GM Don Nahoolewa (honored by Jukensa in 2006)
GM Joe Davis
GM Alan Reyes
GM Gary Forbach
SGM Davis started his martial arts training in the early part of 1962, and received his black belt in 1966. He was the third black belt promoted by Grandmaster Aleju Reyes (Sijo Emperado's "right hand man"). The first two were SGM Don Nahoolewa and SGM Richard Peralta (deceased).
GM Davis was a charter member of the first Kajukenbo association on the outside of Hawaii--the “Kajukenbo Association of America”, founded in February of 1967. He is known as the foremost historian and now the foremost "master"instructor of original Kajukenbo.He was one of the early students at the Oakland, California school of Bruce Lee and James Yinn Lee, and still has his membership card “#064.” His seminars are legendary!
Although he is semi-retired, GM Davis finds time to teach part time at one of his his student's schools in Vacaville, Ca. and at Grandmaster Emil Bautista’s school in Vallejo, Ca. He teaches seminars at various Kajukenbo schools and at Sijo Emperado’s yearly birthday Luau/Tournament/Seminar.
GM Davis has added techniques from other systems to his own training, but at his seminars he also draws from ORIGINAL UNDILUTED Kajukenbo skills such as the 14 Palama Sets, 15 Grab Arts, 21 Punching Techniques, 13 Club Techniques, 15 Knife Techniques, 8 Two Man Attacks, 6 Three Man Attacks, Four Man Attacks, and the 26 Alphabets, as they were taught in the early and mid 1960s.
Prof. Joe Davis was personally promoted to Grandmaster by Sijo Emperado on August 10th, 2003. He was inducted into the Kajukenbo Hall of Fame in Vallejo 2005, at Sijo's annual Kajukenbo tournament. Also inducted into the World Martial Art Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.
PERSONAL NOTE: For many years, my Kajukenbo biography stated that I was the first non-Hawaiian to earn black belt in Kajukenbo. I'm sure that during those years many people told GM Davis that I was promoting myself as such, when he was really the first. He never criticized or complained about this. Finally, when I discovered my error, I called GM Davis to apologize. His humility in this matter was amazing! When I finally had the honor of meeting him, I discovered that my first opinion was correct, but inadequate, i.e. he is a very very good man--and with the Kajukenbo knowledge of a Socrates and the punch of a mule kick. Outstanding humility is only one of his innumerable virtues. His knowledge and memory of his vast experience in the martial arts are freely shared with others. He is one of the few I have known who has no need nor desire for promotion or publicity, probably because he realizes that his knowledge and abilities speak for themselves. Sam Allred
O-Sifu Sadoc Sierra,
E Mail: sierra_martialarts@hotmail.com
Tel.in Mexico City: 5397-8879
