Jin Yung: Co-Founder & Head of Curriculum

Jin’s start in the martial arts began at age eight, initiated by a lucky raffle win to an introduction to Shotokan Karate. By age 14, while living in Hong Kong, his study evolved into a more serious pursuit of traditional Chinese martial arts, and Sanda.

Upon relocating to New York for his university studies, Jin began his tenure at the world-renowned Renzo Gracie Academy. Over the following two decades, he expanded his technical repertoire through the exhaustive study of Boxing, Wrestling, Muay Thai, and Judo under respected practitioners in the Tri-State area.

Lineage & Technical Foundation

A black belt under Renzo Gracie since 2010, Jin’s primary technical development took place under the tutelage of John Danaher, with Brian Glick serving as a pivotal influence during his formative years. This lineage informs the analytical and systematic approach to martial arts that defines the Workshop NYC curriculum.

Jin’s multi-disciplinary expertise is further anchored by:

Wrestling: Trained under Hamid Kermanshah (NYAC) and Mike Torriero (Beat the Streets), complemented by active competition in open wrestling tournaments.
Judo: Years of study at the NYAC Dojo under former Olympian and Olympic Head Coach Teimoc Johnston-Ono.
Striking: Over 30 years of international and domestic experience across multiple striking traditions.

Academic & Teaching Philosophy

As the co-founder of Workshop NYC alongside Aaron Milam, Jin brings over 30 years of martial arts experience to the mats. Leveraging a Master’s degree in Education, he creates a structured, inclusive environment focused on the mastery of fundamentals and development of spirit.

Jin’s coaching and teaching experience has spanned from children and their first days on mats to professional martial artists competing on the world stage. He views the martial arts as a vehicle for profound self-reflection and development of mental fortitude; a means to enact positive change not only for the individual student but for society at large.