Other bio's of people we "should know".

Choki Motobu
Although we are not sure of Choki Motobu's total involvement in Kenpo, if any  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.

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 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.

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.

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 21^st 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!  

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
Kajukenbo was developed by Emperado, who studied Kenpo under William K.S. Chow and was one of the top students. 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.

Will, Al and Jim Tracy
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 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 3^rd Degree Black Belt (Sandan).

Ed Parker promoted Al Tracy to 3^rd Degree Black Belt on December 4, 1964.

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.

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 10^th 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.