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HISTORY

SIJO ADRIANO D. EMPERADO


SIJO ADRIAN0 D. EMPERADO WAS BORN ON HONOLULU, OAHU, TERRITORY OF
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HAWAII, JUNE 6 1926.
HE RECEIVED MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING FROM PROFESSOR WILLIAM CHOW
AND PROFESSOR JAMES MITOSE. FROM THESE MEN HE RECEIVED HIS
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INSTRUCTORSHIP. HE RECEIVED HIS 5 DEGREE ON AUGUST 10 1950.
SIJO EMPERADO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KENPO OR "KEN" IN THE
KAJUKENBO SYSTEM.
HE STUDIED OKINAWAN KARATE, CHINESE KUNG FU, HAWAIIAN LAU,
AMERICAN BOXING AND WRESTLING AND VARIOUS ARTS WHICH UTILIZE
WEAPONS. HE ALSO STUDIED KAPPO AND SCHUKIYITSU, FORMS OF
RESTORATIVE MASSAGE.
HE IS A MASTER OF ESCRIMA, JU JITSU, CHINESE GUNG FU AND VARIOUS
KENPO AND KEMPO FORMS.
HE RECEIVED HIS INSTRUCTORS CERTIFICATE FROM PROFESSOR MITOSE IN
1952.
THE TITLE OF PROFESSOR WAS GIVEN BY PROFESSORS LAU-KING, KAMFU,
WONG AND PROFESSOR LUM OF THE CHINESE PHYSICAL CULTURAL SOCIETY.
HE WAS EMPLOYED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH THE HARBOR
DIVISION IN HAWAII.
HE WAS THE CO- FOUNDER OF THE BLACK BELT SOCIETY IN 1949. THE
KAJUKENBO SELF-DEFENSE INSTITUTE. (K.S.D.I) 1950
SIJO EMPERADO'S ONE AIM IS TO BUILD STRONG, HONORABLE AND
DEDICATED STUDENTS.
HE NOW LIVE AT 12814 OAKFIELD WAY. POWAY, CA. 92064
GEORGE "CLARENCE" CHANG
1926-1950
CO-CREATOR AND FOUNDER OF KAJUKENBO STYLE OF SELF-DEFENSE AND THE
BLACK BELT SOCIETY.

PROFESSOR GEORGE C. CHANG WAS BETTER KNOWN AS CLARENCE CHANG. HE


CONTRIBUTED THE "BO" IN THE KAJUKENBO SYSTEM KNOWN AS THE CHINESE
BOXING (GUNG FU) ALTHOUGH HE LIVED A VERY SHORT LIFE, HIS CONTRIBUTION
IS STILL FELT TODAY. HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CO-FOUNDERS KNEW HIM AS
REFINED INDIVIDUAL. A GREAT MARTIAL ARTIST AND A KOREAN WAR VETERAN.
AT THE EARLY AGE OF TWELVE, GEORGE SPENT A FEW YEARS IN HIS FATHER'S
NATIVE LAND, THE PROVINCE OF KWANGTUNG, PRIOR TO WORLD WAR II. WHILE
IN CHINA, HE GOT HIS INITIAL START INTO THE "HARD/SOFT" SYSTEM OF SIL LUM
KUNG FU. (SHAOLIN)
UPON HIS RETURN TO HONOLULU, HAWAII (A U. S. TERRITORY THEN) IN 1941,
HE FURTHERED HIS CHINESE KNOWLEDGE UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF THE LATE
WONG KOK FUT.
WHILE STUDYING THIS ART, HE ALSO DEVELOPED AND ACQUIRED AN
INTEREST IN KEMPO KARATE AND IT WAS AT THIS TIME HE COLLABORATED WITH
THE CO-FOUNDERS OF KAJUKENBO.
AFTER THE KAJUKENBO SYSTEM WAS CREATED IN 1947, GEORGE, A YOUNG
MAN WITH IDEAS, SET OUT AND ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
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RESERVE IN 1949. THE NORTH KOREAN PEOPLE'S ARMY CROSSED THE 38
PARALLEL ON JUNE 25, 1950 AND INVADED SOUTH KOREA.
THE UNITED NATIONS INTERVENED INTO THE CONFLICT AND THUS THE
"KOREAN WAR" WAS BORN. WITH THE SHORTAGE OF COMBAT READY TROOPS, U.
S. MARINE CORPS RESERVES WERE CALLED INTO ACTIVE DUTY AND GEORGE
LEFT TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY. NEVER TO RETURN AGAIN AND WAS EITHER
KILLED OR MISSING IN ACTION (M. I. A.)
UP TILL THIS DAY, WE STILL FEEL HIS GREAT INFLUENCE AND HONOR HIM.
NOTE: OVER THE YEARS THERE WERE RUMORS THAT GEORGECHANG WAS NOT
KILL AND RETURNED TO HAWAII, BUT BEING A VERY PRIVATE PERSON HE
CHOOSE TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
WORD FROM HAWAII IS THAT GEORGE C. CHANG DIED AT THE AGE OF 77 YEARS
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ON THE 15 OF FEBRUARY 2003.
JOSEPH HOLCK
CO-CREATOR AND FOUNDER OF THE KAJUKENBO SYSTEM AND BLACK BELT
SOCIETY

SHIHAN JOSEPH HOLCK WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTRIBUTING THE JAPANESE


KODOKAN JUDO/DANZAN RYU JUJITSU OR THE "JU" IN KAJUKENBO. HE COINED
THE NAME OF "KAJUKENBO".
HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HONOLULU, HAWAII. SHIHAN HOLCK STARTED
JUJITSU ABOUT 1938 UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF PROFESSOR SEISHIRO (HENRY)
OKAZAKI WHEN HE WAS 11 YEARS OLD. WHEN PROFESSOR OKAZAKI STOPPED
TEACHING, HE TRAINED WITH PROFESSOR SIG KUFFERATH. HIS FIRST JUDO
INSTRUCTOR WAS SENSEI INOUYE FORMERLY COLLEGIATE CHAMPION IN 1946.
TWO OF HIS OTHER JUDO INSTRUCTORS WERE SENSEI KIMURA THE #1 JUDO
CHAMPION OF JAPAN AT THAT TIME AND SENSEI SAKABE, THE #3 JUDO
CHAMPION AT THAT TIME.
HIS MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING PREPARED HIM FOR THE MILITARY. IN BASIC
TRAINING AND "OCS", HE WAS THE HAND TO HAND COMBAT INSTRUCTOR WITH
THE U. S. ARMY.
HE ENJOYS READING GOOD MILITARY OR POLICE BOOKS, ESPECIALLY HIS
FAVORITE AUTHOR "W.E. GRIFFIN.
HE IS HEALTHY AND STRONG IN MIND AND SPIRIT AND ENJOYS LIVING IN
TUCSON WHERE THE RETIRED FROM HIS MILITARY CAREER. HE IS HAPPY
MARRIED TO "AMY' FOR 47 YEARS, THEY HAD 5 CHILDREN, WHO GAVE THEM 8
GRANDCHILDREN; 4 BOYS AND 4 GIRLS.
SHIHAN HOLCK IS THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE "KODENKAN
YUDANSHAKAI ORGANIZATION" (SCHOOL OF THE ANCIENT TRADITION BLACK
BELT SOCIETY) IN TUCSON, AZ. IN 1967. MOST OF HIS SCHOOLS ARE IN ARIZONA,
BUT TWO ARE IN CALIFORNIA AND ONE WILL SOON OPEN IN HAWAII.
WHEN ASK WHAT HE EMPHASIZES TO HIS STUDENTS IN TRAINING, HE SAYS:
THE THREE THINGS YOU UTILIZE THE MOST IN THE MARTIAL ARTS IS TO
"PRACTICE" "PRACTICE" "PRACTICE".
SHIHAN HOLCK SHARED WITH US, THAT ONLY TWO MARTIAL ARTS WERE
FOUNDED IN THE UNITED STATES: ONE BY PROFESSOR OKAZAKI, THE "DANZAN
RYU" SYSTEM OF JUJITSU AND THE OTHER WAS "KAJUKENBO"
SHIHAN JOSEPH HOLCK IS 69 YEARS OLD AND IS RESIDING IN TUCSON,
ARIZONA. (JUNE 1995)
PETER Y.Y. CHOO JR.
CO-CREATOR AND FOUNDER OF THE KAJUKENBO STYLE OF SELF-DEFENSE AND
THE BLACK BELT SOCIETY.

PROFESSOR PETER CHOO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KOREAN KARATE-TANG


SOO DO OR THE "KA" IN KAJUKENBO.
PROFESSOR CHOO STUDIED THE MARTIAL ARTS EXTENSIVELY. HE STUDIED
WITH PROFESSOR J. RHEE IN TAE KWAN DO, SENSEI SAM LUKE IN JUDO, MASTER
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THOMAS YOUNG IN KENPO KARATE AND SENSEI KOICHI TOHEI, A 10 DEGREE
MASTER IN AIKIDO. PROFESSOR CHOO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TRAINING AT
SENSEI TOHEI'S HOME.
HE RECEIVED THE 1937 JOE LYNCH BOXING AWARD. (JOE LYNCH WAS THE
TRAINER OF MAX BAER, THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION BETWEEN 1934-
1936.) HE ALSO RECEIVED VARIOUS OTHER CHAMPION AWARDS DURING HIS
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THREE-YEAR TENURE WITH THE 6 ARMY FAR EAST, U. S. ARMY EUROPE TROOPS.
HIS MILITARY CAREER EXTENDED 21 YEARS FROM 1944-1965 IN THE U. S. ARMY.
PROFESSOR CHOO HAS QUOTED: "IF YOU THINK YOU ARE BEATEN" YOU ARE.
"IF YOU THINK YOU DARE NOT", YOU DON'T.
"IF YOU LIKE TO WIN", BUT THINK YOU CAN'T, IT'S ALMOST A CINCH, YOU WON'T.
FOR LIFE'S BATTLE DON'T ALWAYS GO TO THE STRONGER OR FASTER MAN. FOR
SURE AS FATE, THE MAN WHO WINS, IS THE MAN WHO THINK, "HE CAN"
WHEN ASK WHAT "Y.Y." MEANT IN HIS NAME, HE SAID THAT WAS HIS FATHER'S
NAME. "YOUNG YIL".
PROFESSOR CHOO REMEMBERS FIRST TRAINING IN HIS MOTHER'S BACKYARD
UNTIL HE HAD TO GO TO THE KOREAN WAR.
HE WAS GONE FROM 1950-1956 TRAVELING EXTENSIVELY IN THE MILITARY,
BEFORE HE CAME HOME AND FOUND ADRIANO "NONOY" EMPERADO AND FRANK
ORDONEZ TRAINING AT THE PALAMA SETTLEMENT.
HE HAS LED A VERY ACTIVE AND FULFILLING MILITARY CAREER WHICH TOOK
HIM TO MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD.
PROFESSOR PETER Y.Y. CHOO IS 69 YEARS OLD AND IS RESIDING IN PEARL CITY,
HAWAII. (JUNE 1995)
DECEASED: JUNE 1997
FRANK F. ORDONEZ
CO-CREATOR AND FOUNDER OF THE KAJUKENBO STYLE OF SELF-DEFENSE AND
BLACK BELT SOCIETY.

PROFESSOR ORDONEZ IS HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED IN THE MARTIAL ARTS AND


CONTRIBUTING THE JAPANESE KODOKAN JUDO/SEKEINO JUJITSU WITH
PROFESSOR JOSEPH HOLCK.
HE IS AN HONORABLE MEMBER OF KUO MIN TANG PHYSICAL CULTURE
ASSOCIATION. HIS MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING EXPERIENCE EXTENDED TO KEMPO
KARATE, JUDO/JUJITSU AND BOXING.
THE MARTIAL ARTS HAS AFFECTED HIM GREATLY IN THAT HE DISCOVERED HIS
WEAKNESSES AND LEARNED TO STRENGTH THEM. HE'S LEARNED TO INTEGRATE
THE MIND BODY AND EMOTIONS. HIS PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE IS "KNOWING OTHERS
IS WISDOM". "KNOWING THE SELF IS ENLIGHTENMENT"
TODAY, HE STATES THE MARTIAL ARTS GENERATES THE YOUTH TO A PATH OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS. SELF-IMPROVEMENT BEGINS WITH AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
BASIS OF YOUR OWN SELF-RESPECT. FROM THIS POINT, YOU PROCEED TO THE
BASIS ON WHICH YOU MUST HAVE RESPECT OF OTHERS.
PROFESSOR FRANK ORDONEZ QUOTED: "UNDERSTANDING THE MIND, THEN
HARNESSING ITS' HIDDEN POWERS, WILL BRING STABILITY, CLARITY OF THE
MIND, INNER PEACE, CONTENTMENT AND THE POWER TO ERASE NEGATIVE
ATTITUDES AND DEVELOP A POSITIVE NATURE."
ONCE YOU MEET PROFESSOR ORDONEZ, YOU WILL FIND THAT HE IS AN
AMICABLE CHARACTER, WITTY AND NOT ONLY ARTISTIC IN THE MARTIAL ARTS,
BUT IN THE KITCHEN. HE LOVES TO COOK (ESPECIALLY SEAFOOD) AND READ
BOOKS. HIS FAVORITE DRINK IS NOT A WHISKEY SOUR, BUT "GRAPEFRUIT
JUICE" AND IF YOU ARE IN THE MOOD FOR POOL, HIS FAVORITE RECREATION IS
POCKET-SNOOKER (3) CUSHION BILLIARD.
PROFESSOR ORDONEZ IS 69 YEARS OLD AND IS RESIDING IN WAIPAHU, HAWAII,
BUT WILL BE MOVING TO SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA. (JUNE 1995)
BRIEF HISTORY OF KENPO-KARATE AND THE KAJUKENBO METHOD.

KENPO-KARATE IS A COMBINATION OF TWO OF THE WORLD'S MOST


DEVASTATING SELF-DEFENSE FORMS. ACTUALLY THE TWO ARTS ARE VERY MUCH
THE SAME EXCEPT IN DETAIL.
KENPO/KEMPO DESCRIBES THE CHINESE STYLE OF KARATE, WHILE THE
MODERN TERM KARATE IS DESCRIBED AS THE SYSTEM WHICH IS PRACTICED
BEST BY COUNTRIES OF OKINAWA AND JAPAN.
KENPO MEANING "LAW OF THE FIST" AND KARATE MEANING "EMPTY
HANDS", WHICH BOTH ARTS DEVELOP THE HANDS, ELBOW, FINGERS, FEET,
KNEES, EYES, EARS, SENSES, ALERTNESS, IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY.
ALTHOUGH THE TRUE ORIGIN OF KENPO/KEMPO IS OBSCURE, CREDIT HAS
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BEEN GIVEN TO DARUMA, THE 28 BUDDA FROM INDIA, WHEN HE EMIGRATED TO
CHINA ABOUT THE YEAR 525 A.D. BECAUSE OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF
INDIA, CHINA, FORMOSA, KOREA, OKINAWA AND JAPAN THE INTERCHANGING OF
IDEAS AND PRINCIPLES WERE TREMENDOUS. RECORDS IN JAPAN SHOW KEMPO
WAS INTRODUCE THERE BY KOSOKUN OF CHINA.
IN 1924 GICHIN FUNAKOSHI INTRODUCED KARATE INTO JAPAN. AS THE
ORIENTALS IMMIGRATED TO HAWAII, THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM THESE SAME
EMPTY HAND ARTS. LIKE OTHER COUNTRIES, AFTER INTRODUCTION,
IMPROVEMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS SOON DEVELOPED.
PROFESSOR WILLIAM K.S. CHOW WAS ONE OF THE LEADING MEN IN HAWAII.
THEN CAME CHIEF INSTRUCTOR ADRIANO D. EMPERADO, OUR FOUNDER OF OUR
KAJUKENBO SELF-DEFENSE INSTITUTE. REALIZING THAT AMERICANS FIGHT
DIFFERENTLY WITH GREAT RUGGEDNESS, MANY OF THE OLD TECHNIQUES HAVE
BEEN REVISED. THUS THE KAJUKENBO STYLE CAME TO BE.
FOR OUR KAJUKENBO METHOD, WE STRESS PHYSICAL CONDITIONING,
COMBINING SPEED, POWER AND ACCURACY. WE BELIEVE TO TRAIN STRONG, WE
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 IF HE TRAINS HARD, HE HIMSELF WILL MAKE HIMSELF.
KENPO-KARATE TEACHES ONE HOW TO FELL AN ATTACKER THROUGH THE
MANIPULATION OF THE HANDS, FEET, KNEES AND ELBOWS. EACH BLOW IS
DELIVERED SWIFTLY AND PRECISELY. REFUSING OR AVOIDING A FIGHT IS NOT A
SIGN OF COWARDICE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WELL VERSED IN KENPO-KARATE. SUCH
A REFUSAL IS JUST A DEMONSTRATION OF RESPECT TO MANKIND, SINCE
KNOWLEDGE OF KENPO-KARATE WILL MAKE YOU AWARE NOT OF YOUR OWN
PERSONAL DANGER, BUT OF THE GREAT DEGREE OF INJURY THAT CAN BE
INFLICTED UPON AN OPPONENT.
THE PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES FOR PREPAREDNESS DEVELOP CONFIDENCE IN A
BEGINNER; BUT AS ONE STUDIES THE ART IN IT DEEPER ASPECTS, HE WILL
DISCOVER THAT SELF-CONFIDENCE IS JUST A STEPPING STONE TO HUMILITY AND
SELF-RESTRAINT. THOUGH THIS INCREASED KNOWLEDGE HE GAINS
CONFIDENCE AND RESPECT, THUS BANISHING FEAR AND AVOIDING TROUBLE.
THIS 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 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; BUT IT
IS ALSO WRONG NOT TO BE PREPARED TO DEFEND ONE'S SELF. WE HAVE NO
WEAPONS, BUT WE HAVE OUR BODIES. WE HAVE NO KNIVES, SO MAKE EVERY
FIST A MACE. WITHOUT SPEARS, EVERY ARM MUST BE MADE INTO A SPEAR AND
EVERY OPEN HAND A SWORD."
ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE KAJUKENBO SELF DEFENSE SYSTEM
"EMPERADO METHOD"

PROFESSOR ADRIANO D. EMPERADO IS CREDITED FOR THE FOUNDING OF THE


KAJUKENBO SELF-DEFENSE SYSTEM, IN HONOLULU, HAWAII BETWEEN 1947 AND
1949. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE AID OF OTHER MASTERS OF VARIOUS
ASPECTS OF THE MARTIAL ARTS. THESE MEN AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE AS
FOLLOWS:
PETER Y.Y. CHOO JR.=KOREAN (TANG SOO DO) KARATE (KA)
FRANK F. ORDONEZ=SEKEINO JUJITSU (JU)
JOSEPH HOLCK=KODOKAN JUDO/DANZAN JUJITSU (JU)
GEORGE "CLARENCE" CHANG=CHINESE BOXING (BO)
"NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SIL LUM GUNG FU"
IN THESE TWO YEARS, THE INSTRUCTORS STRUGGLED TOGETHER AND CAME
UP WITH THE FIRST WORKING ORIGIN OF THE KAJUKENBO SYSTEM.
THEIR PRIME OBJECTIVE WAS TO FORM THE ULTIMATE IN SELF-DEFENSE. NOT
LIMITED TO ANY ONE PARTICULAR STYLE OR FORM. SINCE NO MAN IS THE SAME
IN FIGHTING TECHNIQUES; VARIATIONS IN STYLE BECOME MORE AND MORE
EVIDENT AS MORE SCHOOLS WERE OPEN.
AT FIRST KAJUKENBO WAS A COMBINATION OF THE ARTS WITH A HEAVY
ACCENT ON KENPO KARATE.
THE MOST MAJOR CHANGE OCCURRED IN 1959; SIJO EMPERADO
INCORPORATED "CH'UAN FU" KUNG FU INTO KAJUKENBO. THIS ART, A SOFT
STYLE, STRESSES MORE EMPHASIS ON THE "KEN-BO" SEGMENT OF KAJUKENBO
AND ITS BASIS IS THE COMBINING OF BOTH NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN STYLES
OF THE CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS.
THE NORTHERN STYLES CHARACTERIZED BY THEIR LONG-RANGE
TECHNIQUES AND THE SOUTHERN BY THEIR CLOSE IN FIGHTING TECHNIQUES.
THEY WERE COMBINED TO FORM AN ALL AROUND FIGHTING SYSTEM WITH THE
EMPHASIS ON PRACTICALITY IN SELF-DEFENSE......COMBINING HARD AND SOFT
TECHNIQUES.
THE ROOTS OF THE KENPO SYSTEM CAN BE TRACED BACK TO HAWAII IN THE
EARLY 1920'S AND A MAN NAMED JAMES MITOSE. HE BROUGHT HIS FAMILY'S ART,
"KENPO JUJITSU" (KOSHO SHOREI KEMPO) TO HAWAII AND TAUGHT SELECT
STUDENTS IN A STRICTLY TRADITIONAL MANNER. HIS PERSONAL STYLE WAS
RIGIDLY CLASSICAL AND VERY CONSERVATIVE IN EXPRESSION, NEVER
DEVIATING FROM WHAT WAS EXACTLY TAUGHT TO HIM.
ONE OF MITOSE'S FEW STUDENTS WAS A MAN NAMED WILLIAM KWAI SUN
CHOW. CHOW HAD PRIOR TRAINING IN HIS OWN FATHER'S "KUNG FU" METHODS
AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE JUDO EXPERIENCE. THIS BACKGROUND ALLOWED HIM
TO COMBINE PRINCIPLES OF COMBAT WITH MORE CREATIVE FREEDOM THAN HIS
TEACHER MITOSE.
CHOW ALSO TAUGHT SMALL CLASSES AND IN IT WAS A YOUNG PROTEGE,
ADRIANO D. EMPERADO. EMPERADO HAD COME TO HIM ALREADY A POLISHED
MARTIAL ARTIST, HAVING BEGUN HIS TRAINING IN THE LATE 30'S WITH FILIPINO
ESCRIMA, FIRST WITH "ISAAC" THEN "ALEXANDRO" AND FINALLY "ALFREDO
PERALTA."
IN 1943 EMPERADO BEGAN HIS STUDY OF "KODOKAN JUDO" WITH SENSEI
TANEO AT THE PALAMA SETTLEMENT GYM. THEN ADVANCED HIS STUDIES
SEVERAL YEARS LATER TO KENPO JUJITSU WITH PROFESSOR CHOW, FIRST AT THE
CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION, THEN LATER AT THE KAHEKA GYM ON
KAHEKA LANE.
SIJO EMPERADO RECEIVED HIS MARTIAL ART TRAINING FROM PROFESSOR
WILLIAM K.S. CHOW AND PROFESSOR JAMES MITOSE. FROM THESE MEN HE
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RECEIVED HIS 5 DEGREE BLACK BELT ON AUGUST 10 1950.
HE ATTENDED INSTRUCTOR'S ADVANCED TRAINING GIVEN BY PROFESSOR
MITOSE IN 1951. THESE CLASSES WERE HELD AT PROFESSOR'S MITOSE'S
RESIDENCE AND AT THE GYM LOCATED ON EMMA STREET, WHICH WAS THEN
KNOWN AS THE "OFFICIAL SELF-DEFENSE CLUB." HE RECEIVED HIS
INSTRUCTOR'S CERTIFICATE FROM PROFESSOR MITOSE IN 1952.
DURING THIS PERIOD, EMPERADO WAS TRAINING 8-12 HOURS A DAY,
PURSUING A CONVERGENCE POINT FOR ALL THAT HE HAD LEARNED. ALWAYS
HUNGRY FOR MORE, HE USED THE TOUGH STREETS OF THE NOTORIOUS PALAMA
DISTRICT FOR HIS LABORATORY.
HE ASSIMILATED THE TRUTH OF THESE ARTS AS WELL AS CHOICE TECHNIQUES
FROM RING BOXING AND KUNG FU STYLES, GLEANED FROM IMPROMPTU VISITS
TO CLOSED TRAINING SESSION IN THE PRIVATE KUNG FU CLASSES OF VARIOUS
CHINESE MASTERS HE HAD BEFRIENDED.
KAJUKENBO IN IT EARLY DAYS WAS NOTED AS A BRUTAL AND ROUGH-HOUSE
STYLE OF SELF-DEFENSE. IN THE EARLY DAYS OF TOURNAMENTS, SOME OF THE
MORE CLASSICAL KARATE SYSTEMS, REFERRED TO THE KAJUKENBO FIGHTERS
AS "BRUTISH STREET FIGHTERS."
IN AN ARTICLE WRITTEN IN THE NOVEMBER 1966 ISSUE OF BLACK BELT
MAGAZINE; THERE IS AN ARTICLE ABOUT "LUA" (PRONOUNCED "LOO-AH") A BONE-
BREAKING FORM OF PERSONAL DEFENSE. IT WAS THE MARTIAL ART OF THE
BODYGUARDS OF THE HAWAIIAN KINGS. SOME SAY IT WAS THE DEADLIEST FORM
OF UNARMED SELF-DEFENSE EVER INVENTED.
THE LATE PROFESSOR HENRY S. OKAZAKI (JOSEPH HOLCK INSTRUCTOR) WAS
QUOTED; AS SAYING THAT WHILE "LUA" HAD MANY SIMILARITIES TO JUJITSU,
THE HAWAIIAN ART WAS MORE EFFECTIVE. IT IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE A LOST
ART.
IN THIS SAME ARTICLE THE LAST PARAGRAPH IS QUOTED:
"BUT WHILE "LUA" AND OTHER ARTS GRADUALLY DIED OUT, THE LEGACY OF
VIOLENT DEFENSIVE FORM STILL HANGS ON. A RECENT EXAMPLE WAS THE
FAMOUS--OR INFAMOUS, DEPENDING UPON HOW ONE LOOK AT IT. --"EMPERADO"
SCHOOL OF KARATE WHICH WAS SO PROMINENT ONLY A SHORT TIME AGO. THIS
TYPE OF LAWLESS KARATE WAS SO RUGGED THAT SOME OF THE STUDENTS
WERE REPORTED TO HAVE FORTIFIED THEMSELVES WITH SEVERAL STIFF BELTS
OF LIQUOR BEFORE CLASSES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ENDURE THE ROUGH
GOING OVER THEY GOT FROM INSTRUCTORS. WITH THIS TYPE OF
BACKGROUND, IT IS LITTLE WONDER THAT TODAY'S HAWAIIANS ARE SO
PROFICIENT IN THE MODERN--AND MORE DISCIPLINED--FORMS OF JAPANESE
MARTIAL ARTS."
THROUGH THE YEARS, SIJO EMPERADO HAS TO HIS CREDIT THE TRAINING OF
THOUSANDS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE,
THROUGH THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE MARTIAL ARTS. HE HAS TAUGHT
ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL, AS WELL AS THE HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND VICE SQUAD. BUT DESPITE ALL HIS SUCCESS, SIJO EMPERADO REMAINS A
DEDICATED AND INTENSELY SINCERE MAN, WHOSE CHIEF AIM FOR THE MARTIAL
ARTS IS TO BUILD STRONG, HONORABLE AND DEDICATED STUDENTS.
KAJUKENBO ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
FEBRUARY 22, 1967

THE COAT OF ARMS/EMBLEM WAS ORIGINATED, DESIGNED BY SIFU AL. J.


DACASCOS WITH THE HELPFUL AID OF DR. SUN, PROFESSOR OF CHINESE
PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE AND THE ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL OF SIJO A. D.
EMPERADO; PROFESSOR AND FOUNDER OF THE KAJUKENBO SELF-DEFENSE
SYSTEM.
IT IS THE ORIGINAL COAT OF ARMS DESIGNED FOR THE SCHOOL OF CHINESE
KEMPO-GUNG FU (SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA) ONE OF THE SOFT STYLE SCHOOLS
EXTENDING OUT OF THE KAJUKENBO SYSTEM. IT WAS DESIGNED IN FEB. 1965
FOR THE CH'UAN FA GUNG-FU SCHOOLS AND INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED INTO
THE KAJUKENBO ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA INC. JAN. 1968. IT IS ALSO USED BY
MANY KAJUKENBO SELF-DEFENSE INSTITUTE OF HAWAII (INC). INTRODUCED AND
ACCEPTED MAY 1965.
THERE WERE FIVE KAJUKENBO SELF-DEFENSE INSTITUTES IN THE FIRST
KAJUKENBO ASSOCIATION ON THE "MAINLAND" THAT WAS SANCTIONED BY SIJO
A. D. EMPERADO.
ALEJU REYES (SUISUN CITY)-TONY RAMOS (FAIRFIELD)-JOE HALBUNA (SAN
FRANCISCO)-CHARLES GAYLORD (HAYWARD)-AL DACASCOS (SAN LEANDRO)
EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

1. THE WHITE, BLACK AND RED ARE THE BASIC COLORS OF THE KAJUKENBO
SELF-DEFENSE INSTITUTE. (COLORS OF PROMOTION)
2. THE GREEN AND GOLD ARE THE ADOPTED ASSOCIATION COLORS. BLENDED
OR MIXED TO UNIFY THE EMBLEM AND SYSTEMS.
3. THE RED CIRCLE REPRESENTS THE HARD AND SOFT STYLES BOUND TOGETHER
IN A CONTINUOUS FLOW. HARD TO SOFT-SOFT TO HARD. CHI OR KI MEANING
UNIVERSE OR UNIVERSAL.
4. THE GREEN REEDS: YOUTH (STUDENTS, SCHOOL OR ASSOCIATION) STRIVING FOR
KNOWLEDGE). WHILE THE REED REPRESENTS KNOWLEDGE; IT ALSO STANDS FOR
THE SYMBOL OF THE SIL LUM SYSTEM; FROM WHICH ALL OF OUR ARTS CAME
FROM. THE STEM IS THE FIRST AND THE LEAVES ARE THE DIFFERENT STYLES
THAT FOLLOWED. THE STEM ON THE RIGHT ALSO REPRESENTS THE "TIGER" AND
THE STEM ON THE LEFT REPRESENTS THE "DRAGON". "TIGER AND DRAGON IS
CONFERENCE."
5. THE GREEN REEDS TO THE CLOVER: STUDENTS GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE,
STRIVING TO ACHIEVE THE STANDING HELD BY THE PROFESSOR OF THE
KAJUKENBO STYLE OF SELF-DEFENSE.
6. THE WHITE CLOVER: THE SYMBOL OF A. D. EMPERADO, THE PROFESSOR AND
FOUNDER OF THE KAJUKENBO SYSTEM. CLEANLINESS OF BODY, MIND AND
SPIRIT. IN HAWAII, THE WHITE CLOVER HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS THE
"KAJUKENBO SYMBOL".
7. THE THREE LEAVES OF THE WHITE CLOVER: STAND FOR "BODY" "MIND" AND
"SPIRIT". THE COLOR IS FOR PURITY, CLEANLINESS AND PERFECTION. THESE ARE
THE ULTIMATE GOALS FOR A STUDENT OF THE "MARTIAL ARTS".
8. GOLDEN OCTAGON: TECHNIQUES (LAO CHI CHUAN). EACH OF THE EIGHT (8) SIDES
REPRESENT ONE ANGLE OF DEFENSE AND ATTACK UTILIZED IN THESE FORMS. IN
OPPOSITION TO THE FOUR (4) BASIC FRONT, BACK AND SIDE MOTIONS IN KARATE.
ALSO REPRESENTS THE EIGHT ORIGINAL BASIC MONKEYMAN FORMS.
9. THE CHINESE CHARACTERS ON THE LEFT OF THE REED: "CH'UAN-FA" MEANS
"FIST WAY" OR "FIST STYLE". THE SYMBOLS ON THE RIGHT "GUNG FU" SIMPLY
MEANS "SKILL".
THUS "CH'UAN-FA GUNG FU" MEANS "SKILL IN THE WAY OF THE FIST".
10. THE FIVE COLORS REPRESENT THE FIVE BASIC SYSTEMS USED IN THE
CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS. HUNG (POWER PUNCHES)-LI (POKES AND SLAPS)-MO
(BLOCKING AND BREAKING)-CHOY (KICKS AND SIDE PUNCHES)-FUT (SLICING TECHNIQUES)
ALSO THE FIVE ORIGINATORS AND THEIR ARTS: CHOO (TANG SOO DO)-HOLCK
(KODOKAN JUDO/DANZAN RYU JUJITSU)-ORDONEZ (SEKEINO JUJITSU)-EMPERADO
(KENPO)-CHANG (SIL LUM GUNG FU OR CHINESE BOXING)
THE EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS: TAKEN FROM NOTES WROTE BY SIFU AL. J.
DACASCOS IN THE LATE 1960'S.
SUISUN SELF-DEFENSE INSTITUTE

THE TOP PATCH WAS USED BY ALEJU REYES' SUISUN SELF-DEFENSE INSTITUTE
IN THE 1960'S.
THE BLACK PATCH WAS WORN BY THE BLACK BELT INSTRUCTORS.
THE STUDENTS WORE A WHITE PATCH.
THE SCHOOL WAS LOCATED IN SUISUN CITY, CALIFORNIA.

KAJUKENBO SELF-DEFENSE INSTITUTE

THE BOTTOM PATCH IS WORN BY THE SCHOOLS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH SIJO A.D. EMPERADO'S "K.S.D.I" ASSOCIATION.
JAMES MASAYOSHI MITOSE
st
(21 DESCENDANT)
KOSHO-RYU KEMPO SHURI RYU KEMPO (CHOKI MOTOBU)
KYUSHU/JAPAN OKINAWA
KOSHO SHOREI KEMPO
HAWAII

WILLIAM K. S. CHOW (HOON CHOW-SHOALIN KUNG FU)


KARA HO KEMPO (HAWAII)

ADRIANO EMPERADO
KAJUKENBO (HAWAII)

ALEJU REYES
KAJUKENBO (HAWAII/CALIFORNIA)

JAMES MITOSE WAS BORN IN HAWAII 1916, THEN SENT TO JAPAN AT A YOUNG
AGE TO LEARN HIS FAMILY'S TRADITIONS AND THEIR MARTIAL ART "KOSHO RYU".
IN THE 1930s, HE RETURNED TO HAWAII AND TAUGHT THE ART TO AMERICAN
SOLDIERS STATIONED ON THE ISLANDS.
THE DAY AFTER THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, MITOSE MADE ONE OF THE
MOST DIFFICULT DECISIONS OF HIS LIFE: HE TURNED HIS BACK ON HIS
CULTURAL HERITAGE TO DEFEND HIS HOMELAND, ENLISTING IN THE
TERRITORIAL GUARD. THE TERRITORIAL GUARD WAS DISBANDED. AND MITOSE
STARTED THE OFFICIAL SELF-DEFENSE CLUB AT THE BERETANIA MISSION IN
HONOLULU, WHERE HE TAUGHT HIS FAMILY ART TO THE PUBLIC. AMONG HIS
STUDENTS WAS WILLIAM K. S. CHOW, WHO WOULD BECOME ONE OF KEMPO'S
MOST NOTED INSTRUCTORS.
IN 1956, MITOSE MOVED TO CALIFORNIA, WHERE HE CONTINUED TEACHING
"KOSHO-RYU".
THINGS WENT RELATIVELY SMOOTHLY FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, BUT ON MARCH
20, 1974, TRAGEDY STRUCK WHEN A LOS ANGELES STRAWBERRY FARMER WAS
MURDERED IN HIS HOME. PORTRAYED AS A JAPANESE "CHARLES MANSON", HE
WAS CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, CONSPIRACY, EXTORTION AND
GRAND THEFT AND WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON EVEN THOUGH HE WAS
NOT THE MAN WHO DID THE KILLING. THE ACTUAL KILLER PLEA-BARGAINED HIS
WAY TO A PRISON TERM OF JUST OVER THREE YEARS. MITOSE, MEANWHILE,
SPENT THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON AND DIED JUST ONE MONTH SHORT OF
HIS PAROLE DATE
MITOSE LENT A LOS ANGELES STRAWBERRY FARMER $10,000. "IN TRADITIONAL
JAPANESE CULTURE, IF YOU PROSPERED, YOU PAID A LOAN BACK TENFOLD. IF
YOU DIDN'T PROSPER, YOU OWED NOTHING". THE FARMER PROSPERED AND PAID
BACK $60,000.
THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER WAS AT THAT TIME DATING AN ASSISTANT LOS
ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY. WHEN SHE TOLD HER BOYFRIEND ABOUT $60,000
REPAYMENT. HE SAID IT WAS EXTORTION.
THE STRAWBERRY FARMER SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD MITOSE THAT HE WOULD
NOT REPAY HIM ANY MORE MONEY, CAUSING A HEATED ARGUMENT BETWEEN
THE TWO FRIENDS.
MITOSE HAD A STUDENT WHO HE HAD BEEN TEACHING THE SPIRITUAL
CONCEPTS OF "KOSHO-RYU". AND THE STUDENT VOLUNTEERED TO ACT AS
MEDIATOR TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE.
INSTEAD OF MEDIATING, HOWEVER, THE STUDENT GOT INTO A FIGHT WITH
THE STRAWBERRY FARMER AND KILLED HIM. THE STUDENT WAS ARRESTED BY
THE POLICE, AND IN RETURN FOR A SECOND-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE, THE
STUDENT CLAIMED JAMES MITOSE ORDERED HIM TO KILL THE FARMER.
DURING THE TRAIL, MITOSE TOLD THE COURT THAT "HE ALONE WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS STUDENT'S ACTIONS". THIS WAS MITOSE, THE TEACHER,
TAKING RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS STUDENT'S BEHAVIOR- NOT MITOSE THE KILLER,
ADMITTING TO CONSPIRACY.
THEY CALLED HIM A CULT LEADER BECAUSE OF HIS JAPANESE PHILOSOPHY.
EVEN A REQUEST BY THE DEFENSE LAWYER FOR A JAPANESE INTERPRETER TO
SPEAK FOR HIM AND EXPLAIN THE CULTURAL SIDE OF HIS ACTIONS WAS TURNED
DOWN BY THE COURT.
MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL HAS COME FORTH SINCE MITOSE'S DEATH,
CLAIMING TO BE "KOSHO-RYU" SUCCESSOR AFTER LEARNING THE ART'S SECRETS
FROM MITOSE WHILE IN PRISON. ACCORDING TO MITOSE' S SON, THOMAS BARRO
MITOSE, "THEIR CLAIMS ARE INVALID".
IN 1990, AN ORGANIZATION WAS FORMED TO RAISE FUNDS FOR MITOSE'S
APPEAL. SEVERAL BLACK BELTS FROM OTHER SYSTEMS WANTED TO HELP AND
THEY BEGAN VISITING MITOSE IN PRISON, SEEKING KNOWLEDGE AND RANK
ADVANCEMENT.
THEY PROMISED THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT HIS EFFORTS TO WIN APPEAL. IN
RETURN HE PROMOTED MANY OF THESE BELTS TO MASTER STATUS IN "KOSHO-
RYU. ALL BUT ONE OF THEM ABANDONED THEIR PROMISE, AFTER RECEIVING
THEIR RANK CERTIFICATES.
WHEN ASKED BY HIS SON: "EXACTLY WHAT HE TAUGHT THESE MEN": MITOSE
SAID "I GAVE THEM SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE". JAMES MITOSE
WAS NOT PERMITTED TO TEACH PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES DUE TO STRICT PRISON
RULES.
MUCH OF WHAT IS NOW CALLED "KEMPO" AND "KAJUKENBO" CAME FROM
JAMES MITOSE'S "KOSHO-RYU". BOTH KEMPO INSTRUCTOR CHOW AND
KAJUKENBO FOUNDER ADRIANO EMPERADO WERE STUDENTS OF MITOSE.
CHOW LATER ALTERED THE "KOSHO-RYU" KEMPO TAUGHT TO HIM BY MITOSE,
ADDING TECHNIQUES FROM THE CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS HE LEARNED FROM HIS
FATHER.
JAMES MITOSE WAS A BIG BELIEVER IN MAKIWARA TRAINING, CLAIMING THAT
THE PURPOSE OF SUCH PUNCHING AND KICKING PRACTICE WAS TO "PUNCH AND
KICK OUT THE EVIL IN ONE'S MIND."
MOST OF THE "MITOSE HISTORY" IS FROM A BLACK BELT ARTICLE BY JAMES
MITOSE'S SON, "THOMAS BARRO MITOSE," IN NOVEMBER 1992. "THE JAMES
MITOSE UNTOLD STORY."
WRITTEN BY: JANE HALLANDER.
HENRY SEISHIRO OKAZAKI
(JOSEPH HOLCK'S INSTRUCTOR)

OVERLOOKED TODAY AND ALMOST FORGOTTEN IS THE NAME "HENRY


SEISHIRO OKAZAKI", FOUNDER OF THE AMERICAN JU JITSU INSTITUTE OF
HAWAII. HE DESERVES MORE THAN ANY OTHER THE FAME OF BEING THE FIRST
TO TEACH JIU JITSU TO ANY AMERICAN WITHOUT DISTINCTION AS TO RACE,
COLOR, OR CREED.
HIS SYSTEM THE "KODENKAN" REMAINS THE MOST WIDELY TAUGHT SYSTEM
OF SELF-DEFENSE JIU JITSU IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY.
BORN IN THE TOWNSHIP OF KEKEDACHO, FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE, ON THE
ISLAND OF HONSHU, JAPAN, JANUARY 28, 1890. HE CAME TO HAWAII IN 1906 WHEN
HE WAS 16 YEARS OLD.
INFORMED BY A DOCTOR THAT HE WAS SUFFERING FROM A LUNG DISEASE, HE
1
TOOK UP JUDO UNDER MASTER KICHIMASTSU TANAKA AT THE SHINYU-KAI
DOJO IN AN EFFORT TO REGAIN HIS HEALTH.
DURING THE FOLLOWING YEARS HE STUDIED UNDER VARIOUS MASTERS IN
HILO, HAWAII AND MASTERED THE YOSKIN, IWAGA AND KOSAGABU/KOSOGABE
SCHOOLS OF JU JITSU. AT THE SAME TIME, HE ACQUIRED THE ART OF RYUKYUAN
BOXING (KARATE) FROM A JAPANESE OF OKINAWA PREFECTURE, THE TECHNIQUES
OF FILIPINO KNIFE PLAY FROM A FILIPINO AND THE ART OF THROWING A DIRK
FROM A SPANIARD, THE ANCIENT AND FORBIDDEN DEADLY ART OF LUA FROM A
HAWAIIAN AND THE CHINESE ART OF KUNG FU FROM MASTER WO CHONG, A 78
YEAR OLD CHINESE FROM KOHALA; (MUSHI-JITSU) A SYSTEM OF BOXING
DESIGNED TO "KILL" THE OPPONENT. HE ALSO STUDIED AMERICAN BOXING AND
WRESTLING WITH A VIEW TO ADAPTING JU JITSU TO AMERICAN STYLES OF
FIGHTING.
IN ABOUT 1924 HE RETURNED TO JAPAN AND VISITED MORE THAN FIFTY
DOJOS, MASTERED 675 DIFFERENT KINDS OF TECHNIQUES OR FORMS AND MADE
A SPECIAL STUDY OF KAPPO SAPPO (CURE OR KILL) AND SCHUKJITSU (RESTORATIVE
MASSAGE).
MASTER OKAZAKI DIED IN 1951. HIS FIGHT TO OVERCOME A LUNG DISEASE 45
YEARS EARLIER HAD BEEN THE OPENING ROUND IN A SUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO
OPEN THE DOOR OF JUDO/JU JITSU FOR THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS WHO OWE
THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE MARTIAL ARTS TO HIS WORK. IT IS A GREAT DEBT.
THE INFLUENCE OF HIS TEACHING WAS FELT BOTH DIRECTLY AND
INDIRECTLY. EVEN A CASUAL GLANCE OF "FIELD MANUAL 21-250" UNARMED
DEFENSE FOR THE AMERICAN SOLDIER", JUNE, 1942, REVEALS THAT THE
OFFICIAL BASIS FOR THAT SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION IN THE U.S. ARMED
FORCES DURING WORLD WAR II WAS THE "OKAZAKI JU JITSU SYSTEM".
"KODENKAN JUDO"= THE SCHOOL OF ANCIENT TRADITION. (STUDENT TEACHING
STUDENT)
"DAN ZAN RYU"= CEDAR MOUNTAIN OR HAWAIIAN ISLAND JU JITSU.
NOTES: 1. TAKEN FROM THE "NIBUKIKAN", CHICO, CALIFORNIA. (SENSEI ROBERT
FISCHER)
2. PROF. JOSEPH HOLCK'S "KODENKAN YUDANSHAKAI", TUCSON,
ARIZONA.
(SIFU/SENSEI MICHAEL WHITTLE, GILBERT, ARIZONA)

1
IN BOTH THE NOTES: MASTER OKAZAKI'S FIRST JUDO INSTRUCTOR'S NAME WAS
GIVEN AS "KICHIMATUA TANAKA" ALSO AS "YOSHIMASTSU TANAKA".
PROFESSOR SIEGFRIED KUFFERATH
th
10 DAN, DANZAN-RYU SHOAI KEISHOSHA, JUJUTSU DAI-SHIHAN
(1911-1999)

PROF. SIG. KUFFERATH WAS THE HEADMASTER OF THE DANZAN-RYU JUJUTSU


SYSTEM. HE WAS THE MOST SENIOR STUDENT OF PROF. HENRY S. OKAZAKI AND
AN ACTIVE TEACHER OF DANZAN-RYU JUJUTSU UNTILY SHORTLY BEFORE HIS
DEATH IN 1999.
BORN SIEGFRIED KUFFERATH (HE PREFERRED TO BE CALLED “SIG”) ON FEBRUARY
16, 1911 IN HONOLULU, HIS FATHER WAS A FORMER CONSULATE TO JAPAN FROM
GERMANY. HIS MOTHER WAS JAPANESE. AS MANY AS 11 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
WERE SPOKEN IN THE KUFFERATH HOME. AS A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
HAWAII, HE EXCELLED IN TRACK.
IN 1937 HE WAS ASK TO VISIT THE JUJUTSU CLASS OF ONE OF HIS NEIGHBORS.
THAT NEIGHBOR WAS HENRY S. OKAZAKI; THUS BEGAN KUFFERATH’S LONG
JOURNEY IN THE MARTIAL ARTS. IN 1941, HE RECEIVED HIS FIRST DEGREE BLACK
BELT FROM PROF. OKAZAKI AND ALSO RECEIVED A “MOKUROKU” (TEACHER’S
SCROLL), AN HONOR USUALLY RESERVED FOR SECOND DEGREE BLACK BELTS.
ALONGWITH HIS TEACHING PARTNER “BING-FAI LAU” AND ESTHER AZUMI”
(LATER TAKAMOTO), HE INSTRUCTED AT BOTH THE KODENKAN AND KAHEKA LANE
DOJOS.
HE LEARNED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM FROM PROF. OKAZAKI AND SINCE HE SPOKE
JAPANESE, HE WAS TAUGHT THE SYSTEM IN THAT LANGUAGE. HE ALSO LEARNED
THE “SEIFUKJUTSU” OF ADJUSTMENT AND RESTORATION AND CONTINUED TO
TEACH AND PRACTICE THESE ARTS UNTIL SHORTLY BEFORE HIS DEATH.
IN 1948 HE ATTENDED A SPECIAL “OKUGI” (INNER MYSTERIES) CLASS GIVEN BY
PROFESSOR OKAZAKI, FOR HIS BLACK BELT INSTRUCTORS. UPON COMPLETION
OF THIS COURSE, HE RECEIVED A “KAIDENSHO” (CERTIFICATE OF MASTERY) AND
WAS GIVEN THE TITLE OF SHIHAN.
AFTER PROFESSOR OKAZAKI DEATH IN 1951, THE AMERICAN JUJITSU
INSTITUTE (AJI) ELECTED HIM TO SUCCEED OKAZAKI AS PROFESSOR. HE
CONTINUED IN THIS POSITION UNTIL 1960, WHEN HE MOVED TO THE MAINLAND.
IN THE SUMMER OF 1993, HE REPEATED THE “OKUGI” CLASS FOR A GROUP OF
DANZAN-RYU INSTRUCTORS, THUS PASSING ON THE OKAZAKI TRADITION TO A
NEW GENERATION.
PROF. KUFFERATH ALSO HELD BLACK BELTS IN JUDO AND AIKIDO. HE WAS
ONE OF “SHIHAN JOSEPH HOLCK” INSTRUCTORS. (ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF
KAJUKENBO)
PROFESSOR SIG. KUFFERATH PASSED AWAY AT HIS HOME IN SANTA CLARA,
CALIFORNIA ON MAY 7, 1999. HE LIVED A LONG, FULL LIFE AND MADE AN
IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO MANY PERSONS LIVES. HIS TEACHING AND
THERAPY LIVES ON THROUGH HIS SENIOR STUDENT, PROF. TONY JANOVICH, OF
THE KODENKAN JUJITSU AND RESTORATION.
PROFESSOR WILLIAM K. S. CHOW
(1914-1987)
ONE OF A. D. EMPERADO INSTRUCTORS

WILLIAM KWAI SUN CHOW WAS BORN IN HONOLULU, HAWAII ON JULY 3, 1914.
WILLIAM CHOW WAS ALSO KNOWN AS “THUNDERBOLT” BECAUSE OF HIS
INCREDIBLE SPEED AND POWER. HE SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE PRACTICING AND
PERFECTING HIS MARTIAL ARTS; HE BECAME QUITE FAMOUS FOR HIS MARTIAL
PROWESS AND EXCELLENT MEMORY OF TECHNIQUES.
PROF. CHOW WAS PROMOTED TO BLACK BELT BY THOMAS YOUNG, ONE OF
PROF. JAMES MITOSE’S TOP STUDENTS AND A CLOSE FRIEND. HE LEFT PROF.
MITOSE IN 1949, AFTER BECOMING AN INSTRUCTOR AND OPEN HIS OWN KENPO
SCHOOL. IT WAS PROF. CHOW WHO COINED THE TERM “KENPO KARATE” TO
DISTINGUISH HIS SYSTEM FROM PROF. MITOSE’S “KEMPO JUI-JITSU. SOME
TWENTY YEARS LATER PROF. CHOW RENAMED HIS SYSTEM “CHINESE KEMPO OF
KARA-HO KARATE”.
PROFESSOR WILLIAM KWAI SUN CHOW DIED IN HONOLULU ON SEPT. 21, 1987.

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