He began training in Judo aged eleven for eighteen months. He then moved onto Karate for a further eighteen months.The Class closed. Darryl then began learning Kung Fu and has studied it ever since.
Whilst studying Kung Fu, he has studied many other styles of Martial Art along the way - Muay Thai, Kali / Escrima, Ju—jitsu, Taekwondo, Silat, Jeet Kune Do along with other styles of Kung Fu WuShu.
In 1979 Darryl along with other Instructors in South Wales broke away
from the main body of The International Wu Shu Association / Feng Shou (Kung Fu) Headed by Grandmaster Chee Soo, and formed The Feng Yang
Sau Kung Fu Association (also known by some as - The South Wales
Schools of Self Defence).
This was headed by Sifu Derrick Williams, who was a 4th Tengchi, and at that time second in rank only to Chee Soo himself.
Within a few years Sifu Williams decided for personal reasons to stop teaching, and left his two established classes at Pontypool and Abertillery in the hands of Darryl Cross.

Darryl had by this time been Graded to Black Sash (Instructor), by a panel of Black Sashes, including Sifu Williams (with Andre Lasota and Chris. Jenkins). Sifu Williams had also taught Darryl the 'Chen Man Ching' ( Yang Style ) Tai Chi form, whom he had learned from a chinese teacher in London ( Ho). Many people did not know that Sifu Williams had also studied some 'Fong Yang Hong Chang / Beggar Art' whilst in Singapore whilst in the merchant navy.

A change of Vocation in 1989 when Darryl left behind his Mechanical Engineering job and became a Fire-fighter. Darryl managed to continue running his Classes with the aid of Kevin Jones, for over two years, but then a change of working Shift- patterns caused the Clubs to close.
Darryl became despondent and left Martial Arts alone for a over one year and began playing Badminton with a Local Club.
It was here that he saw a Taekwondo Class Sparring and he yearned to get back to the Arts.
Darryl joined that Class and stayed for two years. (Though he had competed in Semi-contact Tournaments with some success after gaining his Black-Sash in Kung Fu, Darryl’s training and Classes had changed, and he had not competed for around 5 years).
He soon realised that he had slipped back and that he was at a very basic level of competence in sparring - and though he expected to be back to where he left off his training quite quickly - it actually took him years.
He enjoyed the Taekwondo training and made many friends through it, but had quickly realised that it was lacking in realism.

Then due to a private request, Darryl began giving Private Lessons in Kung Fu at his Garage Gym, where he had normally trained himself. Then as word slowly spread Darryl found himself with a number of private students. As Darryl was getting quite busy at 'The Garage Gym', a student asked Darryl to open a small Class as the interest was definitely there. Within days of this a Local Gym owner had requested Darryl to start a Class at his Gym 'The Oasis'. The 'Tao' at work... Darryl consulted some Senior Students of his
and they agreed to help out and cover the Class for him at times when he was at work.
Darryl has been on T.V. a number of times, and recently appaered as a stunt fighter in Dr. Who. He has had successes in Britain and around the World in Semi-Contact, Light-Continuous, and Full-Contact Fighting.

He has visited and fought in China on two occasions. He has appeared in a number of Martial Arts Magazines over the years.
Darryl has a great respect for Sifu Ho (Hung Gar) and Sifu Sam Lee (Choy Lay Fut) and many Masters in China who have helped Darryl to open his eyes and see and understand his Kung Fu a little more, and want to try to better himself as a human being through his Kung Fu practise.
Darryl is married to Claire and has two children who train in Kung Fu. They are Kali- Jade his daughter of 17 years (who was named after the Ancient Philipino Martial Art) that Darryl had studied Under Guru Dan Inosanto and Bob Breen in the mid-eighty’s, also Oliver aged 14.

Darryl is currently the Welsh Coach of San Shou (Full Contact fighting) and Wales Director of Kuoshu. His daughter Kali-Jade Cross was British Champion in 2003, 2004, 2006, and `Best Female Fighter` in 2006. His son Oliver Cross was British Champion in 2003, 2004 and 2006, also he was `Best Male Fighter` in 2004.

Darryl was graded to ' Sifu ' / Master Grade (5th Degree) by the fighters of ' Ching Wu ' in Guang Zhou southern China in 2000.

Recently in late 2006 he became British Champion in Qingda - Light Contact fighting, and also British Champion in Shuai Jiao - Chinese throwing Art ( The fore-runner of Judo).

He then one week later became European Champion in Light-Contact fighting in Germany.

Sifu says "Age is but a number, don't bother yourself with it, just smile and keep going"