NEW YORK (January 20, 2010) – While many parents still persist in the belief that martial arts are for boys, the truth is that girls are actually better students than boys. So says Seni Gayong Black Warrior Sulaiman Sharif in his surprising new book, “50 Martial Arts Myths.” The 220-page, softcover book, which can be purchased from Amazon, is now available to libraries and bookstores via Ingram and Baker & Taylor.

“According to stories handed down over generations, Wing Chun, a Chinese martial art practiced by movie legend Bruce Lee, among others, was named after a young woman named Wing Chun, who in turn learned the martial art from another woman, a nun named Ng Moy,” explains Sulaiman, the highest-ranking black belt in the Malay Warrior Art of Seni Gayong Int. USA. “This is just one example of the long association of girls and women with the martial arts.

“My experience as a teacher, and a teacher of teachers, has shown me that girls are generally more willing to learn martial arts the right way than boys -- and less likely to take shortcuts that focus on how to ‘beat people up,’” Sulaiman says. “In fact, if it weren’t for the social pressures that drive many girls away from martial arts during puberty, we would see many, many more female martial arts masters.”

From the secrets of the Shaolin Temple to the tales of unstoppable one-touch death moves, myths and misconceptions about the martial arts have been perpetuated for centuries -- and proliferate today on Internet forums, among Ultimate Fighting Championship fans, and even at children’s karate classes. “50 Martial Arts Myths” separates fact from fiction and reveals the true story of disciplined fighting skills.

Sharif is an expert to whom the world’s leading martial arts teachers turn when they seek guidance. A teacher’s instructor, he was personally selected by Silat Gayong’s founder, the late Dato’ Meor Abdul Rahman, to propagate the fighting system around the world. He taught in Europe and the United States for two decades before returning to Malaysia to found Gayong International USA, which he leads today. His 45 years of experience in the martial arts have allowed him to teach Silat Seni Gayong to martial artists from dozens of disciplines including krav maga, kung fu, tae kwon do and karate.

Published by New Media Entertainment, Ltd., “50 Martial Arts Myths” is available for $29.95 via Amazon, and to libraries and bookstores via Ingram and Baker & Taylor. Learn more about the book at http://www.martialartsmyths.com.

NOTE TO MEDIA: If you are interested in a review copy of “50 Martial Arts Myths,” please contact Cathy Baradell at 972.235.3439 or cbaradell@ideagrove.com.

About New Media Entertainment

New Media Entertainment, Ltd. is a New York City-based publishing and online media company. Its 2009 titles include “99 Ways to Make Money from Your Photos,” by the editors of Photopreneur, and “99 Ways to Make Money Using Twitter,” by the editors of Geekpreneur. To contact New Media Entertainment, please call 212.889.2543.