About Kaju Fit Club Seattle
Get to know us
Kajukenbo was founded in 1947 in the Palama Settlement on Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. In the late 1940s, the Palama Settlement was a violent area. Due to this environment, six martial artists from varying backgrounds 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 six founding members of Kajukenbo are:
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Adriano Directo Emperado — Kara-Ho Kenpo, Arnis and Ng Ying Kung Fu
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Joseph Emperado — Kara-Ho Kenpo, Arnis
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Joseph Holck — Judo and Danzan-ryu Jujutsu
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Peter Young Yil Choo — Tang Soo Do, Shotokan Karate and Boxing
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Frank F. Ordonez — Danzan-ryu Jujutsu
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Clarence Chang — Boxing, Chin Na and Ng Ying Kung Fu
Lenny Emperado Haynes
Owner and Dreamer
I was born and raised in San Diego, CA. I studied Kajukenbo as a youth under my Uncle Sijo and my Grandmother Dechi. I landed at the University of Washington in 1997, on a football scholarship. Since then I have worked with youth in various capacities helping them navigate through the struggles that I faced as a youth in California. That is my motivator, if I can prevent you from falling into some of the traps I did then maybe we can get you to a place of positive sustainability and success sooner then later. I challenge myself all the time. "If he can do it, I can do it". I have veen saying that to myself since I was born. Everyday the world reminded me that I was the smallest, I was always uncertain of myself and every level was very very difficult to attain, but here I am, still climbing. Now I have a legacy to leave. What is yours?
Kajukenbo (Japanese: カジュケンボ Kajukenbo) is a hybrid martial art from Hawaii. It was developed in the late 1940s and founded in 1947 in the Palama Settlement of Palama, Hawaii.
The name Kajukenbo is a combination of the various arts from which its style is derived: KA for Karate, JU for Judo and Jujutsu, KEN for Kenpo and BO for Boxing (Kajukenbo). Kajukenbo training incorporates a blend of striking, kicking, throwing, takedowns, joint locks and weapon disarmament.
