36th Chamber
Where
warriors are made
The 36th Chamber is not a gym. It is a school of thought — one that produces not just fighters, but thinkers, leaders, and protectors. Our system has been refined over five decades of real-world practice.
Every technique traces back to Grand Master Hughes Naumu. Unbroken transmission, unchanged intention.
Physical conditioning and mental fortitude built side by side. Real strength begins in the mind.
Poison Hand Kenpo was built for the street. We train for situations that actually happen.
Our black belts go on to lead families, communities, and organizations. That is the real measure.
Rooted in tradition,
carried into the present
Professor Chang
Professor Chang arrived in the United States carrying with him a synthesis of Eastern combat systems refined across decades of dedicated practice. Settling first in Hawaii before moving to the mainland, he offered private instruction to small circles of committed students — always insisting on authentic transmission over adaptation. His early years established the foundational principles that would define every generation that followed.
Grand Master Hughes N. Naumu
In 1956, Hughes N. Naumu met Professor Chang at Pearl Harbor Naval Base. Recognized as possessing a rare quality of readiness, he was taken under Chang's direct instruction. More than a receiver, Naumu was a synthesizer — weaving his deep background in Lau techniques together with Chang's Eastern principles to forge what became the Cetshwayo-Kempo System. By 1967, his teachings had crystallized into a system precise enough to pass on to his own chosen disciples. In 2004, he formally awarded Kajana Cetshwayo the rank of 7th Degree Kempo Master.
Master Kajana Cetshwayo
In 1969, Kajana Cetshwayo deployed to South Vietnam with Naval Special Teams, where the system was tested in live combat — not theory. Competing alongside Korean ROK artists, Japanese Aikidoists, and Thai Boxers sharpened every principle. Returning in 1971, he established operations in Detroit and built what would become the 36th Chamber Dojo — a school of martial arts and a community institution. He leads the 36th Chamber in Hamtramck today, a direct lineage holder dedicated to forging the next generation of black belts.
Train your way
Martial Arts Training
Core Kenpo curriculum, from white belt foundations through the black belt track.
Learn more →Self-Defense
Street-smart techniques built for real threats. No sport rules, no nonsense.
Learn more →Youth Programs
Discipline, focus, and confidence for young students ages 6–15.
Learn more →Private Training
One-on-one instruction tailored to your exact goals and schedule.
Learn more →Black Belt Certification
The complete path to becoming a certified 36th Chamber black belt.
Learn more →Not sure where
to start?
Our instructors will find the right program for your goals, age, and experience level.
Talk to an instructorWhat our members say
“The 36th chamber University changed my life. I gained the discipline I needed, on top of expanding my awareness of power.”
“If you're looking to cultivate & develop martial skill & greater interior harmony this is the place to be.”
“This is a very awesome discipline. The atmosphere is really inviting and I feel like it's my home away from home.”