Wun Hop Kuen Do Kung Fu, which means
"combination fist art style", was founded by Sifu Al Dacascos in
1969. Wun Hop Kuen Do (WHKD) is a style of KAJUKENBO that incorporates Chinese
and Filipino martial arts into the traditional KAJUKENBO system. KAJUKENBO is a
composite system of martial arts that was formed between 1947-1949 by
grandmasters from various forms of martial arts. Mr. P.Y.Y. Choo brought karate
to the system (KA). Mr. Frank Ordonez brought Ju-Jitsu, while Mr. J. Holck
contributed Judo (JU-JU-Jitsu). Professor Adriano D. Emperado, the only
remaining founder of the system, contributed Kenpo (KEN), as well as the
Filipino fighting arts. Professor George Chuen Yoke Chang contributed the
boxing (BO) aspects of the art, including both western boxing and Chinese
boxing, more commonly called Kung Fu.
As a composite system, KAJUKENBO sought
to adapt and combine martial arts styles to create an all-inclusive system that
could be effective in any street scenario. Sifu Al Dacascos took this further,
incorporating significantly more Kung Fu elements into the system, as well as
additional Filipino knife and stick fighting (known as Kali, Arnis, or
Escrima). He further modified the system by incorporating 25 unique fighting
principles to help consolidate combat knowledge into a common language that can
be discussed and referred to in class. Finally, Sifu Al Dacascos further
emphasized practically in his style, resulting in a system that prides itself
on being reliable and practical in real-life encounters.
WHKD is commonly referred to as a
"system without a system". The art seeks to adapt to any situation
and incorporate new techniques and methodologies as they are encountered by
practitioners. Within this framework, the style still maintains it traditional
roots in Kung Fu, teaching the "ways to preserve rather than
destroy", and seeking to instill a respect for humankind and sense of calm
that should be present in any true martial artist.
Instruction is based around a set of
requirements: blocks, strikes, holds, locks, throws, combinations, setups,
history, and fighting principles that are contained in a red binder
affectionately referred to as the "Redbook". The Redbook contains the
list of requirements needed for each rank in the system. Next to each listed
requirement is a description of the technique, to aid the student in study
outside of class, and a place where the instructor may "sign off' the
technique--a form of evaluation used to determine whether the technique is
performed by the student at a level suitable for testing. When all the
requirements of a given rank are signed off, the student may test for the next
belt. The ranking system in WHKD is: white, yellow, orange, purple, blue,
green, brown, and degrees of black. Red belts, which signify assistant
instructor, may also be given out under certain circumstances.
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