Kajukenbo was founded in 1947 in the Palama Settlement on Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. In the late 1940s, the Palama Settlement was a violent area. Due to this environment, five martial artists from varying backgrounds came together with the goal of developing an art that would be practical and effective on the street. These founders sought to develop one style that would complement each of their individual styles and yet allow for effective fighting at a greater variety of ranges and speeds.

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     The five founding members of Kajukenbo were:

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• Adriano Directo Emperado — Kara-Ho Kenpo and Eskrima

• Joseph Holck — Judo and Danzan-ryu Jujutsu

• Peter Young Yil Choo — Tang Soo Do, Shotokan Karate and Boxing

• Frank F. Ordonez — Danzan-ryu Jujutsu

• Clarence Chang — Boxing and Siu Lum Pai Kung Fu

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     In its conception, the founders followed a simple rule, if a technique worked consistently on the street (or against one another), then it stayed in the system, if it did not, it was discarded. This allowed the style to maintain its self-defense focus, while covering limitations found within each of their traditional arts.