Daniel Mah began his martial arts journey in 2003 under the guidance of Sifu Manuel Marquez at the Shaolin Temple Kung Fu School in Lomita, California. As an American born Chinese, kung fu became more than a physical discipline — it was a bridge to his cultural heritage, a way to connect with traditions that shaped his identity long before he understood their depth.

Trained primarily in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and Seven Star Praying Mantis, he found in these systems a path toward confidence and self discovery. As an unconfident, overweight kid, kung fu taught him to recognize his own strength, to cultivate discipline, and to pursue excellence with humility and perseverance.

At UC Irvine, he joined the Chinese Association Martial Arts (CAMA) demo team, where he encountered a wide range of styles including Wushu, tricking, and Taekwondo. During this time, he met Andy Le and Brian Le — friendships that would later spark the creation of Martial Club, a group dedicated to blending traditional martial arts spirit with modern cinematic expression.

Martial Club has since grown into a celebrated martial arts filmmaking group, known for its dynamic choreography and its contribution to the Oscar winning film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Through this work, Daniel strives to honor the spirit of traditional kung fu while presenting it in fresh, cinematic ways.

As a martial arts filmmaker, he is driven by a singular creative mission: to reintroduce the world to the kung fu mindset through the power of film. Above all, as a devout Christian, he seeks to use his gifts in service of his greater purpose — the advancement of God’s Kingdom. He believes that meaningful visual storytelling can inspire others to pursue excellence in their own passions, just as kung fu has inspired him.