Senior Grandmaster Alii Don Nahoolewa is a native of Hawaii and grew up on the rugged back-streets of Honolulu. Although he trained with Sijo Adriano Emperado his principal instructor was the legendary great grandmaster Aleju Reyes beginning in 1959 while stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California. SGM Nahoolewa was the first Black Belt promoted by Mr. Reyes and he is the originator of the American Kempo Association, an umbrella organization for all Kenpo karate schools. He is the founder and chairman of the board for the American Kajukembo Association (AKA), which boasts thousands of members who are striving to standardize and unify the Art.

The AKA consists primarily of martial artists descending from Aleju Reyes, who brought the Emperado method also known as the Original Kempo method to the mainland in 1959. This lineage represents the "hard style" of Kajukembo often referred to as the Kenpo Karate branch. The use of the "M" in place of the "N" in Kajukembo was originally incorporated by SGM Nahoolewa in the early 1970's after Sijo Adriano Emperado agreed gave him a signed letter recognizing the new Kajukembo branch. The reason to change the spelling was twofold. First, kempo was originally pronounced with an M, and the Chinese spelling uses the m sound. Second, SGM Nahoolewa wanted his association to have a unique identity.

SGM Nahoolewa is known to be about as tough as a man can be but with a heart of gold. During his days in the Military he was also stationed for several years in Albuquerque's Kirtland Air Force Base. There he began teaching Kajukenbo to military personnel, except for one notable civilian in grandmaster Sam Allred. The AKA closely follows the original Kempo Karate as taught by Sijo Emperado to Great grandmaster Aleju Reyes and finally Senior Grandmaster Alii Don Nahoolewa.

Sifu Jackson was first introduced to martial arts in 1962 while assigned as an Air Force Security Forces member of the 6th Combat Defense Squadron (SAC), Walker AFB, New Mexico (NM).

1962, joined the Walker AFB Judo team and competed in numerous tournaments around the U.S.

1963, 15thth Air Force novice (white belt) champion.

NM State Judo Champion, 140 lbs division for four consecutive years.

1966, Texas 154 lbs Judo Champion.

Instructor training at the Japanese Self-Defense Force, Tokyo, Japan.

Received First and Second Degree Black Belt in Judo at the famed Kodokan Institute, Tokyo, Japan.

Trained at the Kodokan Judo Institute, All Japan Karate Association, Japanese Police Academy, Waseda University, Torride High School Kendo Program, Master Yamaguchi's (The Cat) Dojo.

Trained under Great Grand Master Richard Parelta, and Alii Don Nahoolewa in the Emperado Method of Kajukembo Self-Defense (Old Style).

Started very successful Kajukembo programs in Abilene, Texas and Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico.

Grand Champion of Puerto Rico's first major karate tournament. Grand Master Tak Kubota praised his performance as outstanding.

Puerto Rico Champion in both Karate and Judo.

Sifu Jackson currently holds Black Belt Degrees in Kajukembo Self Defense, Kodokan Judo, and Shotokan Karate. He also is a Brown Belt in Aikido.

Grandmaster Gerald A. Chavez began his training with GM Sam Allred at West Mesa High School in Albuquerque, NM in 1967. He was GM Allred's first student to achieve the rank of black belt in the art of Kajukembo (Kempo Karate). GM Chavez also earned from a brown belt in Kodokan Judo. He was head instructor of GM Allred's Karate College of the Southwest, originally headquartered at the University of Albuquerque, and assisted in organizing Thunderbird Kajukenbo Activities, inc.

GM Chavez went on to open his own Kajukembo school called Life-Dance Martial Arts, which continues to function to in Albuquerque, NM. He became a volunteer at the Albuquerque Rape Crisis Center, where he taught self-defense to survivors. While doing his work at the Albuquerque Rape Crisis center, he was awarded Volunteer of the Year by the Governor of the State of New Mexico, Bruce King. He also did work for the "Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence" in Albuquerque, NM.

In 1980 Chavez wrote his first book on self-defense, Karate Callejero (in Spanish) for Edamex Publishing Company in Mexico City. Shortly thereafter, he wrote his second book, "Que Hacer Ante una Agresión Sexual." One of his achievements he is most proud of is his collaboration with GM Sam Allred on the book "Autodefensa Callejera," which was published in 1995. In 1984, GM Chavez pioneered a self-defense program at Memorial Psychiatric Hospital with Dr. Tom Carey. GM Chavez taught karate to patients to address issues of self-esteem, depression, substance abuse, and anxiety. GM Gerald, along with other members of Thunderbird Kajukembo, sponsored a variety of workshops and seminars featuring many of the pivotal figures in Kajukembo. These included GM Al Decascos, GM Jon Loren, Sigung Tony Ramos (deceased), Sifu Bill Owens, GM Eric Lee, and senior grandmaster Alii Don Nahoolewa.

GM Chavez is an active board member of the American Kajukembo Association and contributes his teaching skills at the annual AKA seminars. The following students are black belts under GM Chavez; Gerald Chavez, Michael Gallegos, Hannah Mayne, Barb Singer, Glenn Hensen, Sam Adamo, Yvonne Abeyta, Don Slack, and David Theis.

I started my martial arts training in 1962 in San Antonio Texas when I entered the United States Air Force. I trained and participated in judo tournaments for five years, earning my first degree brown belt.

In 1969 I was introduced to Tae Kwon Do in Puerto Rico under Sensei Kelly Mosley. This was the beginning of my Karate training. I trained with Sensei Mosley for approximately three years until he was reassigned to the States. He was replaced by Sensei Nate Williams, a Tang Soo Do Moo Do Kwan instructor, who I earned my 1st Degree Black Belt under.

I started my Kajukembo training under Sifu Jackson who had returned to the Island in 1972.

My travels took me to Rapid City South Dakota where I finally earned my Black degree Belt in Kajukembo under Sifu Jackson, who was then stationed in Abilene Texas.

I have taught Kajukembo in the Middle and Far East as well as throughout the U.S. During my five year tour in Okinawa Japan, I also studied Kobudo (weapons) under the weapons master on the Island, Sensei Kina. He taught nothing but weapons.

I now reside in Greenville Texas where I have been since moving from Tampa Florida in 2002. I am extremely blessed to be in this area since I am only about a couple of hours from Grand Masters Donald K. Nahoolewa, and have frequent visits from my original instructor, Sifu George L. Jackson.

Michael Park was first promoted to black belt in 1969 in Korean Karate. He was later added to the Kajukenbo Ohana (family tree) in 1972 under Grandmaster James K. Roberts Sr. (Ret.), a native Hawaiian and first generation direct black belt student of Sijo Adriano D. Emperado. During the years that Park was not directly connected to a Kajukenbo teacher, he was always training in the source martial arts to include a form of Iron Fist Kempo, Tang Soo Do and traditional Jujutsu. Master Park earned an 8th degree black belt in kempo along with a menkyo kyoshi (master teacher) license in a Yoshin-ryu based jujutsu system. He would later cross-grade to 2nd degree in Kuk Sool Won (Hapkido) and 4th degree in Aikido. For a time before returning to more traditional systems, Park operated Tang Soo Do studios affiliated with the United Fighting Arts Federation under Chuck Norris. Park was also awarded master instructor certification from Grandmaster Jae Chul Shin who was Chuck Norris's first instructor. Park came to appreciate the bone crushing ways of how to deal with a downed opponent during a week long intensive training course with Master Chief Al Tejero of the CHA-3 Hawaiian Kenpo brotherhood. Later when he had the opportunity, he received intermittent instruction from Grandmaster Richard Peralta in his form of Kajukembo. Today, Master Park continues to polish his Kajukembo skills in Plano, Texas under the direct supervision of Grandmaster Alii Don Nahoolewa with the assistance of Master Jerry Wright, Jr.

Michael Park began his distinguished professional career in law enforcement and special operations as a police officer in Washington D. C. He later earned his special agent credentials after graduating from the U. S. Army Counterintelligence Officers, Agents and Technicians School while assigned to a military intelligence reserve detachment. In 2002 he retired as a Supervisor / Inspector from the United States Marshals Service. As an entrepreneur, Michael Park now operates his own business enterprises in Dallas, Texas to include Dallas Polygraph Services.