KUNG FU & FITNESS / Sifu Mimi Chan

279. Coach Dan John on the unfairness of life

This is my tenth episode with Coach Dan John and it is my favorite so far. Be ready to cry, laugh, and think with us during this hour.

Dan is extremely thoughtful and insightful and I have been on an extraordinary journey with him exploring the philosophies of The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White.

276. Albert Tam on life in the United States Secret Service

It’s not every day you get the chance to speak with a United States Secret Service agent. Albert Tam recently retired from his twenty-five-year law enforcement career as the Supervisory Special Agent for the Secret Service’s Office of Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs.

274. Johnny Yang shares how he became a stunt performer

Hi everyone! In this episode, Johnny Yang shares his experiences as a Hollywood stunt performer and coordinator. Johnny is another member of the wonderful Warrior HBOMAX tv series family. We had a great time talking about

his work with friend and stunt coordinator Brett Chan and being a part of the Hitz International team.

271. Dr. Mark Cheng on the Olympics and Olympic Athletes

I love the Olympics. I enjoy marveling at the athletes and cheering them on. In a world where there is so much negativity and frustration, the Olympics usually provide a moment of comfort and joy.

Unfortunately, I have been frustrated with the Russian Olympic Committee and the controversy surrounding figure skater Kamila Valieva. When I heard reports of her failing her drug test, I was frustrated. I’m not sure what the result of the competition will be by the time this is released, but as of the day this was recorded, she has been allowed to skate and is currently in the lead after the short program.

ICYMI Episode 223. How to improve your martial arts training

I usually take a short break the last couple of weeks of the year, but I had so many wonderful guests lined up we decided to keep going! Instead, I am taking the first couple of weeks in January to reset and hope you revisit this conversation with Oscar and I as we discuss how to improve your martial arts training. These principles can be applied to any sport or exercise program. As it is the start of the New Year, hope you find some of these tips useful and helpful.

252. Langley Kirkwood on Capetown, triathlons and acting

I had a lovely conversation with award-winning South African actor and voice artist Langley Kirkwood. Langley plays the villain Buckley on HBOMAX’s Warrior. It’s been surreal to speak with so many cast members from Warrior and Banshee.

Langley shares his love for Cape Town, triathlons, and acting. As an admirer of his work, it was fascinating to hear about how his triathlon training compliments his acting process.

243. Brett Chan on fight choreography, stunts and Warrior

Brett Chan is a 20 year veteran of the film industry with a background in Kinesiology, human kinetics, and 30 years of experience in martial arts.

Brett has traveled the world as a stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and 2nd unit director. I enjoyed talking to Brett about his vision for some of the shows he has worked on like Warrior, Marco Polo, Snow Piercer, and Kung Fu.

242. Tim Larkin on when and how to use violence

Tim Larkin is a former military intelligence officer who was part of a beta group that redesigned how Special Operations personnel trained for close combat. He has a 25-year career of training people in 52 countries on how to deal with imminent violence.

240. Brett Jones on seeking mastery and Athletic trainers vs Physical therapists

Brett is an athletic trainer who currently teaches Functional Movement Systems (FMS), and kettlebells as the Director of Education for StrongFirst. Brett is a wealth of information on all things fitness, so I picked his brain on the differences between athletic trainers and physical therapists. We discuss the future of personal training and how regulations for coaches may evolve over time.

233. Dr. Mark Cheng on Asian American culture

Dr. Mark Cheng is back on the podcast discussing the uniqueness of Asian American culture. He shares stories from his childhood and what it was like being an Asian American while working in Asia. We are both frustrated with the of rise anti-Asian hate crimes and focus on actions we can take. I urge everyone to listen and learn as we dissect various self-defense philosophies and tactics.

224. Dr. Mark Cheng on metabolic adaptability and healthy movement

223. Improving your martial arts training

What does it take to be successful in martial arts or fitness? How do you improve your martial arts or training regiment? Oscar Agramonte and I sit down to discuss the philosophy and actions that have helped us in our kung fu and fitness journeys.