IN a world dominated by men, women in sports are clearly on the rise.

Everywhere, women are now running faster, pushing harder, and fighting better. They are smashing records and breaking through barriers almost effortless now.

And true to the Olympic motto, women are now faster, higher and stronger.

One such woman who stands out as a source of inspiration to women who want to excel in martial arts is wushu practitioner-coach Victoria Canon.

“I don’t just do it for myself, but I do it for all my fellow women. I tell them, especially the young girls, to always believe in themselves,” said Canon during the 44th “Sports on Air” program via Zoom.

A long-time coach-trainer in both wushu and kickboxing, Canon said the time is now right for even the most ordinary and normal young women to do extraordinary things.

“I got into sport very early in life through my father-karate champion Victor, who brought me to a gym in Binondo when I was about eight years old,” recalled Canon, who earned the monicker

“Pinay Bruce Lee” for her role as one of the country’s leading female martial arts practitioners.

“From there, tuloy-tuloy na hanggang ngayon na I help young girls all over the country to learn martial arts, especially wushu and kickboxing,” added Canon, who claimed falling in love with the sport because of the discipline and dedication shown by martial arts practitioners.

“I always tell my students to believe in themselves and they can really be unstoppable,” stressed Canon, a former wushu teacher at Xavier School.

“Huwag nilang isipin yun mga sasabihin ng ibang tao. Kung ano yung gusto nila, kung ano yung dream nila, go for it. Kung hindi ka man manalo sa compettion, ma-achieve mo yung self growth.”

Among her more recent victories included a silver medal finish in the eighth Zheng Zhou wushu competition, Kungfuyan Cup 11th World Grand Wushu Festival and ninth Zheng Zhou wushu competition, all in China.

Canon, who also finished fourth in the 2nd Women’s Martial Arts wushu competition, claimed her biggest priority now is to discover more young and outstanding martial arts practitioners and prepare them for future competitions.

“In Marikina, I teach and train a lot of wushu students. In fact, a lot of them are now preparing for the Batang Pinoy and other regional competitions,” explained Canon, who studied at the National Teachers College.

“Sa tingin ko, lalaban ang mga ito lalo na puspusan ang training namin sa Marikina Youth Camp, lalo na alam naming madami din ibang LGUs ang sasali sa wushu competitions. The youngest is eight years old while the eldest is 10 years old.”

“May twice-a-week classes din ako sa mga bata sa Bacoor and Dasmariñas, Cavite. Madami sa kanila yun very passionate talaga.”

A mainstay of the Philippine Wushu Shengli Team Martial Arts Group Performers, Canon said her talents and skills as a martial arts practitioner also opened the floodgates of opportunities for her in other fields.

“I did several movies and TV shows already, mostly as stunt doubles for the lead female star,” said Canon, whose movie-star looks made it easier for her to get noticed even by meticulous film directors and talent scouts.

She recalled her first big break in the movies.

“I was doing wushu. Tapos yun gym na kung saan ako nag-training, ang owner pala is a film director. Sabi niya kailangan nila ng talent at baka gusto kong mag-stunt double sa mga artista. Sabi ko naman sure why not kasi may experience naman ako sa mga pinagagawang stunt,” she recalled.

“I remember yung first movie appearance ko as a stunt double ay sa Mang Kepweng, na pelikula ni Vhong Navarro. So itong knowledge ko sa wushu, talagang nakatulong sa akin para magkaroon ng additional projects, lalo na sa mga action scenes.”

“After Mang Kepweng may mga sumunod pang projects. Yun iba asked me na baka pwede din akomg sumabak sa role na ganito. Puro action scenes. Then, nagkaroon na ako ng international movie na ang title ay The Trigonal: Fight for Justice”, na ipinalabas nung 2018. Ang papel ko dun is a wushu student sa mga templo, kaya puro mga wushu scenes din. Then yung TV series na

“Spirits: Reawaken” in 2018, “Beautiful Justice“ in 2020 at “Arisaka” in 2021.”

“Proud ako na pnaging stunt double ako ni Liza Soberano sa teleseryeng Bagani at ni Kathryn Bernardo sa La Luna Sangre, pati na din ni Maja Salvador sa Arisaka. At ang pinaka-latest nga po ay itong upcoming horror movie na “Deleter” ni Nadine Lustre, na kasali sa Metro Manila Film Festival this December. May mga stunt double ako sa kanya, like breaking the glass. May mga scenes talaga na medyo delikado sa pelikula kaya kinakailangan talaga ng stunt doubles.”

“Pero dahil may alam nga tayo sa wushu, hindi naman mahirap gawin,” remarked Canon, who credited her father — International Karate Organization Nakamura Philippines president Victor Canon — for her positive outlook in life.

Like father, like daughter. With reports from Gab Ferreras