Listen to Kung Fu practitioner Megan Westerman's insights on why sometimes losing is winning and why she thinks more women should learn a martial art. Megan overcame anxiety, depression and an eating disorder in her teens by going to martial art classes where she did not have to worry about anything but training. Martial arts push her to reach her goals. As result, she says, "I want every woman to do some form of martial arts." Today, she is a Kung Fu instructor and competitor. She lived, worked, and practiced Kung Fu in China for a period of time in the past.
See her bio below or at www.themartialartswoman.com.
Studied traditional martial arts since 1995 at the age of 9. Earned Shodan in Okinawan Shorin-ryu karate in 2004. Assistant instructor from 2000-2005 at the Okinawan karate-do school in Orlando before moving to Tampa in 2006.
Trained in Shaolin Kung fu, Tai ji, and Sanda under Shifu Mario Salazar at Mt Song Martial Arts since 2007, currently is Mt Song Academy's youth program leader and adult kung fu/sanda instructor.
Lived/worked in China from 2010 to 2011. Studied kung fu and mandarin while living in China. Given honorary title of "Coach" at Grandmaster ShiDe Yang school in Deng Feng while training there.
Multiple-time Gold-medallist in the ICMAC kung fu circuit, and ICMAC Grand Champion in traditional Northern forms and weapons in 2011 and 2012, 2013, 2019.
Qualified for the US traditional kung fu team in 2019 through IWKF. (Previously scheduled to have World Competition in 2021, pre-COVID)
Demo team member and leader since 2011 of Mt Song Academy's traditional Lion dance and Kung fu demo team.
Group leader and coordinator of Mt Song Academy's Cultural Trips to China, during which students travel to China, tour famous sites, and also experience immersive study at a kung fu or tai ji training school.
Links & Info:
Megan's school: https://www.facebook.com/MtSongAcademy
Andrea's Motivational books:
The Martial Arts Woman book: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman.../dp/1544916213
Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations.../dp/150297830X
