Black Robe: The Kempo/Kajukenbo Connection - Limited Full Color

In this review of Black Robe: The Kempo/Kajukenbo Connection the bottom line is simple: this book is for martial arts historians and practitioners who want a detailed, personal account of Hawaiian Kempo and the Kajukenbo lineage. David Tavares and Zach Royer present a narrative that blends biography, technique history, and a long-standing unsolved murder mystery, making the book most valuable for readers seeking context and archival material rather than a how-to training manual.

Key Features

• Limited full color edition: The full color presentation makes photographs and historical documents easier to read and gives a clearer sense of people and places than standard black-and-white prints.
• Foreword by Eugene Sedeno: The foreword places the work in a wider Kajukenbo context and provides an informed introduction for readers new to the system.
• Personal biography: David Tavares recounts his lifelong journey in the Kempo system, offering first-person detail about training, instructors, and local Hawaiian martial arts culture.
• Investigation of a cold case: The book examines the nearly six decade long unsolved murder of Walter Godin's instructor, presenting police reports and witness statements for readers interested in historical investigation.
• Lineage and founders explored: Detailed attention to the other co-founders of Kajukenbo and a discussion of a possible sixth, lesser-known contributor provides useful context for lineage-focused students.

Who It's For

This book suits martial artists, researchers, and fans of Pacific Island martial traditions who value primary-source detail and personal memoir. Instructors and students studying Kajukenbo or Kempo lineage will find the archival police reports and witness statements particularly informative for understanding historical context.

Readers looking for a technical training guide with step-by-step instruction or a richly photographed technique manual should look elsewhere; this is primarily a historical and biographical resource rather than a workbook for drilling techniques.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Unique first-person perspective from David Tavares provides authenticity and depth to the Kajukenbo narrative.
• Inclusion of police reports and witness statements gives the book investigative heft and archival value.
• Full color printing enhances photographs and documents, improving readability and historical appreciation.

Cons

• Not a technical training manual, so it does not substitute for practical instruction or a technique compendium.

Specifications

Title	Black Robe: The Kempo/Kajukenbo Connection
Authors	David Tavares, Zach Royer
Edition	Limited Full Color Edition
Foreword	Eugene Sedeno
Subject	Kempo, Kajukenbo history and biography
Includes	Historical police reports and witness statements

Our Verdict

Black Robe is a well-researched, personally written volume that excels as a historical and biographical account of Hawaiian Kempo and Kajukenbo lineage. It is good value for practitioners and researchers who want archival material and narrative context, though those seeking a practical technique manual should supplement it with training resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this edition include illustrations or photos?
Yes, the limited full color edition includes photographs and reproductions of documents to support the historical text.

Is this book a training manual for Kajukenbo?
No, the book focuses on history, biography, and archival material rather than step-by-step technical instruction.

Who contributed the foreword?
The foreword is written by Eugene Sedeno, providing contextual perspective for the work.