Senior GrandMaster Alan M. Reyes
(1949-2019)
SGM Alan M Reyes ©Reyes/Kajukenbo Archive
Alan Reyes 1950s ©Reyes/Kajukenbo Archive
NAME: ALAN MATIAS REYES
TITLE: SENIOR GRANDMASTER
Honorary title: SIJO'S OFFICIAL CHIEF LIBRARIAN
RANK: 9TH DEGREE BY SIJO EMPERADO
SYSTEM: KAJUKENBO
METHOD: EMPERADO METHOD
STYLE: HARD STYLE
SCHOOL: REYES KENPO KARATE CLUB
LIVED: 1949-2019
TRAINED: 1956-2019 (63 Years)
INSTRUCTOR: GGM ALEJU C. REYES
LINEAGE: EMPERADO > ALEJU REYES > ALAN REYES
AFFILIATIONS: KSDI
Born in Hawaii on Oct. 10, 1949-2019 SGM Alan M. Reyes was an iconic force in the proliferation of the original Hard Style Kajukenbo, Emperado Method.
From childhood to Vietnam, to his death, Senior Grandmaster Alan M. Reyes practiced exclusively the original Kajukenbo Hard Style. He honored his father GGM Aleju Reyes and Sijo Emperado’s Legacy with 63 years of continuous devotion to the art and the dissemination and protection of the original method.
Sijo Emperado bestowed many honors on SGM Reyes over the years, from the Official Kajukenbo Archivist and Chief Librarian of the Kajukenbo System to (at one time) being named by Sijo as his successor.
Because of his long term brotherhood with Aleju Reyes, Sijo treated Alan Reyes like a son calling him “Alan Boy”. According to Professor Emperado, "Professor Alan Reyes maintains the only school within the Kajukenbo system that teaches the complete and original Traditional Art of Kajukenbo, maintaining the original art of Reyes, Palama, Emperado, Mitose and Chow in its entirety — in protocol, knowledge and the training style — of 'one mind and attitude.”
SGM Reyes authored and archived many Kajukenbo documents. Under the direction of Sijo Emperado, SGM Reyes helped to formalize traditional Hard Style Kajukenbo by authoring The Kajukenbo Training Manual, The Kajukenbo Protocol Manual, The Kajukenbo Instructors Manual, and The Kajukenbo Hard Style Book of Knowledge. Each document fully endorsed by Sijo Emperado with each and every page of knowledge meticulously signed by Sijo Emperado as original Kajukenbo Knowledge.
SGM Alan M. Reyes ©Reyes/Kajukenbo Archive
Senior Grandmaster Alan M. Reyes - Late 70’s ©Reyes/Kajukenbo Archive
SGM Alan M. Reyes ©Reyes/Kajukenbo Archive
1980s SGM Alan M. Reyes, Sijo Emperado
©Reyes/Kajukenbo Archive
Reyes Kenpo Karate, Kajukenbo. 2017 3 Oaks Community Center Vacaville, Ca
Reyes Kenpo Karate Kajukenbo, Hawaii 1980s ©Reyes/Kajukenbo Archive
SGM Alan Reyes tying his grandson Kai's belt.
GM Zickowski and SGM Reyes w/grandson Kai
SGM Alan Reyes ©Reyes/Kajukenbo Archive
HISTORY
In the late 50’s the Reyes family moved to California with Aleju Reyes opening the Suisun Self Defense Institute in 1960. Alan’s mother Maria Reyes taught hula and fire dancing to which Alan was also a student. Shortly after, Aleju Reyes opened schools in both Fairfield and Vacaville as well.
During the summer of 1965, SGM Reyes traveled to Hawaii to test in front of Professor Adriano Emperado at the Palama Settlement Gym, where he received his first Black Belt and Certification from Sijo. Reyes then returned to California where he tested in front of his peers and received certification from Professor Aleju Reyes.
Upon earning his black belt at the age of 16, Alan began teaching alongside his father through Vacaville’s Parks and Recreation Department. Whether at the old Quonset hut in Andrews Park, Three Oaks Community Center, Travis AFB, Fairfield, Napa and more, Alan taught the original Kajukenbo Emperado Method to generations of families in the area.
Between the years of 1965 and 1976, all of Reyes' certifications were awarded by Professor Emperado and KSDI of Hawaii and cosigned by Professor Aleju Reyes. Since the untimely death of Professor Aleju Reyes in 1977, all certifications received by SGM Reyes had been awarded solely by Professor Adriano Emperado and KSDI of Hawaii.
Utilizing the hard-hitting style of Palama, Professor Alan M. Reyes won countless awards and Grand Championships during his tournament competition. As a civilian representing the famed "Kajukenbo Fighting Team," Reyes excelled in both the Fighting (Kumite) and Forms (Kata) divisions at tournaments. He also represented the Armed Forces as a pre-Olympic team member.
A highlight in his competitive career was journeying again to his homeland in Hawaii to compete in the United States All American Tournament, then held at the Honolulu International Center. The tournament was sponsored and attended by all the Kajukenbo Associations in the country. Professor Alan Reyes took top honors by winning First Place in the Heavyweight Kumite Black Belt Division, the Overall Kumite Grand Championship, the Kata Division, and the Kata Grand Championship Competition.
Throughout his lifetime, he has never strayed from his love of Kajukenbo Self Defense. As a teacher for military special forces, Air Force OSI, government law enforcement agencies and city community services, he gained many accolades. He held numerous positions in the IKA, KSDI, EKA, and the Black Belt Society CA, and made a name for himself as a Full Contact Judge. He has consistently given as instructor, teacher, and counselor to all who trained with him.
At his death, Reyes held a Ninth Degree Black Belt, with the formal title of Senior Grandmaster. His school, Reyes Kenpo Karate passed to his son Sigung Alan Christopher Reyes who runs an RKK branch in Memphis, TN. The Vacaville branch is headed by GM Ed Zickowski who credits SGM Reyes with sending him on his life path.
Alan Reyes performing fire knife for his mother Maria’s luau.
©Reyes/Kajukenbo Archive
HIGHLIGHTS
1965 In two separate tests, received his Black Belt from both Sijo Emperado and GGM Aleju Reyes.
1966 Helped his father Aleju Reyes to launch the Northern Pacific Nationals
1969 Black belt grand champion in kata and kumite at the U.S. All-American Tournament, held in Honolulu, Hawaii.
1981 Alan Reyes authored the Kajukenbo Instructor Training Manual All pages were signed and validated as the true original Kajukenbo Knowledge by Sijo Emperado.
1986 Associate Professor 9th Degree Black by Sijo Emperado
1999 Grand Master 9th Degree Black by Sijo Emperado
2014 Senior Grand Master 9th Degree Black by KSDI
2019 63 years of continuous devotion, protection, and dissemination of the original method of Kajukenbo.
BLACKBELTS
1. Larry Carter 2. Ron Mercer 3. Don Roelle 4. Mike Merlonghi 5. Michael Ferber 6. Evert Wilkerson 7. Russ Farr 8. Susan Thomas-Toll 9. Lois Brunton 10. Alan Smith 11. David Gaskell 12. Pat Gaskell 13 Edward W. Zickowski 14. Jaime Garcia 15. David Sandquist 16. Joe White 17. Dan Gaskell 18. Theresa Walters 19. Marcus Pearson 20.Tracy Pearson 21.Jeromy Smith 22.Albert Sy 23.Lynn Tokuda 24. Kandi Teska 25. Lynda Snoddy 26. Mike Hartman 27. Guy Tokuda 28. David Henry 29. Christopher Reyes 30. Fernando Belanger 31. Rob Harris 32. Richard Schubert 33.Kelly Chavez 34. Brenda Bray 35. Kyle Schuyler 36. Miguel Arana 37. Randy Souza 38. Phil Heine 39. Daniel Lujan 40. James Smith 41.Hua Vang 42. Vicky Farr 43. Mona GuerrierIan Henry 44. Kevin Halow 45. Colt Reagle 46. Deo Pereria 47. Conrad Tromblay 48. Robert Dominquez
© 1991 Words From Sijo validating the Instructors Training Manual authored by SGM Alan M. Reyes. All pages signed and validated as the original Kajukenbo Knowledge by Sijo Emperado.
© 1981 Kajukenbo Prayer from the Kajukenbo Instructor Training Manual authored by SGM Alan M. Reyes. All pages signed and validated as the original Kajukenbo Knowledge by Sijo Emperado.