Ku'ialua (hwn. pronunciation. loo-ah) is a martial art developed by the Hawaiian warrior castes. It developed as an cultural martial arts under the influence of Okinawan karate in the 1920s from master Henry Okazaki (Hilo). Lua is in modern times has moved towards being a striking art that uses grappling movements: punching, kicking, elbow strikes, knee strikes, grappling, throws, joint locks, and pressure point manipulation. A lua practitioner is called a Haumana (student).
The Hawaiian Royalty of King Kamehameha I (1810) would forbid the teaching of the martial art as Kapu (law). The only ones allowed to learn this way of fighting was the king's honor guards at the time. Later on King Kamehameha II tried to preserve the art with several schools of martial arts. Ku'ialua was instructed by several teachers that have their derivitive schools of martial arts: Hahakea Style, Namakaimi Style, and Napua'uki Style. Olohe (hairless), is seen as a master teacher of students. They are often times percieved as life guides of discipline who provides students with physical, spiritual, judgement, and mental training. In Hawaii it is appropriate to call a master of Lua to be a Olohe and typical trained teachers as Kumu that is a term usually used in educational institutions. A Lua Olohe must know the techniques of Lua, but they have their own lessons of life that can be applied outside of battle. This type of lua olohe is not always a common thing to find, so treasure them if they show their teachings. Olohe Solomon Kaihewalu (1960s), Master Instructor of Lua brought the martial art to the public as a controversial move to bring the style to the masses. The style was depicted as a spiritual way of fighting of using the energy of the land as a way to break bones and immobilize enemies. Practitioners would learn from old videos, written books, and learn the art of Lua. It would be a journey of having strong self-discipline, difficult repetitive training, creative adaptation of personal style, and modernization to street fights. Hawaii has its own fighting styles under the title of Hawaiian Martial Arts. The few ancient styles were considered Ali'i styles that very few knew. The most common surviving style was Napua'uki which heavily involved using weapons for armed combat techniques in the Hawaiian Islands. Many of the royals who were practitioners of the style had their own methods of fighting and would eventually make the early styles that were preserved. Weapon training would involve- canoe paddle, paddle, short spear, strangling cord, staff, knuckle duster, shark tooth, sling, dagger, club, knife, and dual sticks. Lua Styles would begin to grow as the martial art went public. A notable style is 'Iliahi Style (Danzan Ryu/ Sandalwood Style). This would push the style to adapt with more strikes and stances borrowing from other forms of martial arts to further develop the art in Hilo from Henry Okazaki. In secret there were many families that were in solitude that had a teacher and students that would have a particular technique, principles, region area, and distinguished form than other more royal Lua. There are multitude of Lua styles. Over the years Lua has had many different variation styles as students split off from their masters or inform themselves from published books. The people who practice the art developed their own unique styles with added techniques. Koa Lua (Koa-Style) The name Koa in Hawaiian is strong and is the name of the warrior elite of the islands. The name originates from the tree that are used for Lua weapons. The focus of the art was on bone breaking blows and weapon swings. The style is extreme, team work unity, and mental strength. It is most well known for its secretive nature of passing down a fighting style to the native Hawaiian people as a spiritual awakening. Kaihewalu Lua (Kaihewalu-Style) Developed in Hilo Hawaii, this style of lua was based on the original Lua. The instructor Kolomona Solomon Kaihewalu, created his style from 1955. The style emphasized boxing strikes, ku'iku'i hand techniques, mokomoko wrestling, mea kaua weapons, peku kick defense, hikua throws, and hula forms. The different uses of weapon techniques allow for many things in hands distance to become a bone crushing item. 'Iliahi Lua ('Iliahi-Style. danzanryu) Seishiro Okazaki was notably one of the first to start teaching lua publicly. His master Wo Chong was honored from the chinese name for Hawai'i (T'an Shan) and japanese name (Dan Zan). This translated to sandalwood style which is 'Iliahi in Hawaiian. As it moved to the united states the style implemented: karate, eskrima, boxing, chin na, and jujitsu. It was effective for attacking pre-emptively in a street fight against charging attackers. Ku’i Lima Lua (Kuilima Style. kuilima kenpo. arm to arm) A major school of Lua starts from the Kuilima kenpo style of karate. It has its beginnings from: Danzan Ryu Ju Jitsu, Ken Ju Ryu Kenpo Ju Jitsu, Inayan Kadena De Mano, and Hawaiian Lua. The concept behind this type of Lua is that multiple connecting blows is enough to shock the opponent to create an opening. The art was developed from a unknown practitioner who merged Ku'ilima Kenpo and his own variation of Lua that was inspired by Hans Ingebretson in Hawaii.
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