GRANDMASTER JAIME BASQUEZ
Kajukenbo
Grandmaster Jaime Basquez was born on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii.
He later moved to the island of Oahu
where he attended grade school with Ming Lum and Ben Largusa in
Honolulu, Hawaii. Grandmaster Basquez career began in the boxing
ring during his early teens. He entered the 1948 Olympic trials
in San Francisco, finishing in the semi-finals. During that same
year he became the Bantamweight Champion of the Hawaiian Islands
and was sent to Boston for the national at the remarkable age of
only 15 year old. Later he won the Inter-Pacific Crown title before
his 16th birthday, and the Diamond Belt Crown title in Chicago.
The following year, fighting as a featherweight, he competed in
the National Golden Gloves and won. Soon afterwards, at age 17,
he lied about his age and turned professional, winning all of his
early matches in 1950. He was later drafted in the army at the age
of 18, and sent to Japan.
It was at this time that Grandmaster Basquez
saw karate for the first time. He returned
home in 1952 and started training in
the art of Kenpo, but continued his career as a professional boxer.
He fought four 10 round fights that year, winning all of them including
a non-title with Louis Costello, the former Featherweight Champion
of the World. He also defeated Gil Cadilli, a top contender who
had defeated the great Willie Pep. Grandmaster Basquez win over
Gil Cadilli gave him the opportunity of a lifetime, a title fight
with Sandy Sandler, the Featherweight Champion of the World. Grandmaster
Basquez decided to retire from professional boxing because he and
his wife was expecting their first child and he felt that he needed
to be with his wife.
In 1954, Grandmaster Jaime Basquez opens his
first Kenpo School in Hanapepe, Kauai.
By the early 1960's he joined up with Kajukenbo Adriano Emperado.
He has attained the highest rank of 9th degree in Kajukenbo system.
He has several schools in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Grandmaster Basquez
is a highly respected man in the martial arts. He gives martial
arts seminars in the U.S. Mainland, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam.
Grandmaster Jaime Basquez is one of the senior advisors of Hawaii
Kenpo Jujitsu Society and was inducted into the Society Hall of
Fame 1999.
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