College Kajukenbo

Upon watching Professor John Bishop’s Kajukenbo Concepts videos on Youtube I decided to try one of his ideas. Kiai drill. Person sits in horse stance while others come up, one at a time, and strike the individual in the stomach. (Basically the Kiss of the Dragon which is done to those testing for black belt) The purpose is for the individual being hit to work on their kiai (a short yell used before or during a strike or technique) and it helps to improve their ability to take a hit. There are 3 reasons to kiai: Continue reading »

Something new kajukenbo students don’t always find out about is the Sergeant of Arms.  The Sergeant of Arms is chosen by the instructor and is usually the highest ranking color belt in the class. This individual enforces the by-laws of the kajukenbo school, greets guests and new students and introduces them to the instructor, is responsible for safety of visitors, students and instructors, calls the class to attention and acknowledges instructors who enter the room, and acts as a mediator to neutralize conflicts.
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Never underestimate your opponent. They may only need one chance in order to get the best of you. I’ve had to be reminded of this a few times.  A major rule of Kajukenbo is, ‘Expect your opponent to be better skilled than you and to have a friend.’  If you go to the ground and your opponent has a friend then you just put yourself into a worse position.  Allowing yourself to go to the ground in a street fight is very dangerous. I’ve looked at opponents and assumed that since I outweighed them by 40 lbs. and I had more experience than they did, they couldn’t possibly get the best of me.
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You’re never too good to stop practicing the basics. The basic fundamentals of martial arts are gross motor movements used for blocking, hitting, and kicking. These basic movements are what will make you effective if you are ever in an altercation. Advanced movements are combining those fundamental movements to make more complicated combinations.
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In my martial arts studies, I’ve seen two different philosophies in regards to a certain way of training.  Some styles and/or instructors prefer the use of pads in training and never touch a training partner until they have trained for about 3 years or so. The other is that equipment such as focus mitts are not used.  Which method produces a more developed martial artist? How much training should be done using pads and how much should be with a training partner, given the option of equal amount of time using each tool?  Continue reading »

Registration is now open for students to enroll into the Spring 2010 Kajukenbo Self-Defense classes.  Sign up now to reserve your spot!

Tuition cost is $71 per credit hour.

 Chandler-Gilbert Community College

http://www.cgc.maricopa.edu/student-affairs/admissions/Pages/class-schedule.aspx

To register over the phone call 480-732-7000.

MCC Red Mountain campus

http://everest.mc.maricopa.edu/schedule/findCourses.do

To register over the phone call 480-461-7700

See you in class!

The book Ancient Hawaiian Martial Art of Kaihewalu ‘Ohana Lua is by Olohe Solomon Kaihewalu.  Lua is a bone breaking art and was used by the Hawaiian royal guards and military as they went from island to island in battle. One description of Lua bone breaking is explained by peeling an orange, biting into the meat and then spitting out the seed. Grand Master Olohe started learning Lua from his father when he was only 3 years old.  Currently, he travels around the country spreading his art, which at the beginning was not a very popular idea.  Just as Bruce Lee faced criticism from the Chinese for teaching Wing Chun to non-Chinese, Olohe was persecuted for not keeping Hawaiian Lua in the blood line. Continue reading »

The responses below are from the students at Chandler-Gilbert Community College attending the Kajukenbo self-defense class on Saturday mornings.

1. What were your expectations for the current class?

• I expected more equipment to work with and learning more about history as well as having paper exams.
• To begin learning a form of martial arts
• Beat up on people
• My biggest expectation from this class is to build sufficient strength for self-defense and to learn as much as i can from Kajukenbo.
• That I would learn self defense skills and get in the habit of working out again.
• My expectations were to achieve the next belt level equivalent to my experience and performance as well as knowledge of the material.
• I have enjoyed it so far
• I hope to be ready for my purple belt exam by the next testing date
• My expectations of the class is to gain knowledge in self defense because its important, and because i always wanted to learn about the subject.

2. What was your initial impression of the class?

• I was very nervous starting the class but everything has so far worked out.
• Useful and entertaining
• Whoa! Where did all these newbies come from?
• This class seems to meet each person at their level whether it be strength, memory, form, etc., and it allows each person to excel in different areas such as self-discipline.
• It was fast paced like boot camp. It was great though because I’m out of shape.
• My initial impression of the class was that it started off pretty intense (physically). I like that, but I thought it might scare away other students not used to such discipline.
• I was kinda of afraid, I never taken a self defense class
• The class size will enable the instructor to address each students questions directly
• My initial expectations of the class were that I would have to challenge myself in a good way.

3. What do you like most about the class?

• What I like the most about the class is that we are able to practice with partners.
• That out of all my classes this is the one I enjoy going to
• See answer to first question.  (Beat up on people)
• I like that we get to practice grabs/throws, ways to escape, and sometimes with weapons.
• The exercise and self defense moves.
• What I like most about the class is that it allows you to push yourself at your unique individual level as well as the teacher recognizing what experience you may have and how passionate you are about it and pushing you at that level also to help you excel. Instead of a slow steady growth, this combination creates more of an exponential growth which is what I am interested in since I have always wanted to pursue a constant practice in Karate and get my black belt.
• Its fun, I feel good after the class, but not the next morning(sore )
• The class size which gives more time for each individual time to practice a technique for a longer time
• The likes about the class; the instructor works with us as a class and also one on one for the ones that need it, everyone helps each other, I am learning to defend myself.

4. What do you like least about the class?             

• My least favorite would be the back rolls even though I know it helps and I am also dreading the final.
• Being new, I wish I had more skill but I know that problem will pass over time.
• Donny’s kicks to the gut. 
• Probably the size, there are a lot of people.
• That I will have to memorize the techniques for each class.  (I have a hard time with my long-term memory)
• The fact that I am stuck at a white belt and my experience, I feel, I could help me get my yellow belt quickly, but the teacher does a good job of accommodating this type of situation by allowing me to participate in some of the more advanced exercises the higher belts practice.
• I get my butt kicked by Sifu
• Probably the lack of time per class to study extra, or practice more
• The not so likes I only have one; I need to practice more because I’m not that good in defense poses.

5. What would you like to do more of in the class??

• Counter attacks and also really like practice on someone wearing protective gear. 
• I don’t know, I like the class routine.
• I’ll think you’ll be surprised, but…forms.  I know, I know…who likes forms?  Not even I do, but still, I think they really help with stances and punches, etc. 
• It would be cool to learn more throws.
• Practice the skills and movements
• I would like to do more of practicing the kicks slower and to kick something (besides air) to really get the form down. I feel that the form of the kick is not performed as well when going fast. Though it creates a great exercise and works your legs, I feel getting the form down accurately will help me kick correctly, balance better, and then start picking up speed all the while kicking properly. I could totally be wrong though, it seems every school I’ve been to they make us kick fast from the beginning.
• Throws
• Grappling and Sparring
• I would like to do; well I think that we practice evenly in everything so what I mean is that the class is great the way it is.

6. Would you prefer a class that was 100 minutes (1 hr 40 min) once a week or the way it currently is

• Currently like it the way it is or for it to be longer.
• I like the way it is.
• Heck, no!  I’m sure that would be way too short.
• I like the way it is as it allows people to come more if they prefer extra practice.
• Saturday works out great.
• I think the 8-9:50 is perfect, I enjoy it so much it goes by very fast. I couldn’t imagine less time.
• I would like 2hrs, time flies
• 100 minute classes
• The times for the class would both work either way

Any other comments…?

• Good instructor, very helpful.
• I currently enjoy the class the way it is.
• NA
• I love this class.
• I’m excited to learn self-defense skills! I just hope I don’t hurt myself!!!!
• I absolutely love my Karate class and am eager to move up in belt rank.
• I have really enjoyed the class, I hope to really achieve something, and feel good about it. I would like to advance quickly, but I know that there is not enough time, but if you have time someday, please let me know, and I would love to join you. thank you
• NA
• Comments; This class is challenging me to become prepare in every way for self defense, I’m not that good yet but I hope to get better.

The responses below are from the students in the MCC Red Mountain Kajukenbo self-defense class that meet on Monday/Wednesday.

1. What were your expectations for the current class? Continue reading »

Kajukenbo as it was founded is a brutal art. When the founders were deciding what techniques to include in the art, they would try the techniques on each other and then go get in fights to see if it worked on the street. Don’t try that today unless you plan to go to jail. Still though, that shows that they wanted something real and when they started the schools it was not uncommon for the students to leave bruised and bleeding.
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