KSDI Worldwide presents our first Instructor for the Seminar on Friday July 19th
UFC Trainer Legend “Kumu” John Hackleman teaching Kajukenbo MMA.
It was the 1960’s and Hawaii was the melting pot of martial arts. Kajukenbo was evolving from the street focused no holds barred training, to the establishment of a strong well rounded martial art. Branches were being formed and instructors were sent off on their own journey.
Although the art was moving more mainstream, the instructors that came out of Palama Settlement received most their training in the proven battleground of the streets of Hawaii. One of those instructors was Walter Godin. Godin started his Kajukenbo training in the 1950’s at the birthplace of Kajukenbo--Palama Settlement. After receiving his Black Belt he went on to teach on his own.
Fast forward to 1964, a very young John Hackleman moves with his family to Hawaii and begins to attend school. Not knowing what to expect, the lessons came fast. As he was growing up, he became the target of aggression because he was considered an outsider, a “Haoule”. When he was in grade school, he would hear stories about “killing haoule” day. John got nervous and started looking for a martial arts school, he needed to learn how to fight. He soon found Walter Godin’s school in the Yellow Pages and really like the logo. He jumped on a bus, and when he arrived at the school, he knew he belonged.
After John got into a nasty brawl in middle school, his reputation for being a fighter followed him. Walter Godin talked him into getting into boxing, so John went to a local boxing gym, and later ended up fighting in the Golden Gloves. As his skills were evolving, he tested them in competitive kickboxing and lied about his age to enter “anything goes” fights. Fighting is what he was good at, and it became a part of who he is. After some success in the ring and a few championship titles, John realized he like training people more than anything….the rest is History.
John Hackleman’s Kajukenbo training and competitive achievements propelled John into a prominent figure in the martial arts, Mixed Martial Arts, and more specifically the “Fight”. John has guided numerous UFC champions to glory, including his most notable proteges Chuck Liddell and Glover Teixeira. Known for his intense training methods in MMA and Street fighting John has become a sought-out trainer worldwide. His training methods, famously conducted at "The Pit" and often incorporating unconventional tools like sledgehammers on truck tires, pushing heavy wheelbarrows up steep hills have shaped some of the most skilled martial artists. Although he calls his method “Hawaiian Kenpo”, it is truly an expression of Kajukenbo dedicated to the fight. Sijo Emperado would be proud of the proven evolution of this expression as this was the original purpose of Kajukenbo…to, as John did, survive the mean streets of Hawaii….