Born to Taiwanese scholars in Carbondale, Illinois and raised briefly in Taiwan before settling in New York, he turned to martial arts after seeing Bruce Lee, eventually studying Kyokushin karate at 17, then advancing through Chuck Norris-affiliated Chun Kuk Do to a fourth-dan black belt while also training in kickboxing, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, taekwondo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and gymnastics. His stu…
