Reyes Kajukenbo Archive
Preserving the history and spirit of Kajukenbo.
Help us honor the past by preserving our community's stories and knowledge for future generations. The Reyes Kajukenbo Archive (RKA), invites you to share your personal experiences, photos, films, videos, notebooks, knowledge and more. Together, we can inspire and guide future generations in the art of Kajukenbo.
Rest assured, we will treat your contributions with the utmost care and respect. We will digitize, document, and promptly return your contributions if you wish. Collection donations will be recognized and honored. Additionally, please consider leaving your Kajukenbo collections to the RKA in your will.
Join us in celebrating the Aloha spirit of Kajukenbo.
What we are about
Mission Statement:
We’ve made it our mission to benefit the art of Kajukenbo as a whole by honoring our past and preserving our knowledge, stories, and culture for future generations. Through documentation and preservation, we aim to ensure the cultural legacy of Kajukenbo while supporting the present and future efforts of the art. We elevate and share our community's experiences, embracing the diversity and soul of our aloha spirit.
Vision Statement:
Our vision is to inspire and connect individuals with the Kajukenbo community. We strive to cultivate a sense of shared purpose and belonging, creating an Ohana where everyone can find their place. By fostering a vibrant community, we aim to enrich lives through the art of Kajukenbo, creating a dynamic and united collective that embodies the essence of our martial art.
We’re interested in your stories and memories, where we came from and why we keep doing this art we call Kajukenbo. If you have boxes of photos, films, or videos, send them to us. We’ll Your Documents digitized and Added to the archive.
Where it all started.
In the early days of Kajukenbo, my grandfather Great Grandmaster Aleju Reyes was known for his dedication to Sijo Emperado and art of Kajukenbo particularly, to the original Hard Style. Not only did Sijo recognize my grandfather’s skill as a martial artist but he also admired his organizational abilities. Impressed with his attention to detail, Sijo appointed him the official Kajukenbo Secretary. To honor this role, my grandfather kept detailed records of the knowledge, organizational minutes, personal letters, photos, and much more.
Outside of Karate, Grandpa was also a musician, photographer, and avid filmmaker. He shot reel after reel of 8mm film. From his early days teaching at the Kaimuki YMCA on Oʻahu, to his early days on the mainland, he loved to capture the family on film. Some of the highlights include my father demonstrating Kajukenbo self defense and forms, grandma’s hula performances, and auntie Marilyn and Te who were both hula and karate students. He filmed our Kajukenbo Christmas parties, our tournaments and family life.
In the 1960’s and 70’s the Reyes family was a powerhouse of getting it done with everyone doing their part. Our famed tournament, the Northern Pacific Nationals was a perfect example of how the family came together with their Aloha spirit. Grandpa would plan, orchestrate and judge in the ring, while dad would create the graphic design and programs, make trophies, and compete. Grandma of course was in charge of the Hawaiian style food and entertainment. It was such a sight to see all the aunties lined up chopping up teriyaki chicken, lumpia and poi. Grandma’s hula girls the Tiare Dancers, which included my auntie’s Te and Marilyn and cousin Jamie were always crowd pleasers.
1969 Chuck Norris VS. Phil Cornin (Reyes Kenpo Karate)
SGM Alan Reyes, Reyes Kenpo Karate circa, 1975.
After my grandfather’s passing in 1977, things slowed down a bit. While my dad struggled with the loss of his father, he began the process of sifting through the mountain of materials my grandfather had archived. Because of this, Sijo Emperado would later name my father Chief Librarian of the Kajukenbo System.
As the Chief Liberian, Sijo entrusted my father with many personal photos, documents, and other artifacts. Together they began to formalize my grandfather’s meticulous notes that spanned from Palama Settlement, Hawaii to the Suisun Self Defense Institute in California.
Sijo authorized a number of original Hard Style documents authored by my father. The most notable being the Kajukenbo Instructors Training Manual in which every page of original Hard Style knowledge is signed and validated by Sijo himself. In addition to the original knowledge, my fathers notebook contains handwritten knowledge from both Sijo and my grandfather. It was my father’s dream to assemble a book of original knowledge and history. He made several attempts over the years but sadly he passed before the completion of his dream.
As the successor to the Reyes lineage, the archive has now passed to me. Like my grandfather and father, I too have a nack for film, photography, music and design. Not only will I carry on the practice of Kajukenbo, I now clearly understand my duty to protect the original Hard Style knowledge and historical archive as my father and grandfather did. I only wish that I had started sooner. So many questions and so few who can answer them honestly.
That said, It is my hope that Kajukenbo.com can become a place for the sharing of knowledge and history, news and events, photos, videos and more. In short, a place for the Kajukenbo Ohana to call home. I welcome all Kajukenbo branches and methods to contribute to this community.
Mahalo!
Sifu Alan Christopher Reyes
Let me know what you think! I welcome your comments and suggestions. Contact me.
GOT CREATIVE?
From graphics, to film, photo restoration, to websites, to Kajukenbo. We can help.
Design/Illustration
Branding
Marketing
Photo Scanning
Photo Retouching
8mm Film to Digital
VHS/DVD/DV/BETA to Digital.
Video Production
Post Production
Documentaries
Content Production
Website Production
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