A Buddhist nun invented Wing Tzun Kung Fu, yet few women practice it today. This Chinese martial art is based on simple physics and body mechanics, so that a person trained in Wing Tzun can overcome a much larger, stronger opponent by using the opponent’s momentum and size against him—but it’s also a cool way to get a cardio workout and improve balance and coordination. Hoping to learn more about the ancient art, I checked out a Wing Tzun class in Brooklyn.
The class begins with forms; fighting movements which help build balance, hand-eye coordination, and relaxation. Next, the students practice specific fighting movements, learning to anticipate and respond to the opponent’s movements. As a result, Wing Tzun athletes develop insanely fast mind-body coordination that allows them to defend themselves and helps them respond with lightening speed in other sports situations. As an added bonus, the rapid fire repetitions of fighting movements get the students seriously sweating, and works all major muscle groups.
Josiel Estrella, a multi sport athlete, has studied Wing Tzun for five years. “I love Wing Tzun because it’s so practical,” she says. As a surfer, skater, and tennis and soccer player, she loves how her study of Wing Tzun has improved her balance and helped her become more relaxed and focused when playing sports.
Want to try Wing Tzun? Just pop into a local class. That’s what 19-year old Dallisha Thomas did two months ago. “I’ve always loved martial arts movies, and was excited to learn something new,” she says. Now she’s holding her own in a class full of experts.
-Teresa Ohley
age: 22city: OMAHA, NESelected from countless girls, Brittany impressed us the most. Athleticism. Charisma. Sports-savvy. She has it all - including the Nike contract.
