(last
updated January 22, 2002)
Choki
Motobu
Although we are not sure of
Choki Motobu's total involvement in Kenpo, if any (please see the
History page), I have decided to include
this short biography of this great martial artist who is also rumoured
to be James Mitose's uncle.
Choki Motobu was born in Akahira village Shuri, the old capital of
Okinawa, in 1871. There has been much false information printed about
Choki Motobu, which only recently has been cleared up by his son Chosei
Motobu.
It has been often stated that Choki
Motobu, as third son of a high-ranking family, did not receive the
same level of education as his brothers, and did not learn his family's
art of Udunde, as this was pasted on to the oldest son only. Choyo
Motobu was the the eldest son of the Motobu family. These assertions
are absolutely false. Rumors about Choki Motobu's education and training
were spread on mainland Japan to discredit him!
Choki Motobu was born into a high-ranking
family, his father was Choshin Motobu, an aji or lord of the highest
level.
Choki Motobu trained every day, lifting
stone weights and hitting the makiwara (striking post). He would strike
the makiwara a thousand times a day. Motobu would sometimes sleep
outside, (when he slept inside the dojo he would lie on the hard wooden
floor, without a mattress), and if he woke up during the night, rather
than turning over and going back to sleep he would get up and hit
the makiwara. Motobu was also very agile and quick and he got the
nickname "Motobu-saru" (Monkey Motobu), not because of his
rough behavior, but because of his remarkable agility in climbing
trees and moving from branch to branch as nimbly as a monkey.
Choki Motobu's idea of a good training
session was to go down to Naha's entertainment district. This area
was well known for street fighting and Motobu picked up valuable experience
in this way. Being bigger and stronger than the average Okinawan he
usually won these fights, but there was one occasion when he tackled
a man called Itarashiki and was well beaten. This Itarashiki was a
karate expert and the defeat only made Motobu more determined to train
hard and learn more about karate.
Choki Motobu was able to get instruction
from several leading experts, because of Motobu's upper-class birth.
Motobu originally studied karate with the famous Ankoh Itosu, the
leading master of Shuri-te. He later studied with Kosaku (Bushi) Matsumora
and with Master Sakuma. However, Motobu's karate always seemed to
bear his own instinctive stamp, arising no doubt from his independent
nature and his fighting experiences. He always emphasized practicality,
and in time many people came to regard him as the best fighter on
Okinawa.
It was only after he moved to Osaka,
mainland Japan, in 1921 that he became known in Japanese martial art
circles. What brought Motobu to the attention of the Japanese was
his victory over a Western boxer in a kind of all-comers challenge
match in Kyoto, Japan. For the record, the story states that Motobu
knocked the boxer unconscious. Choki Motobu was over 50 years old
when he defeated the Western boxer!
So spectacular it was featured in
"Kingu", Japan’s most popular magazine of the era,
the victory sadly did little for Motobu personally. Illustrations
used in the magazine implied the victor was Gichin Funakoshi, a man
inferior in both social status and fighting ability to Motobu, infuriating
the latter, and ensuring instant fame for Funakoshi who went on to
found the Shotokan style of karate and become a karate legend.
Motobu authored two books on martial
arts, titled Okinawan Kempo Tode Jutsu Hen, 1926, and Watashi no Karate
Jutsu, 1932. In 1940, Choki Motobu returned to Okinawa and died there
in 1944.
His students included Shoshin Nagamine (Matsubayashi
Shorin Ryu), Yasuhiro Konishi (Shindo Jinen Ryu) and Hironori Otsuka
(Wado Ryu), all of whom formed their own karate styles based, in part,
on his teachings.
Choki Motobu and his wife Nabi (Morishima)
had four children: Choko, Shige (a daughter), Choso and Chosei (born
in 1925). Choko and Choso died during W.W.II. Shige passed away in
the mid 1980's.
The Motobu family art of Motobu-ryu
continues today, as it was learned from his father, by Chosei Motobu.
He is the president of the Nihon Karate-do Motobukai and the head
of the Motobu-Ryu Daidokan, the dojo (school) established by Choki
Motobu., and is continued to be taught by him today. For a great look
at the martial arts of Choki Motobu, I highly recomend The
Karate of Choki Motobu as taught on video by his son Chosei Motobu.
James
M. Mitose
Kenpo was brought to Hawaii and first taught openly
in 1942 by James Masayoshi Mitose (with persuasion from his friend
Robert Trias, from Shuri-ryu Karate, the "Father of American
Karate," who in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1946 was the first to open
a Karate dojo in the United States).
James Mitose was born in Hawaii on
Dec. 30, 1916. The second child of his father Otokichi Mitose and
mother Kiyoka Yoshida, James M. Mitose was sent to Japan as a child
to live with his mother’s family and was schooled in his family’s
art, Kosho-ryu Kenpo. Thus James Mitose became the 21st
Great Grand Master of Kosho-ryu.
James Mitose returned to Hawaii, in
1937, and formed the Official Self-Defense Club and taught from
1942 to 1946 where he promoted four people to Shodan (Black Belt).
They are, in chronological order, Thomas Young, Jiro Nakamura, Arthur
Keawe, and Paul Yamaguchi.
Note: William
Kwai Sun Chow was promoted to Black Belt by Thomas Young, not
by James Mitose.
James Mitose left Hawaii in 1954 for
the mainland United States where he would spend the remainder of his
life, although he did take frequent trips to Japan. He taught only
one student on the mainland, Terry Lee (Nimr Hassan), for a period
of one year.
James Masayoshi Mitose died on March
27, 1981.
Note: James
Mitose spent time in Okinawa and was friends with many great martial
artists, such as Yamaguchi Sensei of Goju-ryu, and many others.
Morihei Ueshiba, founder
of Aikido, was also a friend of James Mitose. Ueshiba Sensei specified
in his will that James Mitose should be given the title of "Remonstrant"
(overseer) for all Aikido in America!
back
to top
William
K .S. Chow
William Kwai Sun Chow was born in Honolulu, Hawaii,
on July 3, 1914. William Chow was also known as "Thunderbolt"
because of his incredible speed and power. He spent most of his life
practicing and perfecting his martial arts; he became quite famous
for his martial prowess and excellent memory of techniques.
It has been said by many that besides
his Kenpo training with James Mitose, he also trained in Gong fu.
But no one can seem to verify this. One thing to note, Gong fu, as
many of you may know, derives its self-defense techniques from its
forms (kata). William Chow never taught any Gong fu forms.
William Chow, although promoted to
Black Belt by Thomas Young, was one of James Mitose’s top students
and a close friend. He left James Mitose in 1949, after becoming an
instructor, and opened his own Kenpo school. It was William Chow who
coined the term "Kenpo Karate" to distinguish his system
from James Mitose’s Kenpo Jiu-jitsu, although both styles were
the same. William Chow then took the title "Professor" and
renamed his system Go-Shinjitsu. Some twenty years later, William
Chow renamed his system "Chinese Kempo of Kara-Ho Karate."
William Chow died in Honolulu on Sept.
21, 1987.
Adriano
Emperado
I thought it would be important to add Adriano Emperado and Kajukenbo
to the history and people of Kenpo. Kajukenbo was developed by Emperado,
who studied Kenpo under William K.S. Chow and was one of the top students.
Please forgive me if I have made any mistakes with the following history,
as I am not a student of Kajukenbo but I wanted to give the style
the respect it deserves!
Kajukenbo is an eclectic system that
was founded by Adriano Emperado.
Siju Adriano Emperado, founder of
the Kajukenbo Self-Defense Institute of Hawaii, was born in Honolulu,
Hawaii, June 6, 1926. Professor Emperado grew up in the martial arts
and was skilled in many different styles, including Escrima, Jujitsu,
Karate, Gong Fu, Hawaiian Lua, American Boxing, Wrestling, and Kenpo
under William K.S. Chow. Adriano Emperado received his Shodan from
Chow and later his instructors diploma from James M. Mitose. Eventually
Emperado would receive his 5th degree Black Belt from Chow.
The title of Professor was given to
Emperado by Professor Lum and Professor Wong of the Chinese Physical
Cultural Society of Hawaii and Master Ho Gau of Hong Kong to represent
Choi Li Fat Ga. Professor Emperado was elected to the Black Belt Hall
of Fame in 1991 for his accomplishments and contributions to the martial
arts community. Presently, the Professor holds the highest title in
Kajukenbo, 10th degree.
Kajukenbo was synthesized in the Paloma
settlements of Hawaii during the years 1949-1952. Five practitioners
of their respective martial arts developed Kajukenbo to complement
each others styles to allow effective fighting at all ranges and speeds.
The five original founding members
were:
-
Peter Choo - Karate
-
Frank Ordonez - Jujitsu
-
Joe Holke - Judo
-
Adriano Emperado
- Kenpo and Escrima
-
Clarence Chang -
Gong Fu
The word Kajukenbo is derived from
the letter of the styles that contributed to the creation of the art.
Together they make up the Kajukenbo motto: Through this fist art one
gains long life and happiness.
KA (long life) - comes from the word
Karate. The karate influence was from Tang Soo Do (Korean Karate)
brought by P.Y.Y. Choo.
JU (happiness) - comes from Judo and
Jujitsu. The judo and jujitsu influence was from Kodenkan Danzan Ryu
brought by Joe Holck and Se Keino Ryu brought by Frank Ordonez.
KEN (fist) - comes from Kenpo. The
kenpo influence was from Kosho-ryu Kenpo brought by Adriano Emperado.
BO (style) - comes from Chinese and
American boxing. The Chinese boxing influence was from Northern and
Southern styles brought by Clarence Chang.
Emperado and the four
other martial arts masters began working on the amalgamation of their
knowledge to form "Kajukenbo". Each of the five men spent
the next couple of years working on their techniques in such a way
as to complement each others’ styles to allow effective fighting
at all ranges and speeds.
To test the effectiveness
of their original techniques the five founders would get into fights
around the Palamas settlements. If the technique succeeded consistently
in a real street fight, it was kept as part of the system. From these
field test came Kajukenbo's Quins (known as the Palomas sets (forms
or kata), Natural laws (self-defense), Tricks (close-quarters fighting),
and grab arts (escapes). Through the trial and error testing of each
of their techniques out on the streets, they devised one of the most
effective systems of martial arts to date.
The first Kajukenbo school was opened
in the Palm Settlement, and operated by Adriano Emperado, and his
brother Joe. The brutal training that took place there is legendary.
Broken bones were an everyday occurrence. In time the number of students
in the school soon dwindled to a dedicated few. Those who remained
developed into tough martial artist. Emperado's school turned out
several future instructors who would themselves leave a mark on the
international martial arts community, including Al Dacascos, and many
others.
Professor Emperado is credited with
saying "Practice was not over until their was blood on the ground."
The system has grown
such that there are currently hundreds of Kajukenbo schools and it is
taught in countries throughout the world.
Edmund
K. Parker
Edmund Kealoha Parker was born in Hawaii on March 19,
1931, and raised a devout Mormon. He began his martial arts studies
with judo, becoming a Black Belt at the age of fifteen, and excelling
in amateur boxing as well. Ed Parker was introduced to William Chow
and it was then he knew that "kenpo would become my life’s
work." Parker continued to study with William Chow off and on,
while attending Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, (going back
to Hawaii periodically) and serving in the coast guard, stationed
in Hawaii. He received his Black Belt from William Chow on June 5,
1953.
Parker opened his first school in
Provo in 1954. Parker moved to Pasadena, California, in 1956. He remained
in Pasadena, teaching the "Original" Kenpo he had learned
from Chow, until 1960.
In 1961, with help from
Gong fu master James (Jimmy) Wing Woo, Parker developed "Traditional
Chinese" Kenpo. Woo would develop most of the forms and sets
which we now perform, with help from Parker’s first black belt
James Ibrao and Parker himself. Parker also removed most of the
Jiu-jitsu techniques including the falls and rolls. Parker then removed
most of the self-defense techniques, from 600 for Godan or fifth-degree
black belt (over 400 were required for Shodan or first degree black
belt), down to 178 techniques in total for the entire new system,
which is now referred to as "Ed
Parker’s American Kenpo Karate." Ed Parker was an
incredible martial artist and innovator, and was a definite pioneer
of martial arts in North America.
Edmund K. Parker died
in Honolulu, Dec.15, 1990. The "Magician of Motion"
will always be remembered and missed.
James
Ibrao
James Ibrao was born November 3, 1937, in Waialua,
Hawaii. Ibrao excelled in sports, specifically basketball. At only
five feet nine inches he was still able to slam dunk.
James Ibrao moved to the mainland
and eventually made his way to California in 1956. He was introduced
to Ed Parker and was so impressed with the power, quickness, and innovated
moves of Ed Parker that he began taking lessons the next day
with him and his four other students. James Ibrao excelled; he lived,
ate, and slept Kenpo. In only nine months, he became Ed Parker’s
first Black Belt (Shodan).
In 1960, Ed Parker and James Ibrao
went to San Francisco to visit Chinese Martial Arts schools. It was
there that they found Grand Master James (Jimmy) Wing Woo and invited
him to Los Angeles to document his knowledge in books and to incorporate
the characteristics of Gong fu into Kenpo. James Woo would develop,
with the help of Ed Parker and James Ibrao, most of the Kata (forms)
and sets, which we still perform today. Many techniques and the high
kicks, double kicks, etc., were developed by James Ibrao.
It was also around this time that
James Ibrao was asked to try out for the Harlem Globetrotters. He
made the team and toured with them for two years, until 1964. When
Ibrao returned to Los Angeles, he didn’t return to his studies
with Ed Parker, he instead chose to study with James Woo and unlock
the mysteries of the Chinese Martial Arts. But James Ibrao never left
his Kenpo roots.
James Ibrao is still teaching today.
He has developed his own system, Jun
Bao Wu Shu Kung- Fu. It is a hybrid of Kenpo, Gong
fu, Wu Shu, and the practical application of the arts for defense,
competition, and for life.
James Ibrao is a great man and martial
artist, who is always willing to share his great knowledge. Sifu Ibrao
is available for seminars and camps, you can contact him at the above
URL or e-mail him at sifuibrao@aol.com
Tracy's
The Tracy brothers began their martial training in fencing,
boxing, and wrestling. They embarked on their study of Kenpo with Ed Parker and
his first Black Belt, James Ibrao, in 1957, while attending college as pre-law
students. Over time they developed a close relationship with Mr. Parker, and
soon after Mr. Parker turned all the teaching of beginner and intermediate
classes over to the Tracy brothers, who would develop an order in which the
techniques would be taught, and the advanced classes were run by James Ibrao.
Al Tracy was the powerhouse of Ed Parker’s studio, and, as
seen in the brochure used in 1962-64 by Ed Parker, Al Tracy did all the
breaking demonstrations. The Tracy brothers would also run Mr. Parker’s studio
when he would periodically return to Hawaii.
There has been question as to whether
or not Al and Jim Tracy received their Black Belts (Shodan) from Ed
Parker. In the Family Tree listed
in the original "Infinite Insights", by Ed Parker, you can
see that Al and Jim Tracy are listed as Black belts under Ed Parker,
first generation. They also have the largest number of Black Belts
listed under their tree!
Al Tracy was the fifth person promoted
to Black Belt (Shodan) January 2,1962. Certificate dated January
7, 1962.
Jim Tracy was the sixth person promoted
to Black Belt (Shodan) January 2,1962. Certificate dated January
7, 1962.
Will Tracy received his Black Belt
(Shodan) in 1961, under both William K.S. Chow and Great Grand Master
Fusae Oshita (James Mitose’s sister).
In the spring of 1962, the Tracy brothers
opened their first studio in San Francisco, which was named Kenpo
Karate Studio and was the northern branch of Ed Parker’s organization.
It was there that the Tracy brothers created the three new Kyu ranks
and the Kenpo "colored belt system". Ed Parker adopted the
new 8-kyu system, but rejected the colored belts until finally converting
to the Tracy color belt system in 1966. The Tracy brothers also created
belt manuals (which contained 40 techniques per belt at that time)
and gave the techniques names, like Attacking Circle, Raising the
Staff, etc.
The Tracy brothers opened a second
school, in Sacramento, in 1962, and a third, in San Jose, in 1963,
and later changed the name of the schools to Tracy’s Kenpo Karate.
Ed Parker turned the Kenpo Karate Association of America
(KKAA) over to the Tracy brothers and then formed the International Kenpo
Karate Association (IKKA). The Tracy brothers agreed to join the IKKA, on the
condition that they could keep the standards of teaching of the KKAA for their
own students.
In 1964, the Tracy Brothers were promoted
to 3rd Degree Black Belt (Sandan).
Ed Parker promoted Al Tracy to 3rd Degree Black
Belt on December 4, 1964.
The certificate is from the IKKA and is signed by Ed Parker,
Mills Crenshaw, Stan Hall, and Charles Sullivan, and witnessed by Charlotte
Connor, the wife of Tom Connor.
The Tracy brothers later opened schools
throughout California, as well as other states, and formed the Tracy’s
International Studios of Self-Defense.
By 1982, Ed Parker had changed what
he called American Kenpo, so much so as to make it in Parker’s
own words, "no more than 10% Kenpo." It was around this
time that the Tracy’s completely
broke from Ed Parker.
Al Tracy's Kenpo Karate remains to this day
teaching "Original/Traditional" Kenpo, as taught to him by Ed Parker, one of
the most realistic combat scenario based systems of self-defense available.
The Tracy’s International Studios of Self Defense is a
worldwide organization, based out of Lexington, Kentucky, comprised of over
1,000 schools. It is the largest system of affiliated schools and the
longest-running self-defense chain in the world.
Al Tracy has organized the largest “gathering” of Kenpoist in the
world. A true historic event called the “Gathering of Eagles”, which took place
in Las Vegas, Nevada, February of 1999.
The Gathering brought together over seventy masters, representing
Kenpo, American Kenpo, Shaolin Kenpo, Wun Hop Kuen Do, Lima Lama, Kajukenbo,
etc., and included some of the biggest names in Westernized Kenpo; James Ibrao,
Thomas Mitose, the son of the late James Mitose, Al Dacascos, Ralph and Rob
Castro, William Chun, Sonny Gascon, Bart Vale, Larry Tatum, Dave Simmons, Adriano Emperado, Richard Lee, Sig
Kufferath, Tino Tuiolosega, John McSweeney, and the list goes on and on.
Between 1100-1200
people attended the event, coming from all over the globe, with a choice
of five seminars at any one time and eighty overall.
The second Gathering took place in 2001 and was attended by
approximately 1500-1600 people. The event also included the son of Choki
Motobu, Chosei Motobu, and others included Koshiro Tanaka, Ron Sanchez, Steve
Labounty, and Bob White.
The next Gathering is scheduled for 2003.
Ralph
Castro
Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Ralph Castro
began his training in boxing, introduced to him by his father, Boss
Castro Sr., famous in the Hawaiian boxing community. Ralph Castro
began studying Kenpo, under William Chow in 1955, rising up through
the Black Belt ranks.
Ralph Castro moved to the Mainland
(San Francisco), and began teaching Kenpo in 1958. He later founded
the International
Shaolin Kenpo Association.
Through his years of teaching, Ralph
Castro has taught all the Original Kenpo techniques, applications,
and philosophy taught to him by William Chow. Ralph Castro also developed
numerous "key dances" and sets to enhance Kenpo.
Great Grand Master Ralph Castro promoted
his son, Professor R. Robert "Rob" Castro, to 10th
Dan and conveyed the title "Grand Master", at the Annual
Promotion & Awards Ceremony, on December 12, 1998. Grand Master
Rob Castro was also designated to be the next in line to continue
the legacy and leadership of Shaolin Kenpo from his father.
Great Grand Master Ralph
Castro now devotes more time to the business of seminars and world travel
as well as work on his biographical book.
Nick
Cerio
Nicholas Raymond Cerio was born July 9th, 1936.
Professor Cerio studied with many renowned instructors such as:
Larry Garron - Jiu-jitsu
James Benko - Hakkoryu Jiu-jitsu
Ernest Lieb - Chung Do Kwan
Fumio Demura - Shito-ryu
Tadashi Yamashita - Shorin-ryu
Gee Gin Soon - Tai Chi Chuan (Mandarin: Taijiquan)
Gan Fong Chin - Sil Lum Kung-fu (Mandarin: Shaolin Gong-fu)
George Pesare - Karazenpo
Goshinjutsu
Ed Parker - Kenpo
William K.S. Chow - Kenpo
Cerio began his martial arts studying
Jiu-jitsu, Boxing,
Shaolin Gong-fu, Karate, Kobudo, and Kenpo from George Pesare, whom
he received his Black Belt from in 1966.
Around that time he sought out Professor
William K.S. Chow. Before Cerio could study with Chow, he was instructed
to study with one of Chow's top students, William Chun.
This was traditionally done as a test
of patience, honor, and skill.
After training with William Chun,
he was given permission to train under Professor Chow. On August 15,
1967, Cerio was awarded his Shodan (Black Belt) in Kenpo by William
K. S. Chow, and in December 1971, Cerio was awarded his Godan (5th
Degree Black Belt) in Kenpo by Chow, making him one of Professor Chow's
highest ranking students at that time, and he also presented Nick
Cerio with his belt.
In 1973, Master Gan Fong Chin awarded
Cerio an 8th Dan in Karate and title of Sifu in Gong Fu, the first
of only three to receive such certification from Chin.
In 1974 Nick Cerio's Kenpo was founded.
Prior to that his school was called Cerio's Academy of Martial Arts.
At William Chow's request Cerio's system was renamed Nick Cerio's
Kenpo Karate.
Cerio's Kenpo system consists of Shotokan
kata, Jiu-Jitsu/Judo, Korean kicking, Western Boxing and most importantly
the Kenpo he had been taught by William Chun and William Chow.
In 1983 Ed Parker awarded him his
9th Dan in Kenpo.
In 1989, he was awarded his Professorship
by Soke Thomas H. Burdine and in 1989 he was presented with Above
Ranking Status by the World Council of Sokes.
Nick Cerio passed away
October 7th, 1998. Cerio was an innovator and he left an incredible
legacy in the martial arts. You can fnd out more about Mr. Cerio's unique
system of Kenpo by visiting the Official
Website of Nick Cerio's Kenpo.
|