Dillon began his martial arts training in 1962, primarily in the Japanese arts. In the early 1970's, he began his training in Liuhebafa under the tutelage of Master Li Chung. He has also trained in Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, and Yang Style Taijiquan. Paul Dillion studied Chinese at the College of Far Eastern Languages at Yale University and served in the US Air Force.