Story & Lesson Highlights with Ashe Higgs of Tempe

We recently had the chance to connect with Ashe Higgs and have shared our conversation below.

Ashe, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My dog Bubba. He was a rescue that my daughter’s boyfriend found abandoned. We had only intended to watch him for a short time, but when the previous owners didn’t respond to the vet’s outreach, we decided to adopt him.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ashe Higgs. I’m a martial artist, coach, and one of only a handful of Master level instructors and lineage holders in the art of I Liq Chuan, also known as the Martial Art of Awareness.

I Liq Chuan is unique because it doesn’t rely on memorized techniques.
Instead, it teaches you how to align with natural forces—gravity, momentum, tension, and timing—through mindful movement and direct perception. It’s not about adding more techniques to your toolbox; it’s about refining your awareness so you can recognize what’s really happening and respond appropriately. Whether you’re training for self-defense, better health, or deeper understanding, it gives you a framework to do all three.

I’ve been practicing and teaching I Liq Chuan for over 20 years. My mission now is to share the art with more people who are looking for something deeper than just getting hot, sweaty, and tired—people who want to train with purpose, build real skill, and cultivate presence both on and off the mat.

I run classes in Mesa, Arizona, and I also offer online coaching for students around the world. Right now, I’m focused on expanding our reach through local workshops, monthly open house events, and a hybrid program that helps martial arts nerds get lean, strong, and capable—physically and mentally.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
I grew up in rural upstate NY. My first jobs were as a farmhand on a potato and a dairy farm. Nobody has a better work ethic and demands more from you than a farmer.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me how to stay calm and focused when everything in me wanted to panic, freeze, or give up. Success never pushed me to that edge—only pressure and discomfort did.

In martial arts, especially in I Liq Chuan, you’re constantly forced to confront what’s real, not what you wish were happening. You don’t get to rely on muscle memory or brute strength. You have to stay present, even when you’re tired, frustrated, or getting beat. That’s where the real growth happens.

Suffering showed me that my limits were mostly in my head. When you’re under pressure—when you’re uncomfortable, in pain, or completely overwhelmed—you find out what you’re actually made of. And more often than not, you realize you can endure more, adapt faster, and respond better than you ever thought possible.

That’s a lesson no easy win can ever teach.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in traditional martial arts is the claim that “Kung Fu is too deadly for competition—it’s only for self-defense.”

It’s a convenient excuse that lets people avoid putting themselves in situations where they might fail.

Sport and self-defense are different contexts—but the human body doesn’t change. Movement is movement. Timing is timing. If you’re not training under pressure, with resistance, and in real time, then you’re not preparing for anything real.

Saying it’s “too deadly” to test usually just means it hasn’t been pressure-tested at all.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Most people misunderstand Zen. They think it’s about being passive—letting go, zoning out, doing nothing. But real Zen is the opposite. It’s about being fully engaged with what *is*—not what you want it to be.

Learning to flow with things *as they are* is an active process. You have to be alert, responsive, and grounded in reality. It’s like surfing. You don’t control the wave—but you still have to paddle, adjust, balance, and commit to the ride. That’s not passive. That’s presence in motion.

In both Zen and martial arts, the goal isn’t to surrender to whatever is happening, but to align with the moment so you can move skillfully within it. That takes more effort than most people realize.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fallingleaveskungfu.com/
• Instagram: @fallingleaveskungfu
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fallingleaveskungfu
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fallingleaveskungfu

Image Credits
Rick Weaver 2025
Jack Meyers 2017