Kabul's Kung Fu women

A small group of Afghan women are breaking barriers with an ancient form of martial arts

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Shaolin martial arts students follow their trainer, Sima Azimi, 20, in black, during a training session on a hilltop in Kabul, Afghanistan on Jan. 25, 2017.
(Image credit: The Associated Press)
(Image credit: (AP Photos/Massoud Hossaini)Sima Azimi, a 20-year-old from Jaghori in central Afghanistan, is trained in Shaolin Wushu Kung Fu, one of the oldest forms of Chinese martial arts, dating back to)

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail))

(Image credit: The Associated Press)

(AP Photos/Massoud Hossaini)

(REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail)

(Image credit: The Associated Press)

(AP Photos/Massoud Hossaini)

(REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail)

Jackie Friedman
Jackie Friedman

Jackie Friedman is the assistant photo editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the photojournalism program at Kent State University and now lives in New York.