Jake Pinnick is an American student who has been following Master Yuan since June 2010. Jake originally took an interest in joining the foreigners' traditional class in January 2009. He had been interested for as long as he can remember in martial arts, but never had anything available growing up in a farming community in Illinois. He was an active child growing up, in academics and outside of school. Although, after high school his mind was elsewhere. Direction was hard to come by. Everyday he wanted to do something different with his life, lacking any consistency or motivation. He tried many things, learned musical instruments, attended college, modeled, traveled, different jobs, and even considered starting his own business. These experiences helped Jake build his character, but none were satisfying as a life path.

Eventually Jake realized that a new path might be somewhere other than home. It was at this time that he came across Master Yuan's program. The words in the article seemed to spill out from his own mind. He thoroughly researched Chinese kung fu, always returning to Master Yuan's site to watch videos, see pictures of Wudang, or read about Wudang gong fu. For some time Jake wrestled with the question of leaving home and experiencing something completely new. But with consistent support with his questions through e-mails with Master Yuan and his students, Jake felt the answer was now clear. With a new drive Jake began working as much as time allowed to fund such an endeavor, but time was too swift and he had missed the initial starting date for the program. Dissatisfied but determined, Jake made it to the school nine months into the program, with the idea of training in the same structure, however, he would not be with the actual class.

Six months of training went by with many changes. A passion had built up within him for the training at the school, as well as towards the environment and people inside it. Jake had also improved quite a lot, making it as close as only two forms behind the training of the program class students. After some consideration and a talk with Master Yuan, Jake decided to come back after the break and join the program.

Jake greatly enjoys training with the rest of the class. Physically, he has improved ten fold, and mentally, he feels a sense of stability. However, there is still much to be done. As this is the first martial arts training for Jake, and not so for all his kung fu brothers, sometimes it feels like years rather than months that he needs to catch up on. But he is ecstatic at even the opportunity to join the program so late, so everyday of training is a gift even if it is hard to see. Everyone is welcoming and helpful, especially Master Yuan.

Jake only hopes that one day he can help others on a similar path and spread the Wudang San Feng Lineage back home.