By Jasmine Sessoms

SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Wushu stylist, Chelsea Huynh, attends Evergreen Wushu for a year after being catcalled in a New York subway train.

The Silver Creek High School freshman first felt inspired to learn self defense from binging martial art movies with her dad, but the catcalling incident kick-started her interest as a martial artist.

The episode at the time disorientated her and it didn’t help that her defenseless feelings were not perceived by her parents. Leaving Huynh only to stare at her offender.

Afterwards, she felt the need to protect herself and enrolled into Wushu. But things ended up differently for her.

“All throughout Wushu I realized it wasn’t really much of like self defense, it’s more like for your own health benefit,” Huynh said.

Although there are challenges in Wushu for Huynh that relate to progression in abilities, a common issue among students in general, she also mentions an underrated toll in martial arts. How girls in it, like Huynh, feel they “pop out” from the crowd.

She expresses it does have its struggles. Like how sparring partners tend to have a strength and size advantage and awkward interactions in group activities.

However, this drawback does not stop her from accomplishing her goals; to become more flexible and to bring home a trophy for her and her parents.

Huynh’s integrity continues outside of class where she’s at home practicing at least 10 minutes of Wushu throughout the week. 

Her results are demonstrated during her tests, the origin of her main highlights, showing off her concise forms. A favorite form of hers is called Straight Sword, its stances and usage of the spear reminds her of Disney Mulan’s iconic moment of unsheathing her sword.

Wushu’s influence also impacts Huynh’s outlook in her future career, where she hopes to be more out and about relating to fitness. 

Despite Wushu not being the self defense arts she was originally looking for, she finds the guarantee of health benefits with Wushu to be something that’s worth working for.