Darin Sun has more than 33 years of martial art experience. His desire to learn martial arts, ignited at the age of five by childhood bullying, fueled not just a need for self-defense but also a determination to conquer the vulnerabilities within himself. Initially, he requested to study Mantis Boxing (螳螂拳) at a nearby Chinese temple built in commemoration of the Huayan Temple (华严寺) on Lao Mountain 崂山. However, due to the secluded nature of the temple, his family opted to enroll him at an alternative martial arts school. There, he learned Tang Shou (堂手), a style derived from White Crane Boxing (白鹤拳), which he began in 1991 and practiced from age seven until age twelve.

At thirteen, Darin transitioned to the temple he initially aspired to join, entering the world of Mantis Boxing (螳螂拳) under the tutelage of Chen Pei (陈培). By fifteen, his dedication had not only deepened with his practice of Yang Family Taiji Boxing (杨氏太极拳) under the same teacher but also earned him a position as an instructor at the temple. His martial arts education was further enriched by lessons in Mantis Boxing (螳螂拳) from his elder brother, Zhang Wenci (张文赐), and at age sixteen, Taiji Plum Blossom Mantis Boxing from Zhang Bingdou (张炳斗). By eighteen, Darin began judging martial arts tournaments.

His passion for sharing his knowledge led to the opening of his first Mantis Boxing club at twenty, followed by a second club three years later. At twenty-three years old, on May 25, 2007, he began studying the Hao Family System Taiji Plum Blossom Mantis Boxing (郝家门太极梅花螳螂拳) under Master Sun Deyao (孙德尧), a relationship that has profoundly influenced his martial arts philosophy and practice. Darin's years of dedication and hard work culminated in his discipleship ceremony in 2012 during Master Sun Deyao's 60th birthday celebration, a significant cultural and personal milestone, where he was bestowed with the Chinese name Maofei (茂飞).

In a beautiful blend of personal and professional life, Darin married Master Sun Deyao’s daughter in 2014 and took the last name of his wife, becoming Darin Maofei Sun (孙茂飞), starting a new chapter of his life intertwined with his wife's family and cultural heritage. Darin’s dedication and skill in martial arts have been recognized on several occasions, including his induction into the World Praying Mantis Boxing Association as an Expert Master 8th degree in 2021, and the International Chinese Martial Art Championship Hall of Fame as a Master of Chinese Martial Arts in 2022. Today, he continues to live with his world-renowned father-in-law, Master Sun Deyao (孙德尧), the great-grandson of the founder of Taiji Plum Blossom Mantis Boxing (太极梅花螳螂拳), while assisting with teaching and carrying on the important task of passing down their family's system of Mantis Boxing.