Kajukenbo
Kajukenbo is a hybrid martial art founded in Hawaii in the late 1940s, designed to combine the most effective elements of Karate, Judo, Jujitsu, Kenpo, and Boxing. Developed by five martial artists to survive real street violence, it emphasizes adaptability, aggression, and cross-training. Kajukenbo is known for its explosive striking, joint manipulation, takedowns, and follow-up ground control. It encourages individual expression and practicality, making it one of the most versatile and battle-tested systems ever created in the U.S.
Kajukenbo Essentials
About Kajukenbo
This section introduces Kajukenbo as a street-born martial art that fuses five distinct systems into one practical method. Learn how its structure prioritizes adaptability, realism, and personal growth.
Kajukenbo History
Explore Kajukenbo’s origin story, created by five Hawaiian martial artists in response to post-WWII violence. This section details how each founder contributed to the system’s striking, grappling, and mindset.
Philosophy & Approach
Kajukenbo is grounded in realism, efficiency, and constant evolution. Its philosophy supports adaptability in combat and values personal expression, pressure testing, and hard work over formality.
Techniques & Style
Learn about Kajukenbo’s layered style—combining hard strikes, throws, locks, counters, and ground survival. The system transitions fluidly between ranges, emphasizing aggressive, high-pressure responses.
Traditions & Etiquette
While modern and practical, Kajukenbo respects lineage, discipline, and community values. This section outlines its training hall behavior, informal yet respectful student culture, and core values.
Uniform & Symbols
Kajukenbo uniforms often reflect Kenpo and Karate origins, with individual schools using unique patches and symbols. Learn the meanings behind crests, belts, and stylistic identifiers.
Weapons
Kajukenbo includes weapons training such as stick, knife, club, and improvised tools—often drawn from Filipino and Kenpo influence. This section explores how weapon drills support real-world defense.
Ranking System
Kajukenbo’s rank structure varies by branch but generally includes colored belts and instructor levels. Promotions reflect technical skill, fighting ability, teaching contribution, and time in training.
Kajukenbo Glossary
A glossary of terms used in Kajukenbo, including Hawaiian, Japanese, and English terminology. Covers key techniques, drills, concepts, and system-specific vocabulary.
Notable Figures
Meet the founders—Adriano Emperado, Peter Choo, Frank Ordonez, Joe Holck, and George Chang—as well as senior masters who preserved and expanded Kajukenbo worldwide.
Branches & Organizations
Kajukenbo has many branches (Hard Style, Tum Pai, Chuan Fa, Wun Hop Kuen Do). This section maps out the major lineages and how they’ve evolved while remaining part of the Kajukenbo family.
Competitive Format
While Kajukenbo is not sport-driven, some schools include sparring, forms, and demo competitions. Learn how events are used to refine skill under stress without compromising street application.
