Nun-chucks: Kung fu sisters battle stereotypes

Meet the Himalayan kung fu nuns using their martial arts skills to challenge stereotypes about women's roles in the region's patriarchal societies.

Members of the Kung Fu Nuns group stand next to swords lying on the ground before demonstrating their skills in New Delhi.

A member of the Kung Fu Nuns group demonstrates her skills in New Delhi.

They train with swords and fighting fans after their prayers and morning chants.

"Kung fu has helped us in taking a stand on gender equality as we feel more confident, we feel strong physically and mentally.

Emboldened by their fighting prowess, the nuns travel across South Asia to teach self-defence classes and promote awareness about human trafficking in a region where violence against women is rarely reported.

The nuns are from the 800-strong Druk Amitabha Mountain Nunnery in Nepal and belong to the centuries-old Drukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.

They weilded tasselled swords and open, Chinese-style fighting fans - which are used for signalling commands during combat - emblazoned with dragons and phoenixes.

Emboldened by their fighting prowess, the nuns travel across South Asia to teach self-defence classes and promote awareness about human trafficking in a region where violence against women is rarely reported.

A member of the Kung Fu Nuns group demonstrates her skills with a sword in New Delhi

A member of the Kung Fu Nuns group demonstrates her skills in New Delhi.

They train with swords and machetes after their prayers and morning chants.

They train with swords and fighting fans after their prayers and morning chants