Foundational History

The story of Internal Tum Pai is a journey of evolution—from the explosive, "hard" roots of traditional Kajukenbo to a refined "soft-style" system. Developed by Great Grandmaster (GGM) Jon A. Loren, this branch represents over 50 years of research into the internal mechanics of power, health, and martial application.

The Foundations (1964–1970)

In 1964, GGM Loren began his training in Malaysia under Sifu J. Weong. He was immersed in Southern Sillum, Penta Silat, and Tai Chi, while also studying the healing arts as an herbalist. It was here that his foundation in the Wu Teh Code (Martial Ethics) was laid.

A pivotal moment occurred when Loren met Sifu Weong’s teacher, Sifu Zuo. Despite being in his 80s, Zuo possessed speed and power that far eclipsed younger practitioners. This encounter sparked a lifelong realization: the internal side of martial arts held the key to longevity and superior technique. By 1970, Loren returned to Washington and opened his first school in Federal Way after receiving his black belt from the innovative Sifu Joseph Clarke.

The Kelso Transition & The Search for "Softness" (1971–1975)

In 1971, Loren moved to Kelso, Washington. He found himself training students in a community dominated by the logging industry—men who were naturally larger and stronger than average. To ensure that a smaller practitioner could effectively "yield, redirect, and reverse" the pressure of a more powerful opponent, Loren realized he had to reorganize his teaching methods.

He spent these years refining his own practice in the mountains, studying Yang style Tai Chi. His goal was to take the "street-wise" effectiveness of Kajukenbo and ground it in a foundation of internal concepts.

Sanctioning the System (1975–1984)

The mid-1970s marked the formal birth of the system as a distinct branch.

* 1975: With the blessing of Sifu Clarke, Loren traveled to Hawaii to live and train with Sijo Adriano Emperado, the founder of Kajukenbo. After observing GGM Loren's work, Sijo sanctioned the direction and granted him the name Tum Pai (meaning "Central Way").

* 1980: During a transformative period in New Zealand, Loren spent months in nature training 6–8 hours a day.

* 1984: In a landmark moment for the lineage, Sijo Emperado officially certified Tum Pai as the "Soft-Style" branch of the Kajukenbo system, cementing its place in martial arts history.

The Legacy Today

Internal Tum Pai remains a specialized discipline. It requires a "cellular" transformation where the practitioner moves from a state of rigid resistance to one of relaxed, mental, and physical fluidity. Because of the technical difficulty of the "soft" method, GGM Loren's philosophy of teaching the most advanced concepts only after a student has mastered the ethical and physical foundations of the Black Sash are still adhered to today.

"Using the internal methods would equalize the size and strength for one who uses it, rather than just fighting against strength." GGM Jon A. Loren