Kung Fu Meets Women's History in Maplewood

It's the last day of Women's History Month — just enough time to squeeze in one last story.

This story is about the intersection of Women's History Month, a new Kung Fu school, and the town of Maplewood.

From David Robinson of Lee Gar Lun Ving Tsun, Two Burnett Avenue:

"We teach a style of Kung Fu called Ving Tsun (pronounced: 'Wing Chun'). It was developed in China by a Buddhist Nun, and named after her first student: A young woman named Yim Ving Tsun. If the story stopped there, it would still be very interesting. The fact that a major martial art style was invented by a woman, has spread across the globe, and become one of the most popular martial arts in the world is certainly worthy of mention during Women's History Month. But the story doesn't stop there. 

The story of the development of Ving Tsun Kung Fu is one of empowerment and self determination. You see, Ving Tsun learned Kung Fu in order to take control of her own destiny. She saved herself from being forced into a marriage with an abusive man she did not love. Her success spawned a whole new, highly effective, style of kung fu which is still practiced today. And, after 11 generations of teachers, the Ving Tsun style has found its way to Maplewood.

The new Kung Fu school (www.kungfu-nj.com) is located at Two Burnett Avenue, Maplewood, across from the Maplewood Police Station and the new .