Adriano Emperado, most active of the founders of Kajukenbo, and leader of the KSDI, passed away on April 4, 2009. He was a towering influence on the martial arts community, and those of us with roots in Shaolin Kempo and the related arts owe him a great debt, as our systems sprang from students of him, or their students.
He was noted for his tough, no nonsense training, and for combining striking, grabs, takedowns, and finishes with a final goal of effectiveness in mind. He leaves behind a dedicated Ohana, having touched the lives of countless students over the years.