Keith Straughter began his Kajukenbo training in 1976 while stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. His instructor was Sisook Wilbert J. Woodson Jr.
In 1977 Keith was transferred to Honolulu Hawaii and earned his black belt training with the Late Grandmaster George Iversen. In 1981 he moved to Inglewood California and began training under Grandmaster Ricardo Kingi, and Senior Grandmaster Carlos Bunda.
Along with his Kajukenbo training, Keith has spent many years cross training in Aiki Ju Jitsu under the late Grandmaster Kenneth Penland. Ju Jitsu is literally translated as “the gentle art” and utilizes nerve stimulation, pressure points, joint manipulation and neck restraints in place of punching and kicking techniques.
Keith is a Defensive Tactics Consultant and a member of the Los Angeles Police Department’s “Civilian Martial Arts Advisory Panel”. As a panel member, he works diligently to help modify and improve the arrest and control curriculum taught to police officers at the Department’s training division.
In 1994, for his outstanding contributions to the community and the LAPD, Keith was named Los Angeles City's “Citizen Of The Year”.
Grandmaster Keith is currently Chief Instructor of Inglewood Kajukenbo. He is also an instructor with the Los Angeles Police Department’s “Aiki Ju Jitsu Dojo”, a training program at the Los Angeles Police Academy designed to keep officers in top combative condition.
