Kara-Ho Kempo History: My Lessons With Founder William K.S. Chow

My Time With Professor William K.S. Chow

It was April 1986, and I was piloting a rental up a long hill in Honolulu. Just as I started to doubt the directions, I topped out and spotted the church. The structure was dark and silent, almost looking abandoned, but nearby stood another building, the fellowship hall. The lights were on, and cars were in the lot. I parked and nervously approached the open door, a briefcase containing my letter of introduction and some photos in hand.

I stepped inside, trying not to attract undue attention. I scanned the room for the man I’d come to meet for the first time but failed to find him. There was one guy, close to 30 years old and dressed in a kung fu uniform, and a younger man, wearing a white gi and a yellow belt. Another eight to 10 men were in street clothes. All appeared to be Hawaiian.

They descended on me with scowls on their faces.

“What are you doing here?” one of them asked. “This is a private class.”

“I came to meet professor William K.S. Chow,” I said. “Is he here?”

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