Nicholas C. Yang was born on October 1st, 1981 in Houston, Texas. He began training Wushu (武術), or Kungfu/Gongfu (功夫), at the age of 8 under the tutelage of his father, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, at Yang's Martial Arts Association (YMAA) in Boston, Massachusetts. After years of practice, Nicholas began competing in several international and national tournaments, held by the U.S. Wushu Kungfu Federation, the U.S. Kuoshu Federation, and the U.S. Wushu Union, from 1994 to 2002, performing Shaolin Long Fist and White Crane. He was awarded 8 gold medals, 7 silver medals, and 5 bronze medals in events for barehand, sword, saber, staff, and two short rods [competition awards]. Throughout his teenage years, Nicholas helped to teach adult Shaolin classes at YMAA in Boston. He has also traveled with his father to many countries around the world, including Poland, Portugal, France, South Africa, Qatar, and Chile, oftentimes assisting Dr. Yang in seminars.

Outside of YMAA, Nicholas is an avid aficionado of computers. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Computer Science in 2003 and 2004 from Brown University. After working as a software engineer, Nicholas decided to return to college in Emeryville, California to pursue an education in Computer Animation at Ex'pression College for Digital Arts. Graduating as Salutatorian, he earned his B.A.S. degree in Computer Animation and Visual Effects, with a focus on 3D Technical Modeling, in January 2008.

After having spent two years at Ex'pression College, Nicholas returned to Boston to become President of YMAA International. His father is now Supervisor of YMAA International and Director of the YMAA California Retreat Center. In February 2008, Nicholas earned the qualification of YMAA Shaolin Instructor. Today, Nicholas continues to teach Shaolin classes and to practice Taijiquan regularly at YMAA in Boston. He will be co-authoring several books with his father, beginning with topics in fighting strategies and techniques.

"Throughout all of my life, YMAA has been my international family, a closely-knit network with an energy and will that continues to live on. It has become one of the great pillars of support in my life, a beacon of good people and spirit. I've seen several YMAA generations come and go, and I've watched YMAA evolve over the years, both as a school and an international organization. From a modest old building in Boston to a multinational network, YMAA has grown into a pioneering world symbol of tradition, quality, and friendship. It is one of the greatest honors of my life to help carry this legacy forward. I am always amazed at the amount of respect, good karma, and positive energy that my father brings to his many seminars and travels. He is, without a doubt, a hard act to follow. But I will nevertheless strive to maintain and improve the standards and quality that YMAA has come to stand for.

I am forever proud to be a part of this organization, knowing its history and legacy, its mission and culture. I will be looking to all of YMAA International and the worldwide martial arts community to grow strong together, to continue to propagate martial morality and discipline, to persevere and push for Gongfu to become as alive and creative as the art once was hundreds of years ago."

- Nicholas C. Yang