Kajukenbo was created in the late 1940s in Hawaii by a group of martial artists who wanted a system that actually worked in real fights. Known as the “Black Belt Society,” the founders blended their backgrounds in Karate, Judo & Jujitsu, Kenpo, Boxing, and Chinese martial arts to form a practical, street-effective system. The name Kajukenbo reflects this mix and its original goal: real self-defense under real conditions.
The five founders of Kajukenbo, known collectively as the Black Belt Society, are:
KA (Kanji-long life) - comes from the word Karate, an art form that places the emphasis on hard and powerful techniques.
JU (Kanji-happiness) - comes from Judo and Jujitsu, art forms that emphasize throwing, locks and sweeps.
KEN (Kanji-fist) - comes from Kenpo, a form of karate that not only stresses the hard and powerful movements, but emphasizes multiple and fluid hand techniques.
BO (Kanji-style) - comes from Chinese boxing (Chuan Fa). Chinese boxing means Kung Fu, which puts emphasis on flexibility and agility, parrying and evasive movements that flow together.
As Kajukenbo spread beyond Hawaii, different branches and training approaches developed, each staying true to the art’s core purpose—self-protection, adaptability, and personal growth. Anthony “Tony” Ramos, Aleju Reyes, Al Dacascos, Joseph “Joe” Halbuna and Charles Gaylord are credited with bringing Kajukenbo out of Hawaii to the mainland.
Great Grand Master Gaylord opened his school in Fremont and developed Gaylord Method.
Gaylord Method preserves traditional Kajukenbo principles while refining training to be efficient, realistic, and applicable for modern students.
At its core, the Gaylord Method focuses on:
• Practical self-defense over flashy techniques
• Strong fundamentals and clean execution
• Conditioning the mind and body to handle pressure
• Developing confidence, control, and awareness
Training is designed to be challenging but responsible, allowing students to grow at every level—from beginners to advanced students. Emphasis is placed on discipline, respect, and personal development, not just fighting ability and not just in the school.
At Wade’s Martial Arts, we are proud to teach Kajukenbo Gaylord Method. Our goal is to honor the art’s history while providing students with effective self-defense skills, strong character development, and training that prepares them for real-life situations. Kajukenbo isn’t just something you practice—it’s something that shapes how you carry yourself both on and off the mat.
Tactical Escrima is a practical, weapons-based martial art that emphasizes real-world self-defense using sticks, blades, and improvised weapons. Rooted primarily in MiraRada Escrima and complemented by techniques from a variety of Filipino stick and blade-fighting systems, Tactical Escrima offers a well-rounded and adaptable approach to personal protection.
Training focuses on developing speed, accuracy, timing, and fluid movement while learning effective offensive and defensive strategies. Students practice with a 21–24 inch rattan stick as the core training tool, allowing them to safely develop skills that translate directly to bladed weapons and everyday objects.
Whether you’re looking to enhance your martial arts background, improve coordination and reflexes, or gain practical self-defense skills, Tactical Escrima provides a dynamic, engaging, and highly effective training experience.