253-The REAL Creation of Kajukenbo, Dates, Facts, and History | Mitch Powell Interview

In Kajukenbo, we all know the names. Adriano Emperado. Peter Choo. Joe Holck. Frank Ordonez. George Chang. We know the stories. We know the legends. But very few of us know the actual timeline of how Kajukenbo was created, when it really began, how the Black Belt Society formed, and when the art became known as Kajukenbo. In this episode of Social Gelo with Angelo, I sit down with KSDI historian Mitch Powell, author of The Creation of Kajukenbo, to talk about the real dates, the real details, and the historical record behind the art we practice today. We discuss: • When the Black Belt Society actually started meeting • What was happening at Palama Settlement in the late 1940s • When the name Kajukenbo was created • What each founder truly contributed • How Kajukenbo was built from real street experience, not sport training • Why understanding this history matters for practitioners today If you practice Kajukenbo, teach Kajukenbo, or are part of the Kajukenbo lineage, this episode is essential listening. This is not folklore. This is history. 🎙️ Social Gelo with Angelo

252-Beyond the Mat: Should BJJ, Karate, and MMA Instructors Care About Students’ Grades and Behavior?

Are we teaching martial arts… or just teaching moves? Parents sign their kids up for BJJ, Karate, and MMA for discipline, respect, confidence, and focus. But those don’t show up on the mat — they show up at school. In this episode of Social Gelo with Angelo, I sit down with Sonny Ramos, a martial arts instructor who believes our job doesn’t end when class is over. We talk about why instructors should care about their students’ grades, behavior, and attitude outside the gym, where the line between coach and mentor really is, and how small conversations can create big changes in kids’ lives. If you teach martial arts, have kids in martial arts, or run a school, this conversation will make you rethink what it truly means to be an instructor. Are you building fighters… or shaping human beings?

251-Why BJJ and Karate take years —While the Military Makes Fighters Faster

🥋⏱️ Why does it take years to earn a black belt in Karate or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu… while the military can produce functional fighters in months? In this episode, we break down function vs mastery vs rank, how fighting skills were taught historically, and why modern martial arts training takes so long. This isn’t about trashing martial arts or glorifying the military—it’s about understanding purpose, design, and expectations. If you’ve ever questioned what a black belt is supposed to mean, this conversation is for you.

250-Why JKD Guys Think They’re FMA Guys and What Kajukenbo Guys Can Learn From It?

JKD history. FMA reality. And the uncomfortable gap between fantasy and function. I sit down with Dwight Woods (JKD Dialogues Podcast) to break down JKD history, why JKD guys often end up training FMA, where that makes sense, and where things go sideways when weapons training replaces realism. Control vs destruction, MMA pressure testing, and what Kajukenbo gets right. Not a call-out. A reality check.

249-Legacy in Motion: The Women Preserving the Abad Method of Kajukenbo

In this episode of Social Gelo with Angelo, I sit down with Angie, Alice, Dollie, Girlie, April, and Amy — the daughters of Shizu Allen Abad — to talk about legacy, lineage, and the living history of the Abad Method. We discuss who Shizu Allen Abad was as a martial artist, a father, and a leader, and how his work contributed to the Kajukenbo community. The conversation covers the Abad Method’s role within Kajukenbo, what Allen Abad brought to the art, the belt colors and system he used, and how his approach reflected the era in which he was teaching. We also explore Allen Abad’s connection to what was happening in the Kajukenbo scene during the 1980s, his life inside and outside the dojo, and how his family lived, trained, and grew alongside the art. Most importantly, this episode highlights how his daughters continue to preserve and carry forward the Abad Method today. This is a conversation about family, history, and how a martial arts legacy stays alive through the people who carry it forward.

248-Martial Arts vs Self Defense vs Combat Sports | Where Kajukenbo Really Fits

People confuse martial arts, self-defense, and combat sports like they all lead to the same result. They don’t. And if you train without knowing the difference, you might think you’re preparing for one thing… while actually getting ready for something completely different. On this episode of Social Gelo with Angelo, I break down the real distinctions between these three categories and explain where Kajukenbo actually fits in today’s world — not the 1950s version, but how it functions now. Also mentioned in this episode of Social Gelo with Angelo: Why “self-defense” gets misused as a buzzword How rule sets change technique and mindset Why Kajukenbo can’t be boxed into one category The question every student should be asking: “What are we training FOR today?” This isn’t about which is better. It’s about clarity, honesty, and purpose in your training. 💬 Question for you What are you training for right now? ➡️ Martial Arts ➡️ Self-Defense ➡️ Combat Sports Drop your answer in the comments — let’s talk.

247-Kajukenbo/MA Instructors: What You NEED to Know Legally Before Teaching Anyone

Most martial arts instructors think waivers protect them. They don’t. In this episode, I sit down with Anthony Miele — a Kajukenbo black belt and practicing attorney — and Timothy Bruce to talk about the real legal issues instructors face when running a martial arts program. We cover waivers, injuries, kids classes, parents, legal risk, policies, documentation, common mistakes, and how instructors should think long-term about protecting themselves, their schools, and their families. If you’re running a martial arts program, this episode is required listening.