A Woman Writes
August 28, 2000

I have recently had the pleasure of reading your book Martial Arts America.  I agree with most of everything in your book.  I have practiced karate, tae kwon do, and kung fu with some Yang and Wu style tai chi.  Being a woman, I really liked your chapter The Yin Connection. I wish that all martial arts instructors would read it.

I trained for while in a school where I was taught according to my body type and natural abilities.  I was taught internal techniques.  My teacher also trained his students one side forward (a point you emphasize on your web site).  Unfortunately my training could not continue at that school and now I am at a another kung fu school where everything is very traditional.  My arms are very bruised from the conditioning, and I am forced to train both sides equally.  I am having a very hard time for the style is an external one that uses "hard" blocks and blows.  Performing the techniques equally from a left side forward fighting stance is impossible, and I am becoming very frustrated with their impatient attitude.  I am teased relentlessly about my weaknesses as a woman, but no one wants to work or change anything to build on my strengths.  Again, I wish all martial arts instructors would read your book.

C.Thornton
London, Ontario, Canada