry, Travis

Hernandez, Richard

Herrera, David

Hetzer, David

Hill, Dennis L

Hill, Harold

Hill, Kirby

Hockaday, Wendell

Holland, Marshall C

Hollembaek, Tim

Hopkins, Nathaniel

Horne, Ronald L

Houck, Gary L

Howard, Roy

Hoyt, Cindy

Hoyt, Kenny

Hurst, James

Huseman, Glen A

Ibay, Bart O.

Irvine, David

Jack E Tremble, Jr.

Jackson, Joey

Jackson, Zoel

Jamora, Avery C.

Jessup, James C

Jimboy, Mark

Joffe, Jack

John Brugger, Jr.

Johnson, Allen

Johnson, David

Johnson, Jason

Johnson, Jim

Johnson, Ken

Johnson, Marty

Johnson, Max

Johnson, Raymond L

Johnson, Scott A

Johnston, John

Jones Jr, Wade

Jones, Alan M

Jones, Waylon

Jordon, Jarrod

Joslin, Wendy

Jungviwattannaporn, Suwattana

Jungviwattanporn, Nalimrut

Kaiser, Richard D

Kasarda, Paul

Katz, Elizabeth

Kelly, Edward E

Kerr, Ikaika

Keyes, Kathi

Kijanski, Dennis

Kim, Daniel

Kounselor, Charles

Kovac, David

Kownslar, Charles C

Kracht, Richard A

Kraemer, Brian

Kubala, Edward B

Kuther, Eric

Laing, Jon-Claire

Lake, Jesse

Lalena, John

Lancaster, Dave

Langer, Jakub

Lee, Carl

Lee, Edwin G

Lee, Garrett

Lemley, Jeffey G

Leone, Dan

Lewis, Jeremy

Licavoli, Frank S

Lily, Quick

Lindsey, David E

Lipincott, Russ

Lite, Lawrence H

Lolotai, Brandy

Lolotai, Jason

Lone Wolf, Kellie Marie

Lonewolf, Samuel

Long, Jason

Longoria, Ireana

Loughlin, John H

Lowe, James S

Luna, Greg

Lynn, Jeremy

Mahachanavong, Precha

Maka'ena, Dan C. K.

Mallory, Donald E

Manalo, Robert

Marroquin, Danny

Marrow, Jeff

Marshall, Teri

Martienz, Tammy

Martin, Christopher

Martin, Roy

Martinez Jr, Matt

Matt Ferris

McCarthy, William R

McCloud, Hiram

McConnaughey, Max E

McCullough, Randy

McGee, Robert

Mckee, John

Mckenna, Chris

McMillen, Phillip H

Medellin, Mark

Meechai, Opragarn

Menger, Kenneth L

Merrill, Kenneth

Michael, Ryan

Miers, Michael

Miller, Bill

Miller, Donald

Miller, Jeremy

Miller, Larry

Miller, Richard E

Miller, William J

Minkow, Gerald L

Minot, Sam

Mitualski, John

Miyasato, Steve

Molner, Mark

Monds, Greg

Moody, Leslie W

Moore, John M.

Moore, Robert

Moreau, John

Morel, Tony

Morning, Harvey E

Morris, Debra

Morris, T.R.

Morrissey, David

Moten, Timothy

Mountain, Daniel Gray

Mulkern, John M

Munoz, Robert

Murphy, Kalyn M

Murphy, Ryan L

Muse, Richard

Myers, Michael

Neal, Roy

Nelson, Eric

Nelson, Stoney

Nenton, Tommy

Nguiam, Anun Saa

Ngyen, Duc

Nill, Doug

Nill, Kevin

Norland, Donald E

Northcutt, Colby

Northcutt, Sage

O Hay, Barrt

O’Callaghan, Brady D.

O'hara, Cavin B

Olsen, David

Ong, Randy

Osborne, David W

Overton, Ellen M

Overton, Quinton

Owen, Gilbert

Owens, Clay

Oxley, T.J.

Pachacano, Andrew

Padilla, Joey

Paiya, Thomas

Panezzo, Peter

Parks, Dan

Paul Wade, Steve

Pena, Drew

Perkins, Choyce

Petry Jr, T.J

Petry, Mack

Pfeiffer, James

Pham, Tam

Phil, Torney

Pierce, Don G.

Pierce, Paul

Pitzer, James M

Pitzer, Jim

Poage, Jim

Poirta, Leroy

Pollard, Rodney

Poncy, Paul

Posada, Jose A

Postell, Don

Powell, Anthony A

Pratt, Ryan C.

Prewett, John

Price, Patrick

Price, Robert

Priola, Edward

Prunty, Mathew

Prunty, Timothy

Pugh, Marlon

Quick, Chuck

Quihones, Irma

Quihones, Ophelia

Rahm, Billy

Rahm, Peggy

Ramirez, Bernard

Ramos, Michael D

Randall IV, Thomas P

Ranew, Archie O

Rashid, Nur

Ratabun, Kenneth

Red Hawk Woman, Minerva

Red Horse Woman, Keya

Red Horse, Valerie

Red Horse, Walker

Redmond, Mark

Reynnolds, Jackie L

Rice, James A

Rice, Phillip J

Richardson, Gary

Richardson, Jeff

Richardson, John A

Richardson, John S

Rillera, Ricky

Rivera, Jaime

Roberts, Lana

Robertson-Kills Enemy, Leigh

Robinson, David

Robinson, Rene

Robinson, Robert

Rockefeller, Henry E

Rodriguez, Ashly

Roland, Jared

Ross, William

Rungpinyopun, Apiluck

Ryan, Michael

Ryan, Stoney Robert

Saalim, Supaporn

Saata, Surin

Sakai, David

Sanchez, Genaro

Sanders-Lee, Tammy

Sanderson, Eric E.

Sands, Michael

Santhuff, Curtis

Sawadde, Gunyani

Scatterly, Kevin

Schaeffer, Jimmy

Scherer, Douglas R

Schiffner, Travis

Schimel, Eric

Schmitt, Neal

Scott, Kimberley

Segura, Xavier

Selser, Michael

Sepulveda, Vincent A

Serna Jr, Henry

Setunyarut, Patitya

Shadoin, Christopher

Shadoin, Jannice

Shadoin, Jeff

Shephard, John

Shioi, Daniel

Shodoin, Shanna

Shoemaker, Jon

Showalter, John H

Silverling, Gerald D

Silverstein, Joshua

Silverstein, Pamela

Simmons, Sheridan

Simpson, Willie

Sims, Scott

Singleton, Roger L

Singroung, Suchta

Siriboon, Siricahi

Siverling, Gerald D.

Skywalker, Reba

Smith, Billy M

Smith, Kyle

Smith, Stanley

Speer, Craig

Speights, John A

Spell, Joseph

Spell, Thomas L.

Spencer, Melvin E

Stafford, William

Stavig, Kraig

Steele, Greg

Steen Jr, Henry

Steffens, Randy R

Stevens, Mitchell W

Stewart, Ryan

Stout, Jerry W

Strickland, Gerald

Strong, David

Strong, Rodrick

Strunk, Roger

Sublett, Christopher

Sun, Allen Little

Suwannagood, Chaiyasil

Suwannagood, Ratchchani

Taylor, James

Taylor, Rob

Temple, Brannen

Teraritgumhang, Pongphat

Thelen, Devin

Thomas, Keith

Thomas, Monty

Thomas, Nathiel

Thompson, Dana R

Thompson, Don

Thompson, Donald

Tichacek, Jay

Tipps, David

Tipps, Jane

Tomaszek, David

Tremble Jr, Jack

Trewin, Jim

Triplet, Lloyd

Troxclair, Sean Kristofer

Tumulo, Leonard

Turley, Bobby G

Ulanoff, Adrian

Valyo, George F

Vandergriff, Gregory

Vaughn, Geo M

Vaughn, Janet

Venezio, Charles P

Vera, Julian J

Vines, Jonathon

Waddell, Gordon C.

Waddell, Michael G.

Waggoner, Noel

Wagley, Scott

Walden, Bill

Walker, Austin

Wamiche, Cliff

Watson, Josh

Watt, Trevor

Watts, Avon

Weeks, Michael

Weigle, Charles P

West, Mark

Whelles, Tiffany

White Wolf, Grayson

White, Jason

Whittle, Melissa

Whittle, Michael H

Wilbur John

Wilkenfeldt, Luke

Williams III, Moses

Williams, Carl

Williams, Derek

Williams, Gary

Williams, Iris

Williams, Jason

Williams, Jon

Williams, Kevin L.

Williams, Mike

Williams, Moses

Williams, Robert J

Wilson, Charles

Wilson, Scott

Witkowski, Gerald

Woody, Leslie W.

Wooldridge, Clarence

Worth, Rocko

Worthen, Scott

Wright, Ira

Wright, Justin

Wright, Marvin

Wyman, Erik

Young, Philip

Young, Ronald E

Zinn, Stephanie



Questions? Contact Master Tony Lasit 

PH. (302) 200-3333