Meet Xiangjin Kong

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Xiangjin Kong. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with xiangjin below.

Hi Xiangjin, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience was shaped quietly and steadily during my childhood.

I entered a professional sports program at a very young age, where discipline, endurance, and mental toughness were part of everyday life. The intense training, the physical exhaustion, the pressure of competition, and the constant cycle of failure and trying again were never easy—especially for a child. But those early hardships became the foundation of who I am today.

Life on a professional team was more than athletic training. It was a small society of its own. We lived in dorms, learned to take care of ourselves, and figured out how to find our place within a group. Beyond academics and physical training, we learned how to face pressure, how to stay steady in uncertainty, and how to get up on our own after every setback.

Looking back, I am deeply grateful for those years. The physical and emotional challenges I went through as a young athlete built a strength that continues to carry me now. After experiencing that level of difficulty so early in life, very few things in adulthood feel overwhelming. Those hardships created a solid foundation inside me, and because of that, I rarely see anything as “too hard” anymore.

So if I had to answer where my resilience comes from, it would be this:

From the lessons sports taught me—how to endure, how to break through limits, how to persist, and how to keep moving forward.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My work today centers around Wushu education, and I am the founder of BK Dragon Wushu Academy.
To me, Wushu is far more than a sport—it is a form of education that has the power to shape a person’s character. Through training, students learn discipline, confidence, respect, self-management, and the ability to rise after setbacks. These are the values I grew up with in my own athletic career, and they are the values I hope to pass on to the next generation.

I founded BK Dragon to create a space where people in the U.S. can experience the true spirit of Wushu—not only the technical side, but also the personal growth that comes with it. Our students come from many different cultural backgrounds, and I am proud to share traditional Chinese culture while building a positive, safe, and empowering environment for young people.

What excites me the most is seeing the transformation in my students—the way a shy child slowly becomes confident, or how someone who once doubted themselves begins to take on new challenges. Those changes mean more to me than any medal. Wushu shapes not only their bodies, but their character and mindset.

Looking ahead, we are planning more community events, youth development programs, and expanded class offerings so that more families can be involved. My hope is that BK Dragon becomes more than just a martial arts school—it becomes a community, a home, and a place where young people discover their strength and direction.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back on my journey, the three qualities that have shaped me the most are discipline, self-motivation, and adaptability.

First, discipline.
Growing up in a professional sports training environment taught me that consistency matters more than talent. Discipline isn’t about doing things because someone is watching—it’s about holding yourself accountable when no one is around. Whether as an athlete or now as a coach, discipline has always been the foundation of my growth.

Second, self-motivation.
Many important steps in life require you to take the initiative. Moving to the United States, starting a new chapter, and eventually founding BK Dragon Wushu Academy were all decisions driven by my inner passion—to use Wushu to influence and inspire others. Self-motivation keeps you moving even when challenges appear, and it helps you stay committed even when others don’t fully understand your path.

Third, adaptability.
Life is rarely a straight line, especially when you are navigating new cultures, roles, and environments. From athlete to coach, from student to founder, I’ve learned to adjust, learn quickly, and find my place within each new stage. Being adaptable has allowed me to approach change with openness rather than fear.

For those who are just starting their journey, my advice is this:
You don’t need to master these qualities all at once. Start with small habits—finish one task on time, choose to learn something new, or push through a moment that feels difficult. Over time, these small efforts build into strengths that will carry you much farther than you expect.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

For me, an ideal student is not someone who is sent to class simply because their parents signed them up. My ideal student is a child who walks into the school with genuine interest, intention, and curiosity—someone who truly wants to learn Wushu.

Wushu is a disciplined and highly structured practice. It trains far more than the body; it builds character, confidence, focus, and perseverance. These qualities can shape a child’s entire future. That’s why I hope my students understand the long-term value of what they are learning, and choose this path because it means something to them.

I don’t want BK Dragon to become an “after-school program” where the goal is just to keep kids busy. What matters to me is the quality and authenticity of the instruction. I want my students to receive real training, real discipline, and a mindset that can support them throughout their lives.

The number of students has never been my priority. Whether I have ten students or a hundred, my commitment remains the same:
Once I accept a student, I am responsible for them.

Every child deserves individual attention, care, and guidance. My goal is to help each student grow—not only as an athlete, but as a person. I hope they leave the school stronger, more confident, and better equipped to face the challenges ahead.

So my ideal student is someone who comes with sincerity—someone who wants to improve, who is curious, who is willing to work, and who hopes to become a better version of themselves.
My role is simply to help guide them toward that higher, stronger, more grounded version of who they can be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bkdragonwushu.com
• Instagram: b.k.dragon_wushu
• Other: xiaohongshu:孔龙武术队—尔湾