Student of the Month - Erica - Kaju Yellow Belt

Favorite Color - Red

Favorite Food - Sushi
Profession - Sales

Tell us about your family - I have 2 beautiful daughters, Caitlin and Morgan, 2 dogs and 2 parrots.

Besides Kaju, what other activities do you enjoy? I enjoy running and hiking, going to movies, and spending time having fun with my girls.

What do you like most about training at Kaju AZ? The camaraderie, challenging myself physically and mentally with like-minded people.

What are your goals for the next year?
In the dojo - refine my skills and continue to learn. Out of the dojo - finish my coursework for my PHD so I can start my dissertation in 2015.

Student of the Month - Zach - Dragon Double Orange

Favorite Color - Red

Favorite Food - Spaghetti

Favorite Subject in school - Math

Tell us about your family - I have one brother, two sisters, mom, dad and 3 cousins

Do you have any pets? 4 dogs, 4 cats and 9 puppies.

Besides Kaju, what other activities do you enjoy? School

What do you like most about training at Kaju AZ?  Tournament Techniques

Student of the Month - Shon - Dragon Yellow

Favorite Color - Blue and Green
Favorite Food - Cheeseburgers
Favorite Subject in School - Science

Tell us about your family - My dad deals poker and is a real estate agent. My mom works at the City of Chandler. My sister, Liah, is a first grader.

Do you have any pets? Yes, Kookoo the cat. He is a Savannah cat. I also have a bunch of fish.

Besides Kajukenbo, what other activities do you enjoy? Video games, building with legos and going fishing with my family.

What do you like most about training at Kaju AZ? Grappling.

Jessica King's Black Belt Journey

Oh my...where to begin!!!

I was looking to get my boys into something active, we were having some behavioral problems and they needed an outlet in a serious way.  My mom had gotten a flyer from Kaju AZ on her door so decided to check it out. Everyone was very welcoming and made me feel right at home. I watched the first class nervous the whole time that I had the worst kid in class! One would talk back and one would just ignore Sigung like he wasn't even talking....I was so embarrassed.  However, I knew we were in the right place and I had complete faith that they would take care of my children on the mat and I  needed to stop being a worrying and let things happen.

I knew they had adult classes, I wasn't really interested at first, then I stayed a couple of times to watch the adults to see what it was all about.  I still wasn't convinced and didn't really show any interest.  Sifu would always ask me though, "are you sure you don't want to try it?" I would go back and forth, I wasn't really into committing to anything and I didn't know how I would like it so I put it off for awhile. Finally Sifu asked me again and I said "ok, I will try it".
I hadn't ever been into martial arts, hadn't been to a self defense anything, it was never in my mind to do something like that so I was green in the coordination department, I was so nervous.

First day in class: cross pit - we started the warm up with jumping jacks, clearly I was out of shape, I was dying after 30 seconds!! How am I ever going to make it through 30 minutes of this! Then he pulled a bench out onto the mat and told me to jump on top of it, with both feet at the same time.  I must have looked at him like he was crazy. Then we had to run around the mat, "Oh my gosh are we done yet? I am going to pass out!" was going through my head. The entire cross pit I was trying to figure out how I was ever going to make it through one hour of physical anything.  After 30 minutes miraculously I didn't die or pass out!
I decided to stick with it and after a couple classes I joined, I loved it.  The bonus I soon learned was that I got to hit bags (a great way to release stress!) and take people down?? Count me in!

Every class had its challenges, the nauseating front roll/back roll class was definitely an unforgettable one for me.  First time doing boxing/sparring  and getting hit in the face, not something I loved not going to lie. Then the next day there is a class that you do a front grab right and its the most exciting thing ever! So regardless of what kind of class it is, its all about what you learned that day, the piece of knowledge the instructor gives you, its all part of the journey.  It wasn't an easy journey, some days were much harder than others, but those hard classes were necessary to push me because that's when I found out I can do more than I thought I could!  That's when I found my drive to not give up, go harder, keep breathing and telling myself I CAN do this!

I feel very blessed to have Kajukenbo in my life for so many reasons, I could go on and on about what positive things it has brought into my life and the opportunities I have had because of it.  Being a part of Kaju AZ is just an added bonus.  The Ohana takes care of each other and everyone is looking out for you, its a great thing to experience.

Being a black belt is an accomplishing feeling, but it doesn't just stop there, I am just at the beginning of the next part of my journey.  Martial arts has become part of who I am and what I represent on a daily basis in everything I do, it's no longer just on the mat.  It has changed  me in ways I didn't realize was happening, and I love every moment. I will continue to keep working hard everyday, giving 110% and being the best example I can be.      -Ms. Jessica King

(Jessica was promoted to MMA Black Belt at our September Testing and Promotions)

Focus your Training to Achieve the Best Results

I read an article way back in July 1999 in Black Belt magazine called "Four Focuses of Martial Arts." Since then the four focuses have become five:

1.    Self defense/professional use of force
2.    Tradition/physical art/self-discipline
3.    Spiritual/health
4.    Sport/tournament
5.    Demonstration

Some of you were probably not even aware of such diversification in martial arts. Most assume that every martial art and dojo is basically the same, just teaching different variations of the same techniques.

The reality is this, demonstration martial arts will most likely not work in a self-defense scenario. And the same goes for sport and tournament fighting. It is important that we realize the differences are important and each focus has its valid place in the martial arts. We don’t hold someone else’s style inadequate simply because their focus is not what Kaju AZ focuses on.

First and forever foremost, Kaju AZ is focused on self defense. Our training and techniques are designed to maximize our defense efforts. This will always be our school’s primary focus. We have some tradition, and some sport, and even  little demonstration thrown in for variety. We accept that we may not always be the best in those other areas, but that’s honestly okay, - that’s not our focus.


It’s appropriate that last month’s Powerful Word was focus. What you focus on in life and in martial arts, becomes clearer, more defined, more definite.  Focus by its nature can be exclusive. What I focus on will become the priority, thus everything else becomes less clear or less definite during that time. If I focus my training on proper technique, my technique will become improved. But if, at the same time, I take my focus away from my cardio, my cardio might suffer a slight dip for as long as I don’t focus on that aspect.
That’s where balance comes into play. Try to use it to help refocus on the important aspects of your training. Make sure your attention is not taken away from any one area for too long. Remind yourself what is important so you can refocus on those important things. Don’t obsess about the little details so much that the more important things get forgotten.

This concept reminds me of a computer’s CPU. It is so interesting; a single core can execute only one instruction at a time. The clock cycle allows the CPU to know when to execute the next instruction, one for every cycle. The faster the CPU’s cycle, the more instructions that can be processed in a period of time. Computers process millions of executions and do so many important things, but they do it one instruction at a time.

Just like the computer, work to keep your focus on the important things and use balance to keep things moving and keeping your efforts pointed in the right direction at the right time.  After a period of time of using focus and balance together, you will see the many accomplishments that you have been able to achieve.

November is a often a time of reflection and expression of gratitude. Allow me to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU for being a part of Kaju AZ. It’s an honor to work with each of you.  I am truly blessed!

Train Strong to Remain Strong!
-Sigung Kelly