Kajukenbo History

Kajukenbo was developed as a realistic street fighting/self defense system combining the most useful aspects five different martial arts to create a new, eclectic, adaptive martial art. It started in the late 1940s in the Palama Settlement of Honolulu, Hawaii. The five founders of Kajukenbo formed the “Black Belt Society,” and each was expert in a different style:

• Peter Y. Y. Choo – Tang Soo Do Karate

• Joe Holck – Judo

• Frank Ordonez – Jujitsu

• Adriano Emperado – Kenpo

• Clarence Chang – Kung Fu (Chinese boxing)

Seven Star Women’s Kung Fu was founded in 1981 by Anne Moon. Her student, Michelle McVadon, became Head Instructor in 1995, leading our Kajukenbo and Self Defense Programs until her retirement at the end of 2024. We are fortunate to have multi-generational leadership at Seven Star. Sigung Michelle McVadon and Sifu Allyson Riley were Co-chief Instructors from 2015-2024. Upon Sigung McVadon’s retirement, Sifu Allyson Riley took over as Chief Instructor, and now oversees and manages our Kajukenbo Program and curriculum. In 2020, Sifu Gina Mares Kurtz became the Assistant Head Instructor, and in 2021, the Acting Sifu at Seven Star(sifu to all incoming/new students).

Seven Star has been teaching Kajukenbo and self defense in the Seattle community for 44 years. In the early years of the organization, classes were held in community centers, rented space, parks, or in shared spaces with other martial arts schools.  In 1999, through the efforts of an extensive capital campaign and grants, Seven Star purchased our current building in Seattle’s Central District.

Our Kajukenbo lineage is as follows:

Adriano Emperado (founder of Kajukenbo)

Charles Gaylord

Gabe Vargas

Rich Mainenti

Barbara Bones

Anne Moon

Michelle McVadon

Allyson Riley Gina Mares Kurtz