Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyman Chen.
Hi Lyman, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Phoenix Wellness Arts (PWA) began a few years ago with a small group of friends who shared a passion for Chinese martial arts and a desire to share that culture in our own unique way. We envisioned a space centered on wellness, with Kung Fu, Kickboxing/Sanda, and Tai Chi as the foundation. From the start, we believed that martial arts is something anyone can practice. Everyone simply brings their own style, strengths, and story to it.
What truly sparked the creation of Phoenix Wellness Arts (PWA), though, was an unexpected turning point, a catalyst. Our team was suddenly separated from another school, and while that was a challenging moment, it also pushed us to rethink who we wanted to be. The phoenix, a symbol of rebirth, became the perfect representation of our mission: helping people redefine themselves, reignite their motivation, and revive their sense of possibility.
“Phoenix” speaks to transformation. “Wellness” reflects our purpose and encouraging people to feel stronger, healthier, and more capable in their everyday lives. And “Arts” is about expression and individuality, allowing each person to grow and practice in a way that feels true to them.
Getting to where we are today has definitely been a journey of trial and error. When we first opened, we had just five students and we stayed at five students for about five months. But we kept showing up. Through word of mouth, community demos, teaching at schools, steady marketing, and attending competitions, the name Phoenix Wellness Arts started to spread.
Now, we’ve grown to more than 100 students and continue building a community rooted in empowerment, wellness, and the art of movement. At the heart of it all, our goal is to promote the core virtues of martial arts and continue spreading the ideals of wellness to every student who walks through our doors.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Opening a school and starting a business comes with plenty of challenges. In the beginning, I was working a full 9–5 and then heading straight into a 5–9 at the school. Some days were close to 16 hours long, but I kept pushing because having a martial arts school has been a dream of mine since I was fifteen.
On top of that, I was also dealing with the transition of separating from another school, which brought its own emotional and logistical challenges. People often say negativity shows up when you start finding success, and I learned how true that can be. But I also learned that the best thing you can do is keep your head down, stay focused, and let your work speak louder than anything else.
In our early stages, we tried hard to accommodate everyone, sometimes a little too hard. We fell into people-pleasing without realizing how draining it was. As much as we wanted to be there for everyone, we had to learn how to be there for ourselves too. Eventually, we became more comfortable saying no when necessary and setting a schedule that supported both our students and our own well-being.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My main specialty is traditional Shaolin Kung Fu. Over the years, I’ve trained in a range of martial arts like Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Jujitsu, Judo, and more, but Kung Fu has always been the art that resonates with me the most. There’s a special feeling that comes from learning the story behind each form, understanding its history, and drawing out the unique personality of the style. And in modern wushu, there’s a different kind of thrill. The feeling of pushing your body to perform at a very high level, where athleticism and artistry meet in this almost electric way. Both sides of Kung Fu inspire me for different reasons.
In the community, I’m probably best known for two things: Tiger Style Kung Fu and my nunchucks work. Tiger Style has been part of my journey since I was fifteen, when I first traveled to China to train. It’s fierce, expressive, and deeply rooted in tradition, and it’s a style I’ve studied for years. It’s also the form I competed with at the 10th World Kung Fu Championships, where I was honored to come home with a bronze medal.
Nunchucks, on the other hand, have always been my playful, “just for fun” weapon. They’re fast, dynamic, and expressive, and surprisingly enough, that’s what took off on my TikTok (@leemenstudios), where a nunchuck video went viral.
I’m proud of the small content community I’ve built online, but I’m even more proud of where I am now and the drive I have to continue growing. Competing at the World Championships this year was an incredible experience, and it’s made me even more excited for the 11th.
What sets me apart? I think it’s my openness. I approach training with a mindset that there’s always something new to learn or refine. I like experimenting, adding my own personality, and making each form feel true to me. Whether it’s drawing out the story behind a traditional form or pushing the limits in modern performance, I try to bring authenticity, creativity, and my own flare to everything I do.
How do you define success?
I define success as making an impact on a person.
For me, it’s in the small, genuine moments. When a student comes up after class and says “thank you,” whether it’s because they learned something new, felt supported, or appreciated the challenge of a tough training session. Those simple words mean the world.
Success is also seeing someone accomplish something they never thought they could do. That moment of shock, pride, and pure excitement on their face is priceless. Knowing I helped them reach that milestone, physically or mentally, is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
There’s another side to success as well. In a way, success can be the quietest, most powerful response to negativity. When someone tries to bring you down or questions your path, continuing to grow, improve, and thrive becomes its own form of strength. It’s not about proving others wrong, but about proving to yourself that you can rise above it.
Of course, that’s the more superficial layer of success, but it’s a real part of the journey. At its core, true success for me will always come back to impact, growth, and helping others discover what they’re capable of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thepwalife.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leemenstudios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyman.chen.1/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lymanchen/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PWAKungFu
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/phoenix-wellness-arts-duluth
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@leemenstudios
Image Credits
Images taken by Official IWUF Photographers at the 10th World Kung Fu Championships. Other photos taken by friends and family of PWA.
