Our Instructors
Meet the dedicated mentors guiding your path.
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- The Chain of Action: He teaches that "what I think affects how I feel, and how I feel affects what I do.". His mantra for student composure is "choose how you feel, choose how you deal.".
- Chan Mindfulness: His instruction leans heavily on the Chan (Zen) Buddhist roots of the Shaolin temple. He emphasizes calming the self, breathing, and "being in the moment" to counteract the stresses of daily life.
- Physical Transformation: He uses his own journey—having lost 65 pounds through dedicated Shaolin Wing Chun training—to inspire students toward physical fitness and body mechanics.
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- Wude (Martial Morals): He teaches the traditional values of Respect (for the teacher, peers, and art) and Humility (controlling pride to avoid reckless, unnecessary conflicts).
- Egoless Environment: According to student feedback on Blue Lantern Martial Arts, his classes are strictly "no ego" and devoid of gimmicks, focusing instead on mutual support where advanced students naturally aid beginners.
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- The Drengr Ideal: Affectionately known as "The Kung Fu Viking," he incorporates the Old Norse philosophy of the drengr—valiant warriors who display bravery, nobility, fair play, and absolute self-control in the face of danger.
- Core Pillars: He explicitly structures his instruction around the values of self-reliance, personal responsibility, truth, honor, courage, and perseverance.
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- Tailored Learning: Griffith is noted for tailoring complex concepts to match a student's individual level, ensuring beginners are not overwhelmed while experienced practitioners remain challenged.
- The "Why" Behind the "How": Training under his philosophy avoids empty memorization of forms. Instead, it zeroes in on the underlying physics, anatomy, and situational logic of why a specific block, strike, or deflection functions in real-world application.
Sifu Dane Griffith, owner and head instructor
Sifu Dane Griffith is the owner and head instructor of Blue Lantern Martial Arts in Elsmere, Kentucky. He is a Ving Tsun Museum (VTM) Certified Instructor in the Shaolin Wing Chun Kung Fu system and is a disciple of his Sifu, Master John Lambert, and a Certified Lohan Grand-Disciple of the Hung Lung Sin Fu Faat Muun Paai System and his Sigung, Grand Master Benny Meng.
His teaching is based on the Shaolin Halls system blended with a strong personal Norse philosophy of self-reliance, personal responsibility, truth, honor, courage, and perseverance. These tenets make his teaching style a one-of-a-kind experience and help make the environment of the kwoon (school) one of warmth, acceptance, and encouragement.
He is passionate about leading the life of a Skald, a warrior, poet, and scholar. He is a master of lore in Norse and Slavic mythology and a fan of Chinese Wuxia (武俠).
This blend of interests led him to found Nordic Wind Events for public storytelling, skaldic poetry, and Viking-themed weddings.
He is often booked for summertime youth camps teaching Viking history at Northern Kentucky University and at Campbell and Kenton County libraries.
He is licensed to officiate weddings in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana and can be booked via Nordic Wind Events for Viking-themed weddings.
Sifu Griffith's martial arts lineage is both deep and prestigious. He is a fourth-generation disciple of the legendary Yip Man and a third-generation disciple of his Sigung, Grand Master Benny Meng. His direct Sifu is Master John Lambert, a Hall of Fame inductee at the Ving Tsun Museum. Under Master Lambert's guidance, Sifu Griffith has excelled in competition, winning gold, silver, and bronze medals in forms and sparring at various tournaments. He has competed at The Arnold Schwarzenegger "Battle of Columbus" in 2019 and 2023, where he won a silver medal in advanced forms.
In 2023, his own students also competed and brought home a collection of gold, silver, and bronze medals. In February 2023, he was certified by the Pan American Wushu Federation as a judge in the Shaolin Wing Chun division and is now a highly sought-after judge for national and local circuits, including the USA Wushu Kung Fu Federation.
As a Disciple of his Sifu and of the System, Sifu Griffith has pledged to pass on the Art of Shaolin Wing Chun Kung Fu to the next generations. This ensures the endurance of the Art and that this treasure is never lost.
Sifu Griffith's life is a testament to the "warrior/philosopher" lifestyle, which he teaches through the Three Treasures of Shaolin: Chan, Health, and Combat. This approach is deeply rooted in ancient wisdom. He connects the Norse concept of the Skald, a well-rounded individual who is a philosopher, poet, and warrior, with the core of his teachings. The principles of the Jómsvíking, an order of vikings during the late Viking Age who were the forerunners of the orders of knights that would develop in the Middle Ages.
The Jómsvíkings were selective in who could join their order and restricted it to men of valor and lived by a Code:
Truth, Honor, Perseverance, Fidelity, Discipline, Self Reliance, Hospitality, Courage, Diligence,
These principles go hand-in-hand with the Chinese concept of Wude (武德) which is the traditional kung fu ethical code of "morality of mind" and "morality of deed."
Morality of Mind -- Cultivates inner harmony, including Courage, Endurance, Patience, Perseverance, and Will.
Morality of Deed -- Governs behavior towards others, featuring Humility, Respect, Righteousness, Trust, and Loyalty.
- Ethical Limitation: Understanding when and how much force to use, emphasizing self-defense rather than unnecessary violence.
- Respect: Acknowledging the teacher, fellow students, and the art itself.
- Humility: Controlling pride to avoid reckless conflict.
A practitioner without Wude is considered dangerous, as martial skill without moral grounding violates the traditional principles of Kung Fu.
Sifu Griffith teaches the Shaolin Wing Chun concept of "Harmony of Mind, Body and Spirt". This concept stems from "what I think affects how I feel, and how I feel affects what I do." Thoughts. Feelings. Actions. This can be summed up in the phrase "choose how you feel, choose how you deal."
During his years after high school and time spent traveling the world with the US Navy, Sifu Griffith went on a spiritual journey for the truth. He studied Buddhism, Islam (Sufi), Judaism, Hinduism, Catholicism, and finally Asatru, the old Nordic beliefs of his ancestors. In all of these - and many more- traditions he found a common theme: the innate goodness of nature and humanity. Bad people are taught to be bad, no one is born bad. As he began his Shaolin Wing Chun journey he was again re-introduced to Buddhism, specifically Chan Buddhism which emphasizes realizing the Buddha-nature in everyone. This reinforced his understanding that everyone has the capacity to be good and to cultivate peace for longevity and health.
Every class begins with meditation, a few moments to clear one's head and prepare the mind for learning.
Harmony of Mind, Body, and Spirit.
Sifu Griffith's martial arts journey started as a 7th grader in the 1980s, influenced by ninja movies. He began his training in Okinawan Kempo Karate and continued with Guam Kyokushin Karate while serving in the U.S. Navy. After his honorable discharge, he gained a wide range of experiences, from working in new home construction and as a waiter to being a bouncer at a nightclub and even working a summer in a Southern West Virginia coal mine.
Professionally, he is a surgeon's assistant specializing in Da Vinci surgical robotics and works for a prominent oncology practice in Cincinnati.
He is married and a proud dachshund dad. He lives in a historic Italianate home built in 1886.
Meet Our Kentucky Student Leadership Assistant Instructors
In a martial arts studio, unpaid student leadership and assistant instructor roles are designed as "apprenticeship" programs that bridge the gap between being a practitioner and becoming a professional educator. These positions form a formal "Leadership Team" where advanced students contribute to the school community while developing life and career skills. These students act as an extra set of "eyes and ears" for the Sifu and help the class run smoothly.
These fine ladies and gentlemen represent the pinnacle of the Kentucky Blue Lantern Martial Arts Kwoon.
As with all of my students, my fondest wish was that I could have brought them with me to Texas.
Sijei Dorothy Van Huss
SiHing AJ Gallagher
Sihing Manish Gupta
SiHing Mark Albert
Sijei Daisy Vilvens
Our Supportive Community
We are more than just a martial arts school; we are a family. Our students and instructors share a commitment to self-improvement and a love for the art. We believe training should be challenging, rewarding, and fun.