AlGene Paulo Caraulia was born in Wahiawa, on the island of Oahu, in the then U.S. territory of Hawaii on December 22, 1940.

Master Caraulia began studying Aikido, in which he eventually received his brown belt, and Judo in 1954 after receiving a bruised shoulder in a playground fight. Later, Caraulia enrolled in karate classes at the local YMCA which was one of Adriano Emperado's Kajukenbo clubs.

In 1959, Caraulia left from the University of Hawaii and traveled all across the mainland United States. He finally settled in northern Michigan after working his way across the country and pursued academics at Northern Michigan University, where he received his degree in music. While at the university Caraulia also lettered in swimming and diving in 1962. During the summers Caraulia taught karate classes at the Chicago Karate Center while studying Judo under Gene Wyka, where he attained his 2nd degree black belt in Kodokan Judo.

In 1963, the USKA promoted the first World Karate Championship Tournament. Caraulia had intended to perform an aikido demonstration there but entered the tournament instead as a competitor. He fought eleven matches and, as a brown belt in Kajukenbo, defeated a third degree black belt for the grand championship victory. In that same year Caraulia joined the USKA and eventually earned his shodan.

AlGene P. Cauarlia went on from being the First World Karate Champion in 1963, to become among his many titles and awards, Midwest Karate Champion 1965, Illinois Judo State Champion 1965, United States Invitational Karate Champion 1965, International Karate Champion 1965-66, Great Lake Karate Champion 1966, International Karate Champion 1968, Ohio State Judo Champion 1970, Member of the Chicago Judo Team 1966-68, Co-captain of the Mainland Team vs Hawaii 1969, United States Professional Team Champion 1970, Professional Karate Hall of Fame 1974, Director, AAU National Karate Championships 1975, Director, World Karate-do Championships 1975.
In 1969, Caraulia founded the Karate Institute and evolved K.I.Kajukenpo from the older Kajukenbo system. Caraulia systemized the training methods, combined judo and karate techniques, developed ippon kumite kata for the system from his own fighting experience, and introduced additional kicking methods.

In 1970, the original Karate Institute hombu dojo opened at 4179 Pearl Road, in Cleveland, Ohio. Within the year more than 100 members had enrolled for classes at K.I. By the second year Dennis Janes, John Bell, and Mark Galeski had formed the core group of loyal and skilled practitioners.

Caraulia then met with David Praim and David Prue. Praim and Prue were the directors of the top karate schools in Michigan, and they merged with Caraulia to join his school and expertise with theirs. By 1971, Caraulia, Praim and Prue affiliated their clubs to form the Karate Institute of America. This was due, in part, to the upsurge of "Fly by night" karate schools producing hundreds of poor quality schools, sporting the name "Karate". These men merged in an organized effort to promote and maintain quality within the martial arts.

Master Caraulia, in 1980 founded, and is consultant director, of the National Crisis Prevention Institute, lecturing around the world.

Bio by John Bishop