Development of Kajukenbo

Kajukenbo is a unique self defense system that combines aspects of five different martial arts. Those arts are represented by the four syllables of the KA-JU-KEN-BO name. The first syllable, KA, stands for Korean Karate; the second, JU, for Judo and Ju-Jitsu; the third, KEN, for Kenpo; the fourth, BO, stands for Chinese Boxing or Kung-Fu.

These symbols also have a secondary meaning. The Chinese characters for KA, JU, KEN, and BO are Long Life, Happiness, Fist, and Style, so the style's name can be translated to: "Through the fist style, one gains long life and happiness."

In 1947, with the aid of several other martial artists, Professor Emperado formed the Black Belt Society, which stressed Kenpo Karate and self-defense against weapons. As the instruction was broadened from a select group of top Kenpo artists to the general public, the name was changed to the Kajukenbo Self-Defense Institute. During this time (between 1947 and 1949) Professor Emperado is credited with founding the Kajukenbo Self-Defense System with the help of four other martial arts masters:

• KA Instructor P. Y. Y. Choo: master of Korean KARATE, Tang-Soo-Do style
• JU Instructor Frank Ordonez: Black Belt in JU-JITSU
  Instructor J. Holck: Black Belt in Kodokan JUDO
• KEN Professor Adriano D. Emperado: master of KENPO
• BO Professor C. Chang: master of Kung-Fu (Chinese BOXING)

These instructors developed the first model of what is now the Kajukenbo style. Their primary objective was to form the ultimate in self-defense, while relying heavily on Kenpo.

The most important change to the style occurred in 1959 when Professor Emperado incorporated Ch'uan Fa Kung-Fu into Kajukenbo. This soft style emphasizes the KEN-BO segment of Kajukenbo, which combines the northern (hard) and southern (soft) styles of Chinese martial arts. The northern styles, characterized by their long-range techniques, and the southern by their close-in fighting, were combined to form a balanced fighting art which focused on practicality in self-defense.