Dan Millman is a former Trampolining world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor and college professor, and an author of fourteen self-help books, currently published in 29 languages, the most famous of which is the semi-autobiographical novel, Way of the Peaceful Warrior (1980), which was adapted into a feature film, Peaceful Warrior (2006) directed by Victor Salva and starring Nick Nolte.

At the age of 17, he won the United States Gymnastics Federation (USGF)’s Trampoline Championship and competed in gymnastics at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles. While a freshman at U.C. Berkeley, he won the 1964 Trampoline World Championships in London. The same year he won three All-American titles, including national titles in FX and V. Later in 1968, he recovered from a motorcycle injury, and co-captained the 1968 NCAA University of California gymnastics team; also in 1968 he was appointed as Director of gymnastics at Stanford University, where he coached U.S. Olympian Steve Hug and brought the Stanford team to national prominence. In 1972 he became an assistant professor of physical education at Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio.

His early background includes training in modern dance, gymnastics, and martial arts. He earned a black belt in aikido. Later he studied various yoga and other martial arts, and traveled around the world researching integrative disciplines, which resulted in his calling since 1980 — writing about and teaching an approach to living he calls the “way of the peaceful warrior” in his career as a motivational speaker. Due to the varied topics of his books, his work is difficult to label, but is generally connected to the human potential movement

After an intensive, twenty-year spiritual quest, Dan’s teaching found its form as the Peaceful Warrior’s Way, expressed fully in his books and lectures. His work continues to evolve over time, to meet the needs of a changing world.

Much of Dan’s time is devoted to writing and speaking. His keynotes, seminars, and workshops span the generations to influence men and women from all walks of life, including leaders in the fields of health, psychology, education, business, politics, sports, entertainment, and the arts.

Dan and his wife Joy live in northern California. They have three grown daughters and two grandsons so far.

In 1964, he became the first World Men’s Trampoline Champion at the 1964 Trampoline World Championships in London.