Two thousand years ago, the two Trung sisters were legendary swordswomen who led armies into battle against the Han Chinese, holding them off for more than two years in spite of being outnumbered ten to one. Also surprisingly many of the army's generals were also women and expert martial artists. One even stopped to give birth in the middle of battle, strapped the newborn baby onto her back, and charged back into battle with her sword.

Wing Chun Kung Fu, a southern Chinese martial art is highly regarded as an effective self-defense system. It is said to have been invented by a nun named Ng Mui, one of the only five survivors of the total destruction of the original Shaolin Temple, some four hundred years ago. Ng Mui traveled to Futsham province, where she developed her own fighting style and passed it on to her best disciple Yim Wing Chun (Beautiful Spring Time). Structurally, this style compliments opponent strength rather than trying to dominate it. Wing Chun is ideal for women. It is an aggressive style with very compact, economical attacks and defenses. Wing Chun is one of the most popular styles of Kung Fu in North America.

So as you can see, Kung Fu is not strictly a man's art. Many of my female students have proven themselves in class and in tournaments to be very worthy of a place in the martial arts world. Some are even going to be our future black sashes and instructors of the art. So, take them seriously because Kung Fu women are a force not to be reckoned with.

Written By Sifu Rino Côté