Yayan Ruhian was born in Tasikmalaya, West Java, on October 19, 1968. He found his calling in pencak silat and other martial arts, becoming a professional martial arts instructor. Ruhian is also known as an instructor of internal breathing techniques designed to prepare the body to withstand any blow.

In 1988 he began teaching at Perguruan Silat Tenaga Dasar Indonesia (the Indonesian school of inner-breath silat). During his time as an instructor, he regularly traveled to teach in various cities and abroad.