03/20/2026
I’ve been meaning to post this photo since summer. I’m more calm around Sifu David Ross and the family he built at . Sifu Ross was the very first sponsor for back when I was still in film school at NYU, providing our training facilities since my older martial brother and fight choreographer was Sifu Ross’ student. Eventually Sifu Ross and I became friends, and I’ve been honored to call his schools home, especially during the times when the dojo represented more stability than my home life. When J wasn’t making JFH scenes, I was focused on Tai Chi training, or weapons disarming, or Sigong Chan Tai San’s Lama Kung Fu tapered staff form. Sifu Ross encouraged all of it Being entrusted with a space to train and create is one of the greatest gifts anyone can receive.
Sifu Ross even helped me evolve my perspective of my own martial history fighting on Li Ti Liang’s NY International San Shou Team. That was a challenging (sometimes dreadful) chapter of my late teens, getting paid to fight pros for the first time ever, being marketed as a fighter with over 43 matches when I had only 3 prior, and more. Sifu Ross is a historian, and receiving his perspective helped me balance my own and allowed me to give myself more grace.
I write this on the eve of returning to NYC to host a screening at this school that is a home for me, bringing back the project that brought me there, . This photo collects some great humans I’ve met through Sifu Ross, including who has helped maintain the school for 16 years, who has spent significant time on the mats playing Push Hands with me, and , who designed the key moments new era of choreography.
I’m so blessed to watch this martial family grow and share important training with the world.
