In the last few years there has been a metamorphosis in women sports in America. Who can forget the 1999 Women's Soccer Team World Championship win? You were glued to their TV sets in admiration, as Brandi Chastain celebrated by taking off her winning jersey in victory.

Today girls can aspire to be a WNBA superstar or cheer on Layla Ali, Mohammad Ali's daughter, in her quest for boxing's world championship.

In today's society women can be just about anything their heart's desire. Not long ago girls' prospects were limited to teaching or being a nurse or homemaker. Girls' activities were extremely limited.

You've heard the nursery rhyme: "Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what girls are made of."

Yet boys had all the fun and innumerable choices; baseball, football, soccer, martial arts, etc.

What did girls have? Piano and possibly Ballet, if they were lucky. These activities are great for girls, yet they hungered for more choices.

Today girls have many role models to choose from. On TV they can see Xena combat evil with her sword or see Buffy kick some vampire butt. Not long ago women screamed hysterically in fear as Dracula attempted to puncture their neck with his fangs.

Women have come a long way since those days. For instance, Bond girls are beautiful Kung Fu experts, as opposed to yesterday's mindless bombshells.

Fitness Kickboxing has become the premiere activity of today's fit women, but this is nothing new under the sun, at least not for ancient China where some of the most feared Kung Fu masters were women.

Wing Chung who had mastered the white crane style united her expertise with her husband's Hung Gee Gun's Tiger style, to create one of China's deadliest fighting art, Hung-Gar.

As a Hung-Gar instructor, I can get a glimpse of Master Wing-Chung's glory when my one of my girl Kung Fu students' hands are raised in victory after defeating boys in competition.

The infamous Gangas Kan could not penetrate the Great Wall of China, because China's great women spear warriors guarded the wall.

A Shaolin Nun developed Wing Chung Kung Fu popularized by the world's best-known martial artist, Bruce Lee--she named it Wing Chung to honor her top student (Although she is not or is she related to Hung-Gar Kung Fu's co-founder--Wing Chung is a common name in China).

Michelle Yeah, the newest Bond girl, starred in the movie Wing Chung, which can be found in many video stores.

Even Disney has jumped on the bandwagon and animated the Chinese legend of the female heroine Mulan.

Consequently, in these times when girls are encouraged to join in activities regardless of their sex and instead based entirely on interest, I'm reminded of a term used frequently when I was a kid: "He punches like a girl."

People used in a demeaning way as a sign of weakness or little strength, yet with the empowerment of today's girls this term assumes an entirely new meaning: "she punches like a girl and she'll knock you out like a girl."

Julio Anta is a self-defense, fitness kickboxing instructor at Doral Park Country Club, Everglades Elemiddle School, and Kids Village. To contact Julio about any martial arts or fitness questions, call 305 599 3649.