36th ChamberThe Arrival & Early Training
Professor Chang's journey to the United States began as a pursuit of higher education. Arriving first in Hawaii, he immersed himself in the islands' rich martial culture — training in Hung Gar and Lua alongside his academic studies before returning to Shanghai to complete his studies.
When he made his permanent move to America, he brought with him a synthesis of Eastern combat systems that had been refined across decades of dedicated practice. It was this fusion — rooted in discipline, internal energy work, and real-world application — that would become the foundation of what is now known as the Tumfo Tu and Cetshwayo-Kempo Systems.
The early years were defined by rigorous private instruction, small circles of committed students, and an unwavering insistence on authentic transmission. No shortcuts. No theater. Only what worked, and only what could be passed on without corruption.
The Meeting of Masters
In 1956, Professor Chang encountered Hughes N. Naumu at Pearl Harbor Naval Base. Recognizing a rare quality of readiness in the young man, Chang took Naumu under his direct instruction in the Tumfo Tu system — a transmission that would shape the next half-century of martial arts history in America.
Naumu was not merely a receiver. He was a synthesizer. Drawing on his own deep background in Lau techniques, he wove those principles together with the Tumfo Tu curriculum, producing a more complete and adaptable system. The result was something neither man could have created alone.
By 1967, Naumu had refined his teachings to the point where he was ready to select his own disciples — men he would invest his full knowledge in and trust to carry the lineage forward. Among those chosen was a young Kajana Cetshwayo.
War, Combat, and Refinement
In 1969, Kajana Cetshwayo deployed to South Vietnam with Naval Special Teams (I.U.W.G.1). What followed was the ultimate crucible — the system was not tested in a gym or a competition ring, but in jungles, on beaches, and in ocean environments where the margin between technique and death was measured in fractions of a second.
During this period, Cetshwayo competed against and trained alongside Korean ROK artists, Japanese Aikidoists, and Thai Boxers. Each encounter sharpened what worked and stripped away what didn't. The Cetshwayo-Kempo System that emerged from Vietnam was not theory — it was the distillation of proven combat.
In 1971, returning to civilian life, Cetshwayo established operations in Detroit, Michigan. His reputation as an elite trainer spread quickly. Students came seeking more than technique — they came seeking the transformation that only real training could produce.
Community Impact & Martial Arts Legacy
The Cetshwayo-Kempo System was never only about fighting. From the beginning, the dojo functioned as a community institution — one that recognized the relationship between physical mastery and social responsibility.
From 1971 to 1976, the organization helped coordinate food co-ops for families in underserved Detroit neighborhoods. In 1975, Master Cetshwayo worked directly with city officials on riot prevention, and launched neighborhood patrols alongside law enforcement to address gang violence. These were not charitable extras — they were expressions of the same values that drove the martial curriculum.
The community work continued and expanded: a 2002–2004 partnership with the Detroit Police Department brought youth martial arts programming to at-risk young people, and a 2005–2007 expansion to Oakland, California included job placement services for formerly incarcerated individuals. The dojo was building Black Belts of Life — not just black belts.
The Evolution of Tumfo Tu & Recognition
In 1979, the 'Battle of the Belts' competition in Detroit became a defining moment. When opponents witnessed the combat efficiency of the Cetshwayo-Kempo System firsthand, they withdrew rather than face it. The system's reputation was no longer word of mouth — it was demonstrated.
In 2004, at the 34th Annual C-KS Reunion, Grand Master Naumi formally awarded Kajana Cetshwayo the rank of 7th Degree Kempo Master — the culmination of decades of mastery, service, and faithful transmission. It was recognition from the source itself.
Since 2007, while maintaining its roots in Detroit and expanding presence in Washington, D.C., the school has continued to evolve without abandoning its foundation. Today — more than 50 years after Professor Chang first met Hughes Naumu at Pearl Harbor — the lineage remains unbroken, transmitted one student at a time.
The lineage timeline
Professor Chang meets Hughes Naumu at Pearl Harbor Naval Base
Professor Chang encountered Hughes N. Naumu at Pearl Harbor Naval Base and began mentoring him in the Tumfo Tu system. Naumu began synthesizing Lau techniques with Tumfo Tu, producing a more complete and adaptable combat curriculum.
Naumu refines his teachings and selects disciples
After a decade of refinement, Hughes Naumu selected the disciples he would invest his full knowledge in — among them, a young Kajana Cetshwayo. The transmission of the lineage was now formally underway.
Cetshwayo deploys to South Vietnam with Naval Special Teams
Kajana Cetshwayo deployed with Naval Special Teams (I.U.W.G.1) to South Vietnam, testing the system in real combat across jungles, beaches, and ocean environments. Competed against Korean ROK artists, Japanese Aikidoists, and Thai Boxers.
Operations established in Detroit, Michigan
After returning from Vietnam, Master Cetshwayo established operations in Detroit, Michigan. His reputation for elite fighter training spread quickly, and community programs — including food co-op coordination for local families — began almost immediately.
Riot prevention and neighborhood patrols with Detroit city officials
The 36th Chamber worked with Detroit city officials on riot prevention and launched neighborhood patrols alongside law enforcement targeting gang violence — demonstrating that the dojo's mission extended far beyond the training floor.
The Battle of the Belts — opponents withdraw
At the Battle of the Belts competition in Detroit, all opponents withdrew after witnessing the combat efficiency of the Cetshwayo-Kempo System. The system's reputation moved from word of mouth to demonstrated fact.
Grand Master Naumi awards Cetshwayo 7th Degree Kempo Master rank
At the 34th Annual C-KS Reunion, Grand Master Naumi formally awarded Kajana Cetshwayo the rank of 7th Degree Kempo Master — recognition from the source of the lineage itself, acknowledging decades of mastery and service.
Headquarters relocates to Denver with continued Detroit and D.C. presence
Headquarters relocated to Denver, CO while maintaining continued presence in Detroit, Michigan and Washington, D.C. — expanding the reach of the lineage nationally while preserving its roots in the community where it was forged.