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Search Female Martial Artists
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Women’s roles in society will continue to evolve until they reach parity with men all fronts. Women have gained prominence in politics, business and on an intellectual level. At the same time martial arts have gained wide acceptance and are being embraced by the mainstream in a great number of Western cultures. More and more women recognize the physical and spiritual benefits of practicing martial arts. The practical benefits related to self defense are obvious too as we read about violence against women almost daily in the papers.
Women's Martial Arts History
Although they’ve mainly be a man’s activity women have made an important contribution to martial arts and their development throughout history.
From all the way back to Yu Nin, the finest swordsman of her period before Christ was born, women have played a role. Some of Yu Non’s martial arts techniques are purportedly still used to this day.
Thanks to Disney many people have heard of Mulan who lived around 600 AD and is a well-known heroine in Chinese history. She disguised herself as a man to fight in wars against foreign invaders. The emperor was aware of what a brave and capable warrior she was and rewarded her greatly. She turned down these rewards, as the story goes, in order to return home to her small village in order to be with her family and live her life as a girl once again To this day Mulan’s tale still influences woman in China as it has for generations due to mainly the Taoist and Confucian principles that it reinforced.
During the Ching Dynasty (1662-1722), Ng Mui’s knowledge and skills of the martial arts was legendary. She was the head nun at a Temple affiliated with the Shaloin temple. She escaped a massacre at the temple that was ordered by the Emperor who was afraid that the plans for what could be a successful coup may start there. She retreated to a temple in the mountains and went on with her life.
Yim Wing Chun met Ng Mui when she was a young woman and studied with her for many years. While training with Ng Mui, she developed techniques that were more suited to smaller fighters having less strength. Wing Chun imparted her skills to her husband who trained an actor who then taught Leung Yeu Tei. Leung Yeu Tei trained Leung Jan. Leung Jan then taught his these techniques to Chan Wah Shan. He then taught Yip Man who ultimately taught Bruce Lee his skills in Wing Chun.
Today women are a permanent fixture in the world of martial arts and the impact that they continue to make is well known and recognized. Interest in women’s mixed martial arts has taken off the last few years and is as exciting as watching the men go at it. Major television networks are now hosting top women fighters and showcasing their skills all martial arts to the world.
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