There are teachers who share their knowledge, and then there are those rare individuals who fundamentally change the direction of another person's life. Master John Lambert is one such individual in mine.

I hold profound respect and admiration for my Sifu, not only for his extraordinary knowledge and dedication to the martial arts, but for the guidance, patience, and wisdom he has shared with me throughout my journey.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have studied under him and for the encouragement he has given me to pursue Shaolin Wing Chun not simply as a martial art, but as a lifelong practice and a way of life.

His influence extends far beyond techniques, forms, and fighting applications. Through his example, I have come to better understand the importance of humility, perseverance, compassion, discipline, and the responsibility we carry as martial artists to preserve and pass on what has been entrusted to us.

As I continue my own journey and work to cultivate those same principles in the students of Blue Lantern Martial Arts, I do so with an enduring appreciation for the foundation he helped establish within me.

I recognize that I stand upon the shoulders of those who came before me. Whatever I may accomplish as an instructor, and whatever contributions I may make to the preservation of Shaolin Wing Chun, will forever carry the influence of my Sifu.

For his teachings, his friendship, his guidance, and his unwavering dedication to the art, I offer my deepest thanks.

With profound respect, gratitude, and humility,

Sifu Dane Griffith
4th Degree Black Sash
12th Generation Disciple, Shaolin Wing Chun Lineage
Owner & Chief Instructor, Blue Lantern Martial Arts

Fort Worth, Texas

6th Degree Red Sash Master | Shaolin Wing Chun Kung Fu

Some people practice martial arts. Others dedicate their lives to preserving, understanding, and passing on its deepest teachings. Master John Lambert is one of those individuals.

Master John Lambert's journey through the martial arts began in 1956, when he became a student of Judo under Sensei Eugene Fields. It was there that the foundations of his martial arts philosophy began to take shape: awareness, humility, etiquette, balance, and respect.

His lifelong pursuit of martial knowledge would take him through several disciplines, including Judo, Tae Kwon Do, and the Northern Chinese martial art of Tien Shen Pai. Each discipline contributed another dimension to his understanding of combat, movement, discipline, and the human spirit.

On October 16, 2001, Master Lambert discovered the Ving Tsun Museum and the teachings of Shaolin Kung Fu. This encounter would mark a defining chapter in his martial arts journey.

There he met Grand Master Benny Meng, under whose guidance he began studying the Hong Kong system of Ip Man Ving Tsun. He subsequently explored Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun under Grand Master Garrett Gee.

On November 16, 2003, Master Lambert completed his Bai Si ceremony, formally becoming a disciple of Grand Master Benny Meng. This commitment established his place within a traditional Kung Fu lineage and began a relationship that would shape the remainder of his martial arts life.

In January 2005, Master Lambert began teaching private students under the guidance of Grand Master Meng. His commitment to sharing the art soon developed into something much larger.

On September 19, 2007, he founded Meng's Martial Arts of Cincinnati, establishing a school dedicated to the authentic transmission of Shaolin Wing Chun.

As its founder and head instructor, Master Lambert devoted himself to developing students not simply as martial artists, but as individuals. His instruction encompassed Shaolin Wing Chun, Qi Gong, and San Da, emphasizing the relationship between physical ability, internal development, discipline, and personal character.

In December 2011, he was promoted to Master, 5th Degree Black Sash, in Shaolin Wing Chun. He was also given the traditional name Yi Ura Han, meaning "Righteous Man Who Keeps His Word."

His continued pursuit of knowledge led him to further study in Hek Ki Boen Eng Chun Pai, expanding his understanding of traditional Southern Shaolin martial arts.

In June 2014, Master Lambert traveled to China, where he continued his training in Chi Sau and experienced the traditional martial arts environment of the Shaolin Temple.

His studies included Ba Duan Jin (Eight Pieces of Brocade) and Muscle and Tendon Changing exercises, deepening his understanding of the internal aspects of Shaolin training.

For Master Lambert, martial arts has never been limited to fighting techniques or physical achievement. It is a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, refinement, health, and personal development.

On July 13, 2019, Master Lambert was inducted into the Ving Tsun Museum Hall of Fame. In recognition of his contributions and dedication to the martial arts, a statue was installed in his honor.

Today, Master Lambert holds the rank of 6th Degree Red Sash Master in Shaolin Wing Chun and continues to represent a lifetime of dedication to the art.

His accomplishments are significant, but perhaps his greatest contribution cannot be measured in degrees, certificates, or accolades.

It is found in the students he has taught, the instructors he has developed, the schools that continue to carry his teachings, and the generations of martial artists who will inherit the knowledge he has worked so diligently to preserve.

Master Lambert's teaching philosophy encourages students to pursue personal development through dedication, meditation, humility, patience, benevolence, and the continual pursuit of knowledge.

These are not merely qualities expected of a martial artist. They are qualities intended to shape the way a person lives.

The true measure of a Kung Fu master is not simply how effectively he can demonstrate an art, but how faithfully he can pass it on, how positively he influences others, and how much of himself he invests in the growth of his students.

His legacy is not simply the martial art he teaches. It is the lives he has touched through teaching it.

The Kung Fu Life is a lifelong journey. Master John Lambert embodies that journey.