After many requests from friends to run a self defence course for women, Mrs Pang ran a special eight-week course this year with all course fees going to charity.

Almost 40 women attended her sessions and 25 went on to have their skills examined at a graduation held on March 19 at Bangholme’s Nine Dragons Horse Club.

On the day a cheque for more than $6000 was presented to charity Half the Sky, which supports 52 orphanages in China.

Mrs Pang is a former Australasian Kung Fu champion and is a master in an ancient style of the martial art called Wing Chun.

“My interest in Kung Fu began as a little girl in Taiwan reading Kung Fu comics — much like the Marvel superhero comics — I loved the sense of chivalry and enjoyed the fairytale stories,” Mrs Pang said.

She took up martial arts training after migrating to Australia in the 1970s and went on to run a self defence school in Kew and taught her techniques at schools and corporations.

Mrs Pang said her classes were as much about teaching women to carry themselves with confidence and not appear vulnerable as well as what to do if confronted by an attacker.

“This is what the self defence course is really about — it’s gaining a sense of empowerment — knowing that you can be strong, powerful and you are worth defending.”