Sitting Down with Duncan Wong: The martial artist who brought Yogic Arts to life

Where ancient wisdom, warrior instinct, and healing touch converge

Bridging Movement and Meaning

Duncan Wong’s path isn’t just a blend of disciplines; it’s a living embodiment of mind-body-spirit integration. Born in the Bay Area, his journey from martial arts prodigy to yogic innovator is as dynamic as the Yogic Arts™ practice he created.

Yogic Arts™, Wong’s signature system, is a fusion of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, Buddhist Gung-Fu, and Thai massage. It’s not simply a workout. It’s a warrior’s path to awakening.

In this conversation, recorded during a rare in-transit moment as Wong traveled back to Shanghai, we explored his roots, philosophies, and driving vision.

Q: How long have you been practicing yoga, and how have you evolved over the years?

Duncan Wong:
I’ve been practicing yoga for over 35 years, built on a foundation of lifelong martial arts training. It’s hard to separate where the practice ends and I begin. It’s been part of me since adolescence.

My evolution as a yogi is both internal and external. From the outside, people see strength, fluidity, and accomplishment. Internally, though, the deeper journey has been one of self-inquiry and sensitivity, developing an intuitive understanding of the body, breath, and being.

Q: What exactly is Yogic Arts, and what inspired its creation?

Duncan Wong:
Yogic Arts is the synthesis of science, spirit, and art. It’s a holistic method that fuses the biomechanics of yoga, the discipline and energy of martial arts, and the healing touch of Thai bodywork.

It came from living inside all three worlds. I didn’t invent this fusion. I discovered it through decades of embodied practice and guidance from incredible teachers, including Tripura Sundari, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Deva Das, and my martial arts master, S. J. Su.

Yogic Arts is designed to awaken the inner warrior, one who heals as much as they protect. It teaches us that power and peace can coexist.

Q: What keeps you inspired in your practice and teaching?

Duncan Wong:
My inspiration comes from many places, my teachers, my students, my partner. But nature is a deep source of power for me. I find renewal in swimming in open water, or even just witnessing the spirit in trees, animals, or children’s eyes.

What also drives me is knowing that many people are practicing in ways that hurt them, physically and energetically. If I can offer even one insight that helps someone reconnect with their breath, their body, or their balance, that’s worth everything.

Q: What’s your “secret” to mastery in this path?

Duncan Wong:
It’s not so much a secret as it is surrender, devotion to something greater than yourself. I honor the Divine Mother and ground through her energy. I also try to stay out of my own way and let the practice come through me.

I live by a mantra: Practice for Life. In the yoga sutras, this idea is expressed as Sthira Sukham Asanam — finding steadiness and ease in every posture and every moment.

One of the most important teachings I received was from Guruji, Sri K. P. Jois. He said, “When the heart controls the mind, the body becomes light.” That’s the essence of what I teach.

Q: How do you stay humble amid recognition and celebrity clients?

Duncan Wong:
Fame doesn’t define success. I’ve taught artists like Sting, Madonna, and Björk, but the real gift is sharing this practice with everyday seekers.

After decades of work, Yogic Arts is reaching a wider global audience. That’s beautiful, but I’m not chasing visibility. I’ve shifted my energy toward training future teachers and guiding immersive retreats and conferences. My work now is about legacy, not spotlight.

What You Can Learn from Duncan Wong’s journey

Duncan Wong reminds us that true mastery lies not just in skill, but in integration of heart, body, and mind. He teaches from lived experience, with depth few can match. Whether you’re a beginner yogi or an advanced mover, his message is universal: awaken the warrior within, and lead with compassion.

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