The Founding of Kajukenbo

In the late 1940s, the Palama Settlement was a violent area. Because of this environment, five martial artists from varying backgrounds, initially known as the "Black Belt Society", came together with the goal of developing an art that would be practical and effective on the street. These founders sought to develop one style that would complement each of their individual styles and yet allow for effective fighting at a greater variety of ranges and speeds.

The five founding members of Kajukenbo were:

• Adriano D. Emperado — Kosho Shorei-Ryū Kenpo, Arnis and Ng Ying Kung Fu
• Joseph Holck — Kodokan Judo
• Peter Young Yil Choo — Tang Soo Do (Moo Duk Kwan), Boxing and Shotokan Karate
• Frank F. Ordonez — Sekeino Jujutsu
• Clarence Chang — Sil-Lum Pai Gongfu (Ng Ying Kung Fu and Chin Na)

Of the five, Adriano Directo Emperado is often attributed to be the founder. In its conception, the founders followed a simple rule: if a technique worked consistently on the street (or against one another), then it stayed in the system; if it did not, it was discarded. This allowed the style to maintain its self-defense focus while covering limitations found within each of their traditional arts.