Book Release: The Creation of Kajukenbo: Dates and Details by Mitch Powell
A new Kajukenbo history book by Mitch Powell has been released on Amazon titled The Creation of Kajukenbo: Dates and Details.
This publication focuses specifically on the 1947–1949 period during which Kajukenbo was formed. According to the author, this was the book he intended to write first, but chose to delay until after addressing long-standing myths and inaccuracies about Kajukenbo’s founders and early history in his previous work, How Kajukenbo Became an American Martial Art: The Unknown Story.
Dates and Details concentrates on how Kajukenbo came together during its earliest phase, including:
The founders’ first documented training session together
The decision to combine their individual martial arts and fighting methods
The development of a unified combination system
The formation of the Black Belt Society
The completion and naming of the system as KA-JU-KEN-BO
The earliest known public use of the name Kajukenbo
The book presents historical material not previously published, including the identification of Adriano Emperado’s judo instructor, Sensei Taneo, along with biographical information and a photograph. It also includes rare 1948 photographs of Adriano Emperado and Peter Choo training together, taken by Frank Ordonez—images that document the founders working side by side during the system’s formative period.
Another key focus of the book is the role of Frank Ordonez. The author outlines Ordonez’s involvement in bringing the founders together, arranging and hosting early training sessions, photographing techniques, and documenting the technical development of the art during its earliest stage.
The book includes forewords by John Bishop, Kajukenbo grandmaster, historian, and author, and Kimo Emperado, Sr. Grandmaster and Chief of the Kajukenbo Self-Defense Institute.
Back Cover Excerpt
Everything has a beginning. With Kajukenbo, it is 1947. The setting is the backyard of a house at 574 P Road in the Damon Tract housing development of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. On that day, Peter Choo welcomed Adriano Emperado, Joseph Holck, Frank Ordonez, and George Chang to the home where he was raised. Arranged by Ordonez and Choo, this meeting marked the first time the five men trained together—an event that would ultimately lead to the creation of Kajukenbo.
The Creation of Kajukenbo: Dates and Details is now available through Amazon for those interested in Kajukenbo history and early system development.
The Creation of Kajukenbo: Dates and Details by Mitch Powell
Mitch Powell
