Mixed Martial Arts Club
407-512-0623
What is Kajukenbo?
KAJUKENBO ORIGINS
Kajukenbo is a mixed martial art originating from the Palama Settlement of Oahu, Hawaii with its formative years taking place during 1947 to 1949. Its birth came from five martial artists of different traditional styles who began training together in secret.
Titling themselves
"The Black Belt Society."
Their goal was to combine the most practical aspects of each individual art form to create an an aggressive & fluent style to counter the violence in their local environment.
In 1950, one of the five men, Adriano D. Emperado, and his brother, Joseph Emperado, opened this art to the public in formal classes. They called the school the
Kajukenbo Self Defense Institute (K.S.D.I.).
Sijo Adriano D. Emperado founded the system and paved the path for the future. Since its creation Kajukenbo has grown into a worldwide organization. All of its 5 creators have since passed but their legacy carries on.
DISCIPLINES AND PRINCIPLES
Kajukenbo from the beginning has been a mixed martial art. Originally forming from the main five styles brought by the five creators.
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KA - Tang Soo Do Karate (Professor Peter Young Yil Choo)
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JU - Kodokan Judo (Professor Joe Holck) &
Sekeino Jujutsu (Professor Frank Odrenez)
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KEN - "Old Pine Tree Kenpo" or Kosho Shorei-Ryu Kenpo
- (Sijo Adriano Emperado)
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BO - Chinese Boxing / Kung Fu or Sil Lum Pai Gung-Fu
- (Professor Clarence Chang)​
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Over time different branches have introduced a variety of styles & methods within the Kajukenbo system. In its core, Kajukenbo was developed to allow these differences. Free expression within the art form and exploring knowledge from different sources is important to the foundation of Kajukenbo.
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Newell's Kajukenbo strives to follow the Emperado Method.
This method focuses on two ideals.
1. Techniques are adopted & adapted based on new gained knowledge from any source with purpose to keep the art practical as well as fluid.
2. Contact in training is required to test effectiveness
This approach is what gave Kajukenbo its reputation as a solid response to real dangers in the world.
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Striving to Follow the Emperado Method helps training remain Eclectic and Effective.
NEWELL KAJUKENBO'S INSTRUCTOR
Sifu Ethan Newell discovered a love for martial arts early on. As a child lacking skill in regular sports & having faced bullying there was a natural interest in learning self defense.
His grandfather set him on the path when he placed him in a Shaolin Kempo class for a summer at the age of 11.
After that summer he found his martial art home at
Hoyt's Kajukenbo.
Sigung Greg Hoyt began teaching Ethan in the Emperado Method of Kajukenbo. The classes were hard, but the education was fulfilling. Lessons followed a classic curriculum while new styles & ideas were tested out often. Sparring was regular to help develop confidence and simulate realism. Years of training under Sigung Greg and other Kajukenbo instructors nourished a passion for martial arts. In June of 2021, he earned his third degree black belt with the rank of Sifu.
Around 2012 he was introduced to Sensei/Guru Michael Koerner who began teaching Bujutsu Judo and Silat at Hoyt's Kajukenbo. This training gave new perspective. Focusing on fluid motion, body mechanics, and seamlessly switching between the use of weapons or empty hand in each technique.
In this time period he also began studying Goshin Jutsu Judo under Sensei Todd Venzian. The training focused on sharpening classical Judo techniques to then mix in Bujutsu elements. He earned his Orange Belt in Judo in 2016.
During the Covid-19 pandemic training was moved to an outdoor park where Sifu Ethan taught classes with Sigung Greg and Sifu George Davis in Phoenix, AZ. In July 2021, he moved to Orlando, FL with his family to start a new adventure.
Sifu Ethan now teaches Kajukenbo in the Windermere area. He continues to study the martial arts and cross train with new arts as opportunities arise.
