Professor Jaime Abregana Jr., was born in Hilo, Hawaii. He first studied the martial arts of Kenpo, Karate, and Jujitsu in 1968 under his father, Grandmaster Jaime Abregana Sr., founder of the Ewa Kenpo Karate Club. In 1978, Prof. Abregana was awarded his Black Belt. He was also an outstanding amatuer boxer in the 1970’s.
After receiving his Black Belt, he joined the United States Army. He earned his Bachelor Degree in Accounting in 1985. As a professional boxer, Prof. Abregana fought the ABF Flyweight Champion in 1986 sanctioned by the USBA. After retiring from professional boxing, he begun promoting professional and amatuer kickboxing from 1986 to 1989, sanctioned by the World Karate Association, Professional Karate Association, and The Karate International Council of Kickboxing.
Prof. Jaime Abregana also studied the Filipino martial art of Karaan (Escrima/Kali) under the tutorship of Grandmaster Ralph Sisneros. Prof. Abregana has also won 2 World Escrima Traditional (full-contact) tournaments in the Philippines in 1995 and 1996.
After the death of his father in 1994, Prof. Jaime Abregana became the successor to the Ewa Kenpo Karate Club, which he later took on the name, Abregana Self Defense Institute. In the 1990’s, Grandmaster Ming Lum had Prof. Abregana expend his knowledge in the Chinese martial arts of Bak Mei and Haak Ga under the Tutorship of Professor Randy Choy of the Chinese Athletic Martial Arts Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii. He has also had the opportunity to study under Grandmaster Bing Fai Lau.
Prof. Jaime Abregana has received numerous awards from Politicians from Hawaii for his accomplishments in the martial arts. In 1999, Prof. Abregana received the Commendation Award of Grandmastership from the Philippines Consulate General-Hawaii and the Council of Elders from Mindinao, Philippines for his accomplishments in the Filipino martial arts of Karaan, winning the full-contact traditional tournament twice and being appointed to the Council of Elders.
In 1995, Prof. Jaime Abregana Jr., founded the Hawaii Kenpo Jujitsu Society, which is now known as the Hawaii Martial Arts Society, under the direction of the first senior advisors: Grandmasters Ming Lum, Sig Kufferath, Peter Choo, and James Muro. There are currently members from Hawaii, U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia, and Europe.
In 2001, Prof. Jaime Abregana was inducted into the World Head of Family Sokeship Council, International Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the United Martial Artist Association Hall of Fame and serves as the Hawaii director. He also serves as a Technical Advisor for the World Martial Arts Society based in the UK, and is a member of The Latin America Grandmasters and Soke Council.
For more information about Jaime Abregana Jr. and Hawaii Martial Arts International Society visit their website at HMAI Society on Facebook and their listing on the Martial Arts Schools and Businesses Directory by clicking on the image on the left.
