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Professor John Pagdilao was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He began his
martial arts career in 1959 at the age of 10; he enrolled in the Ewa
Judo Club under Sensei Nobur Sato. In 1961 he studied Karate with
his uncle Philip Caurisma at the same time he enrolled in the Kenchu
Kun Karate Club in Kalihi, under chief instructor Steven Malagues.
In 1966 Professor Pagdilao attained his black belt
in Judo from the Ewa Judo Club in the same year he attained this
black belt from the Kenchu kun Karate. In 1966 he enroll in the Ewa
Kenpo Karate Club, under Professor Haime Abregana. In 1967 he was
recognized by Professor Haime Abregana, as a Black Belt Instructor
in the art of Kenpo Karate. Professor Pagdilao left the Ewa Kenpo
Karat Club, for the tournament circuit.
From 1966-1979 Professor Pagdilao was very active in
all forms of tournaments here and abroad. In 1967 Professor Pagdilao
opened his own karate school in Iroquois Pt. Navy housing and in the
same year open branches at Ewa and Ewa Beach.
In 1971 he became affiliated with the Shirotaka
Karate Club under Chief Instructor Alex Cadang, to conduct classes
at Makakilo and Waianae to build a tournament team. In 1973
Professor Pagdilao received his Chief Instructorship from
Grandmaster Marcus Lim of the Kenchu Kun karate club, and was also
received recognition as a Chief Instructor from the Shirotaka Karate
Association. In1974 he left the Shirotaka Karate Club to span more
time with his own karate schools and build a his Fighting Team.
In 1986 Professor Pagdilao was reunited with the Ewa
Kenpo Karate Club, but this time working with Professor Jaime
Abregana Jr., the son of Grandmaster Haime Abregana Sr. At this time
Professor Jaime Abregana was promoting professional Kick Boxing
sanctioned by the World Karate Association and The Karate
International Council of Kickboxing. Professor Pagdilao and his
Kickboxing Team supported Professor Abregana's with his Kickboxing
promotion for the next 3 years.
In 1996 after 37 years in the martial arts Professor
Pagdilao received his Professorship, from the Abregana Self-Defense
Institute under Professor Jaime Abregana Jr.
Professor John Pagdilao is one of the co-founders of
the Hawaii Kenpo Jujitsu Society and currently serves as President.
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