KUNG FU & FITNESS / Sifu Mimi Chan

32. Kevin Carr on strength training, coaching, and ice cream

What comes to mind when you hear the words strength and conditioning? Does it leave you wanting to run in the other direction? Sometimes I admit I want to run the other way, but today I sit down with Coach Kevin Carr of Mike Boyle’s Strength and Conditioning and Movement as Medicine to dispel myths and go over the reasons of why we all need both strength and conditioning.

24. Adisa Banjoko on blending hip hop, chess, and martial arts

Adisa Banjoko, founder of the Hip Hop Chess Federation, developed a unique approach to helping youth embrace and apply alternative strategies to obstacles in life by providing an engaging, interactive program that helps youth cultivate the necessary life skills for success. At his center, they teach a blend of chess, hip hop performing arts, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The center is open to all youths, but is especially programmed for those in violent neighborhoods. I had a fascinating conversation with Adisa about the intersection of hip hop, martial arts, and chess, and found the work he is doing to bring non-violence through these mediums remarkable.

22. Gene Ching on Weapons, Drug Intervention, and Fencing

Gene Ching keeps busy. He is the publisher of Kung Fu Magazine, a martial artist, a fencing expert, and is the Psychiatric Crisis Intervention Supervisor in which he volunteers his time in drug and psychiatric crisis intervention at music events. I had the pleasure of talking with him about all of these areas of expertise. I also learned more about ancient weapons, making weapons, and his new show Man at Arms: Art of War on the El Ray Network.

17.Pedro Cepero Yee on tradition & culture

Pedro is the owner of Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu in Clifton, NJ. I’ve known Pedro through the martial arts community for several years. He has studied with Master Frank Yee for the past 30 years and is an adopted son of Master Yee. He shares his story of childhood adversity that sparked his decision to become a kung fu teacher.

16. Robin Leong, a kung fu kid

Meet my friend Robin Leong and discover how he went from a kung fu kid in Seattle to a Singapore movie star. We discuss whitewashing in Hollywood, kung fu, and keeping traditions alive. Robin shares some of his philosophy on respect and the wisdom of Confucius.