Noelle Conn

Noelle Conn – Wong Siu Kuen 黃少娟 in Cantonese and Huang Shao Juan in Mandarin Pinyin – is a martial artist, scholar, author, yoga teacher, ceramics artist, chef, and a devoted mother. She was born in Hong Kong in 1966 of Hakka 客家 clan heritage.

Noelle embarked on her martial arts journey in 1971, specialising in Shaolin Luohan 少林羅漢拳. She also practiced judo 柔道, ninjutsu 忍術, Japanese jujutsu 柔術 and Okinawan Karate 空手. Her career found a solid foundation in a formal 20-year ‘closed-door’ 入門弟子 apprenticeship with the renowned master, Kwan Yuen Cheong 關潤昌.

Noelle has become a pivotal figure within lineage of the Warrior Heart 戰士心 tradition. Today, she holds the position of a 7th generation master and the only woman in history to be entrusted with the comprehensive teachings of the entire system.

Noelle is also a pioneer in multi-disciplinary, multi-lingual research, specialising in the Chinese art of stealth and its rich military history and cultural context. Over the course of decades, she has dedicated herself to exhaustive work within the Chinese classics and ancient martial manuscripts, labouring tirelessly to ensure accurate translations and cultivating a deep cultural understanding for future generations of both Chinese practitioners and international enthusiasts alike.

Notably, Noelle has conducted extensive sociological research, inside both the Chinese and Japanese underworlds. Her acceptance into these communities offered profound insight into the modern use of stealth methods and a chance to compare the modern underworld traditions to those of ancient history.

Noelle has leveraged her extensive martial knowledge and experience to spearhead specialised Chinese martial arts training for children. Departing from the mundane routines of the past, she has transformed children’s classes into engaging and fulfilling activities that go beyond traditional methods. Through her innovative approach, Noelle has made a profound impact, turning martial arts into a source of enjoyment and personal growth, ultimately shaping and positively influencing the lives of many young practitioners.