Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gabriel Ford. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Gabriel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I began learning martial arts as a child in California and fell in love with movement and discipline at an early age. That foundation carried me into exploring weapons and performance arts, eventually leading to fire and flow. I’ve spent over two decades refining nunchaku and combining it with dance, theater, and traditional martial techniques to create a style that feels honest to me.

If I could have sped up the process, I would have prioritized community and collaboration earlier. I learned a lot on my own, through trial and error, but connecting with others in the flow arts scene helped me evolve faster. The most essential skills were discipline, body awareness, patience, and adaptability. Being able to stay calm while learning or performing under pressure made a big difference, too.

The biggest obstacles were access and support. I didn’t have a family that understood or supported this path, and that meant working extra hard to find the right spaces and people. Injuries, especially my back, also changed how I train and teach, but in the end, that helped me develop more accessible and thoughtful ways to share what I’ve learned.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Absolutely. I’m a movement artist, fire and LED performer, and martial arts instructor with over 30 years of experience in performance, teaching, and movement-based disciplines. I blend the precision and discipline of traditional martial arts with the expressive, flowing creativity of modern prop manipulation, also known as flow arts.

My journey started early. As a child with endless energy and an ADD diagnosis, I was constantly moving, searching for something that could both focus and challenge me. Martial arts became that path. Inspired by shows like Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I began training at the U.S. Martial Arts Academy. I quickly gravitated toward weapons work, especially nunchaku. That became my passion, and I spent years teaching myself, practicing every chance I could.

Today, I perform and teach full-time. I offer fire and LED performances for festivals, private events, and special occasions. I also teach classes and workshops in nunchaku, poi, staff, and other flow props. I’ve had the opportunity to perform across the country and internationally at events such as Burning Man, Theatre Bizarre, and many others. I was fire performer with J&D Entertainment and was previously a lead with Cirque de la Lune.

I also created the Cincinnati Nunchaku Club and the Cincinnati Flow Arts Collective. These are open, inclusive spaces where people of all skill levels can explore movement together. I aim to make my teaching style accessible and easy to grasp, adapting techniques to meet each student where they are.

What sets me apart is the way I combine martial arts training with flow arts. My style is grounded in both tradition and creative freedom. Whether performing with fire or guiding someone through their first spin, I want the experience to be meaningful, engaging, and personal.

I’m especially proud of the perseverance that brought me here. Overcoming a severe back injury and, more recently, a fight with cancer has reshaped the way I move and teach. These challenges made me more intentional and aware in my practice.

To anyone curious about my work, I’d say this: I’m here to share movement as a powerful tool for connection and transformation. Performance and teaching are both ways I help others unlock a part of themselves they may not have known existed.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think one thing non-creatives might struggle to understand is just how much struggle is involved in the journey. It’s not always about creating something beautiful or performing on stage. It’s also about the hours of practice, overcoming obstacles, and dealing with personal challenges. For instance, I’ve faced some health issues, including a serious back injury and a battle with cancer, which have pushed me to rethink how I train and perform. But those challenges have also shaped the way I create, and I’ve learned a lot from them. Each setback has helped me grow in ways that I wouldn’t have expected, whether it’s a new approach to movement or a fresh perspective on what art means.

Another thing non-creatives might not realize is how much time and effort goes into the “behind-the-scenes” work. It might seem like I’m just getting up there and doing a performance or teaching a class, but there are years of practice, trial and error, and experimenting that go into it. Sometimes, I’ll spend hours perfecting a single movement or figuring out how to connect different tricks. It’s not glamorous, but it’s all part of the creative process.

And there’s the emotional side too. When I perform or teach, it’s not just about showing off a skill. It’s about sharing a part of myself. Whether I’m in a class or on stage, I’m expressing something deeper, whether it’s joy, frustration, or just the love of movement. I think that the emotional layer can be hard for people outside the creative world to understand fully.

Finally, a big part of what I do is about connection. Whether I’m teaching someone to spin poi for the first time or performing in front of a crowd, it’s about creating a community. People might not always see this side of things, but for me, helping others find their creative flow is just as important as the performance itself. When someone lights up with excitement over something they’ve learned, that’s honestly the best feeling.

So, for anyone who doesn’t get it, being creative isn’t just about making art. It’s about the process, the ups and downs, and the connections you build along the way.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely. My main goal is to help others discover the magic of movement and self-expression through flow arts, particularly with nunchaku. There’s a lot of potential in flow arts that people don’t always see, and I want to change that. For years, the nunchaku, in particular, has been overlooked in the flow community, often because it’s seen as too difficult or intimidating. I want to break down those barriers, making it something accessible, fun, and creative for anyone to try. That’s why I’ve focused so much of my time on teaching and leading workshops at flow arts festivals. Getting people to pick up nunchaku and realize they can express themselves with it, just like any other prop.

On a bigger scale, I also aim to build and nurture a flow arts community, especially in my local area. I founded the Cincinnati Nunchaku Club and the Cincinnati Flow Arts Collective to create spaces where people can learn, practice, and grow together. It’s about providing a platform for people to explore their creativity without fear of judgment. A lot of folks come into these classes with no experience and leave with a newfound sense of confidence and joy in their movement. That’s what it’s all about for me – empowering others to unlock their potential, no matter their background or skill level.

Ultimately, my mission is to blend martial arts discipline with the artistry of flow and help people see the value in creative movement. Whether through teaching, performing, or creating content, I want to inspire others to explore their bodies, challenge their limits, and embrace the beauty of movement in all its forms.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://muse.io/gabrielford
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriel.a.ford/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabrielfordfire/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielford425/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/gavelepo
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabrielnunchaku

Image Credits
Robert Olsen Photography Erica Chambers Photography www.tlongphoto.com/ Trevor Long www.thestorietellerphotography.com