About Performing/Stunt

Background (Early Work):

My background in performing arts is based on the longevity of martial arts training since childhood. I started Vo Vi Nam (Vietnamese martial arts) to condition the body and develop a basic foundation. Autumn Moon Festivals and Lunar New Years celebrations were the main venues for martial art demonstration performances. At these times, I was fascinated with Lion Dancing and the endurance required to accomplish these acrobatic feats. 

After several years of training, I was drawn to Kung Fu for its fluidity of movement and disciplined philosophy. In addition, its open ended nature encourages each student to find the style most appropriate to his or her abilities. I was inspired by the legacy of Hua Yuan Jia as well as the Bruce Lee film, Fist of Fury (USA - The Chinese Connection). This led me to involvement in Chin Woo (Jing Wu), or Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, which I remained active therein for several years. During this time, I performed countless martial art demonstration shows and was given even more exposure to Chinese Lion Dancing. Having performed in Hok San style Lion Dancing for numerous events and festivals, I was able to greatly expand my boundaries in terms of acrobatics and athleticism. 

For several years, I competed in the USA Wushu Kung Fu Federation martial arts tournament circuit for traditional Kung Fu and contemporary Wushu. I placed 2nd in both Men’s Traditional Kung Fu Broadsword and Men’s Traditional Kung Fu Division in 2001 USA WKF Nationals in San Diego. I also received a 5th place medal for Men’s Contemporary Southern Broadsword Kung Fu (Wushu). 

Background (College Level Work):

While working as a stuntman for Six Flags Over Texas, I was able to acquire knowledge of pyrotechnics and utility rigging. Through this experience, my knowledge of stage rigging broadened through education of various techniques of illusion and masking. 

Later, I sought out a local performing troupe and produced a short documentary on Chinese Lion Dance amidst a complete absence of funding. After completion of this project, I felt a yearning for artistic directing. I wanted to hone in my skills by redirecting and reproducing two scenes from existing feature films: Dumb and Dumber and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The experience was very enriching to have had a hand in all aspects of production, which I feel has made me a more rounded individual. 

In effort to secure a creative output, I wrote a seven-page proposal to the Six Flags Over Texas Corporation to organize and produce my own street show. At their approval, I personally secured funding for equipment before casting my own team of players in effort to develop and showcase my own contemporary style of Chinese Lion Dancing. I choreographed a test palette of Lion Dance by straying away from all existing traditional works and deriving self-expressionism and athletic philosophies from the methods of Martha Graham and Bruce Lee. This venue was an exceptional opportunity for building foundations of new art and gaining exposure, while at the same time receiving financial compensation. Throughout the summer, I supervised other street performers in conjunction with show managing and performing my own show. 

My film and stunt credentials have allowed me to work along side special effects coordinator Steve Wolf of Wolf Stunt works, LLC. I’ve worked with pyrotechnic, rain, snow, foam, wind, and other various aerial/stunt rigging to create special effects for film, television, and live shows. Steve Wolf’s film credits include The Firm, Three Men and a Baby, Do the Right Thing, The Last Boy Scout, The Client, The Jungle Book, Cast Away, and Hustle & Flow. While working under Wolf, safety was of the utmost important and using the knowledge of applicable science greatly aided in this process.

I intend to design a rogue/modern lion dance. My desire is to further develop the characterization of the lion and the dancing Buddha to define purpose and meaning in all aspects of the lion dance performance. I personally think lion dancing is an art form still under development, allowing traditional methods of mindless parading. The lion dancing is only performed for Lunar New Year and Autumn Moon celebrations. I believe more can be done artistically and creatively to lion dancing.

2006 Texas Revue