martialartsresources.info

What is a good Chinese martial art for a small female?

I am pretty athletic female, but I am relatively small (4'10", 90 lbs, 25). I am interested in learning a martial art - as a hobby, another form of exercise. For my size, I am pretty strong (I can bench more than my own weight, leg press double my weight - which granted isn't vary much hehe). I am interested in a Chinese martial art because I would love to learn taught in the original language (I am nearly fluent in Mandarin). What would be an appropriate type of martial art for someone like me to study? I live in LA, so I could probably find any type in the Chinese neighborhoods. Oh, I am not Chinese. I am caucasian, but I speak Mandarin as well.

Public Comments

1. maybe taekwondo. i think this might be good cuz you do a lot of kicks and jumping and with your light weight it mite be easier for you to do all the kicks.. but this is a korean martial art.
2. Well you may want to start by going to china town. Someone there will be able to direct you to some schools. I don't know where they are in LA, but they had plenty of them in San Fran. I kind of remember that Bruce Lee school was in Marina Del Ray. I think that where it is. It is near on of the marinas.
3. Wing Chun or Choy Li Fut. Wing Chun is more for close range and is very practical. Also, body type, strucutre, and power aren't much of a problem in wing chun really and wing chun actually effectively helps you in scenarios where you are face3d my a larger opponent. Choy Li Fut is a mix of northern and southern shaolin kung fu and is characterized by more circular motions with the hands. It's really fun and looks cool, but I dont think its as practical as wing chun. Southern shaolin would probably best if u had to choose between northern and southern shaolin styles. People theorized that the differences in North and wouth shaolin was the body type of the two. Northern practicioners tended to be taller while southern tended to be smaller.
4. WingChun You'll have to be careful that you choose a good school as there are many bad schools in any style. WingChun is a derrivative of Shaolin KungFu created by YimWingChun. A small Chinese woman. It is very scientific and effective (depending on the school). Look into it and see what the schools around you are like.
5. There really is not a bad style. If you are serious maybe try a few classes at different schools and determine which school meshes with you the best. There are great schools in every style and terrible schools. The labels don't really make a huge difference.