Fact BoxAdriano EmperadoJune 15, 1926 - April 4, 2009
* WHAT: Adriano Emperado funeral service
* WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon visitation; noon to 1:30 p.m. service; lunch to follow at Maui Waena Intermediate. A second service will be on May 30 at Nu'uanu Mortuary on Oahu.
* WHERE: Ballard Family Mortuary, 440 Ala Makani Place in Kahului
* DETAILS: Call 205-4765 or e-mail kawahinekoa2004@yahoo.comKajukenbo
A rough-and-tumble martial art has lost legendary street-fighting man and beloved teacher, Adriano Emperado
By LEHIA APANA, Staff Writer
Sijo Adriano Emperado was a true product of his environment. Growing up in Oahu's rough Palama Settlement neighborhood where brawls and confrontations were a daily reality, the young Emperado learned firsthand what it meant to fight for survival.
That fierce little boy grew up to become one of the best-known figures in the martial arts community. Considered the granddaddy of kajukenbo, his teachings are revered by diehard fighters throughout the world. On April 4 the art form lost its icon when Emperado, 82, died in his sleep at Hale Makua.
"Everybody who does kajukenbo knew who Sijo was," says Sigung Kailani Koa, his former student and caregiver. "He's the root of everything and he really started it all."
Fighting was literally in his blood, with both his father and uncle professional boxers. Emperado's early training included basic escrima techniques, a Filipino martial arts using stick and sword fighting. He later took up kempo under the legendary William K.S. Chow.
In 1947, Emperado combined his own street-fighting styles with four peers to create the Black Belt Society, proving that when it comes to fighting, the sum is greater than its parts. Peter Choo was a champion boxer and black belt in tang soo do; Frank Ordonez a black belt in se keino ryu; Joe Holck a black belt in kodenkan; Clarence Chang an expert in kung fu; and Emperado a black belt in kenpo.
Together they created a deadly kajukenbo system that combined each person's expertise: Korean karate (KA), Japanese judo and jujitsu (JU), Okinawan kenpo (KEN) and Chinese boxing (BO). This chameleon of the martial arts world was meant to adapt to any situation.
The men perfected their techniques during secret meetings in abandoned buildings during the late 1940s. When the Korean War broke out, all but Emperado were drafted into service, leaving him to carry on the system. He did exactly that by opening the first kajukenbo school in 1950 at the Palama Settlement Gym.
"He's a legend and he's the one who really started mixed martial arts," says Grandmaster Gary Forbach, who studied under Emperado. "He was so far ahead of his time in the 1940s by putting together all these martial arts and mixing them into one."
Forbach describes Emperado as a "generous, loving man who accepted everyone." While Emperado was a master at his art, Forbach says his greatest legacy is his acceptance of those around him.
"I can talk about how great he was at martial arts, but it was more than that," explains Forbach. "It didn't matter if you were rich, poor, black, white, green, purple ... He was never prejudiced and never turned anyone away."
Kajukenbo has come a long way from its scrappy beginnings and undercover training sessions. From its Hawaii roots, the style spread throughout the world and today students spanning all ages and backgrounds are picking up where Emperado left off. It's a movement not even Emperado expected.
"Never in his wildest dreams did he think kajukenbo would be worldwide like this," says Koa. "He just thought it would be this small thing in a garage."
But its growth has also brought about various technical changes, causing some confusion and disagreement among its membership. The Black Belt Society was revived in 1978 in an attempt to reunify the system, bringing together top kajukenbo instructors to share their knowledge. Today many kajukenbo students use their skills for tournament competition or mixed martial arts matches; however, the basic goal of kajukenbo remains: survive a street fight. It's a style where points don't matter and the winner is the last one standing.
"It's a true street-fighting art where you can put somebody out on the street and they'll be able to defend themselves," explains former student Sigung Henry Aiau Koa.
Emperado's early workouts were notorious for this kind of no-nonsense brutality that routinely left fighters with broken bones and bruises. During a 1992 interview, Emperado was quoted as telling his students, "I'm not satisfied until I see blood on the floor." The mentality being you have to know how to take pain to give it.
That intensity was keenly evident at a recent training session in Wailuku, where one student limped off the mat with a split knee cap. Next stop, emergency room.
"(Emperado) would always say, "Make pain your friend,' " Koa explains.
Hearkening back to its street- fighting roots, true kajukenbo is executed with an "anything goes" mentality. Nothing is off limits, including scratching an opponent's eyes or kicking a person's groin. Despite its renegade reputation, kajukenbo students say it's a form of protection rather than aggression.
"It means that I can go on the street and I know I can defend myself - that's what Sijo taught us," Koa says.
"As a woman I know I can walk down the street by myself and be ready for anything."
Forbach credits his kajukenbo skills to saving his life on several occasions, adding that he's been shot at and stabbed.
"In those kinds of situations it's either you or me, so there's no limits," he explains. "But at the same time the idea is that when you take control you stop, so there's no overkill. (Emperado) never told anyone to beat the ---- out of someone."
Kailani Koa points out that younger kajukenbo students learn differently than the adults. They are still taught self-defense techniques, although with slightly subdued intensity.
"The martial art that I teach the kids is self defense," she explains. "So say they're walking home from school and somebody comes up and grabs them, they'll be able to protect themselves."
Like many martial arts, respect and discipline are equally important as learning the techniques. She points out that she has turned away students who she felt "weren't ready, weren't pono" to learn the lethal art.
"Students have to have the right attitude and they gotta have the right heart," explains Kailani Koa. "You don't want to teach something like this to someone whose heart is dark and evil."
Emperado's family, friends and former students will gather for a memorial service Saturday at Ballard Family Mortuary in Kahului to bid a final goodbye a true legend. A second service will be held May 30 at Nu'uanu Mortuary on Oahu.
"He's gonna live forever in history and I'll never ever forget that man," says Forbach.
"If you met him one time you'll never forget him."
Back row: GM Larry Gumataotao & GM Greg Harper (aka) Kajupit
Front row: Kaju Dog, Sijo Emperado, Sifu Mikel Harper
