What do you think of Women in Martial Arts?

[gojukylie]

:) I would like to get general comments about what Guys think of Women in Martial Arts. How do you guys feel about it?

[cali_tkdbruin]

I'm a strong proponent of women in the MAs. Something that teaches women how to defend themselves against attacks, and helps keep them mentally and physically fit is always a good thing.

My daughter has been training in the MAs for years, and was promoted to BB last year. It gives me peace of mind to know that she has acquired the necessary tools to be able to fight off an attack should the need ever arise, and escape. I think more women should become involved in the martial arts... :asian:

[J-kid]

To be honest it feels weird sometimes to train with them in all honestly.

I usally find them slow and out of shape and since i grapple alot i feel real real odd when they stick me with them. I have to be all gentel and have to be careful not to touch them in the wrong spot.

Also i find that i dont usally get stuck with any hot girls just some weirdos :(

Though i am pro for girls learning how to fight i just think it sucks when they slow me down.


Hey at least i am honest.

[twinkletoes]

Everyone comes to the Martial Arts with different goals.

Some people want to learn "self-defense" (which means different things to different people). Some people want to relax, or get in shape, or learn something new, or meet new people, or impress their friends, or become a Power Ranger, or break things with their hands.

Most people come for some combination of reasons. Few people can really isolate just one reason they started the Martial arts.

I think it's silly to point out one group, like "Men", "Women", "Children", "the disabled" etc. and try to think of them separately. The Martial Arts benefit everyone, period. I think it's wonderful when anybody joins the Martial Arts, especially when they are in a position to get a lot out of them.

As for the actual classroom dynamics, I know some people feel funny about co-ed classes, especially in grappling arts. I have 2 co-ed BJJ programs I run, so I've heard all the complaints/comments about grappling people of the opposite gender. I just don't tend to think of it in those terms when I'm working out. A student is a student. Some of my students are the same way--a classmate is a classmate--but a couple still get all weird about it. Ah well. They'll settle down in time.

On a personal note, I'm glad that my girlfriend has a little MA experience. This isn't "because she's a girl", but because she is someone I care about, and she has been attacked in the past (before I met her). I am glad that she has done a little MA, even if it's not something she wants to stick with, just because any bit of confidence she can derive from it helps (and of course, any technical skill as well).

~TT

[J-kid]

But what is the point in giving a commen size women a month of training when all it may do is boost there confidence so they dont run and fight there bigger attacker. Its just asking for something bad to happen when you stick people like small childern with a black belt and someone is after them and they think they can take them.

On a side note when i grapple with anyone i also tend to keep the same mind set that they are just another student [EDIT]

Edited for content. -Arnisador

[twinkletoes]

Judo-kid,

You made many assumptions in your reply. I'm not sure where you got them. I will try to respond to some of them.

#1 Nobody ever said anything about training women for a month and telling them to face an attacker. I've been training for 15 years, and the minute someone gets in my face, I'm out the door. And size has nothing to do with it. I train some guys who are the same size as "the average woman." Are they wasting their time learning self-defense?

What I DID say is that not everyone trains for self-defense. Personally, it's my top priority, but I know a lot of my students just do it because it's fun, and I like that. I can't disagree!


#2 Nothing was said about giving kids black belts until you mentioned it. I think that giving out advanced rank to kids is a crazy idea.

I also think it's crazy if ANYONE thinks that some training or a certain belt means that they can take someone out in a real fight. Good martial arts promote one's ability to defend oneself if attacked. However, first priority for any sane martial artist is to not get into that situation.


As for your last question, I will give you a quick story.

There was one time in college I was rolling with a Jiujitsu crew that I trained with. I already had some experience, so the ground was nothing new for me when they introduced it (I had trained with ladies before too). Well, in walks a girl that I knew from outside class, and had a little crush on. I was surprised to find out that she was one of the advanced students in the class. Well, when it came time for me to grapple her, I was worried about getting an erection, especially when the first thing she did was jump and pull guard. However, I only had about 1/2 a second to worry about that, because all of a sudden she started kicking my butt! After I recovered my concentration, I never had a problem again. Since then, I have never been stupid enough to let my mind get off-track on the mat.

~TT

[gojukylie]

Thankyou for your posts guys and I must admit a few of those points put a new light on a few past events. I have noticed, being female, that training with me effects people differently. I try to keep focused on my training and very rarely does the fact that I am female change my view on my training in the M.A.
I know that I feel more confident now and I think it is important for females to have an idea on how to defend themselves. :karate:

[J-kid]

I agree, though but i would advise most women to put some money into a weapon instead of martial arts most of the time if you truely want to defend yourself.

Because its commen sense that men are stronger then wemon and men are the commen attackers when it comes to wemon.
So it makes more sense if you truely want to defend your self to buy a gun or a tazer/mace.

I believe martial arts is a fun way to learn how to defend yourself and can be a great way to get into shape. But isnt always the most realistic way for wemon to defend themselves.

[gojukylie]

I can understand what you are saying, but I think that you may be generalising a little. I tend to put it this way:

1) If a male attacks a female without training, the male would (on average) be in control.

2) If a male M.A attacks a female M.A, I believe the male would still be in control if equally trained.

3) If a male (untrained) attackes a female M.A. the female would be in control.

These points are based on average body sizes and personality types. Females don't have to be built like the Hulk to protect themselves. If we are trained properly, it may only take 1 technique to do what is needed to give us time to evade the situation. Each situation can be assessed individually.;)

[J-kid]

Well if you are fighting a full size man (on average) and wasnt born yesterday and has been around the block a few times when it comes to fighting and attacks your average women in ma. I would give the fight to the guy.

Its just commen sense, First off Martial arts usally attracks people who arent fit and cant fight to start off with and alot get a false sense of confidence. Also most have never really been hit before and have no idea what it is like to go full out. Putting the size and wt diffrence and the fact the 8 out 10 times guys are tougher then girls. I would give the fight to the attacker.

[gojukylie]

Thank you for your reply.:)

[J-kid]

I think it is cool when a girl is in martial arts infact Cojo to them.
Kinda brings up a intresting point would i ever spar a girl outside of grappling.

I dont think i could come to hitting a girl, but i have a intresting story about this girl challenged me. Because my friends always boast that i am a mixed martial artist. I came up with creative ways to explain that i dono how to fight and why she would end up hearting me. It was funny she asked me to punch so i just flailed my arm in the air and she said thats not how you punch this is how and did some sort of chamberd reverse punch. I almost laughed but i didnt, instead i let her show me. I agreed she would hurt me and she thought i was the weakest guy in the world. Later on she found out that i could pound any guy she knew into the ground and that all the rest of the guys didnt say anything because i would have forced them to spar me if they did.

Sorta funny i think she was in shock but then again she did relize that i was pretty big muscle wise.:eek:

[redfang]

Women should train and be as fit and capable as possible. I believe that if they start early they will be more acclimatized to violent encounters as adults. Socialization, not nature makes most women less capable of handling many aspects of physical conflict. My wife has trained for years and I think it's great for her. Before we met, she'd gotten mugged three times. I think now she could surprise a purse snatcher or other thief and delay them long enough to flee. (I don't believe, even after three or four years training that she could or should go toe to toe with most men.) I also believe most muggers are opportunists and don't want to have to work too hard for their booty. A show of confidence and competence is enough to make many go on to the next potential mark.

[tkdcanada]

Judo-kid, you brought up a thought when you mentioned bringing yourself to hit a girl. I practise TKD and love to spar. I do it on a regular basis. I am the oldest student in my school who spars being from a small school in a small town, and I'm female. It's really great if you can completely change modes when sparring and not see your opponent as a "girl" but just as an opponent. I have to do this in another way that's similar. I am a teacher by profession and I supply teach quite a bit, so I work in many schools in my city. It often happens that I teach (at school) student who I also train in TKD with and I do end up sparring (full contact) with them as well as with my own kids. Therefore, when I'm sparring, I have to not see these kids as my students at school (where it would obviously not be okay to hit them) but just as opponents who are my equals. Obviously these kids are older kids and almost my size (I would no doubt adjust for much smaller kids) and many of them are quite a challenge and very, good even though smaller. A couple are quite experienced and much better than I. I guess they also have to adjust and realize that when their at TKD, it's okay to hit the teacher!

Gender, size, etc... is just what's on the exterior and everyone, even if seemingly unevenly matched, can learn from everyone else.

Just a bit of input. :)

[gojukylie]

It seems that most replies are based on whether a female could beat a male. I think in all honesty that when I do Karate, I focus on training to become fitter, more confident and when it all comes down to it I just love the training. The guys I train with are great and one of the Sandans is now my best friend. He encourages and enjoys training with me just as much as the guys. For the women, the training is to be enjoyed and it doesn’t always have to be about the fighting. Improve yourself as a martial artist and as a person.:asian:

[J-kid]

Well first off i would like to note on a personal level i have this odd sense of honor. shiverey (spelling) is what i seem to have alot of. Also i dont think i could hit a girl not only would i feel real bad about it, but i am a bit rough when sparring so only adults (the real brawlers) in the class wanna go with me.

I would feel real strange fighting my teacher from school, and it would make it even worse if it was a she.

I dont know thats just my opion.

[stickarts]

When i first started martial arts there was only about one woman in the entire school!
nowadays, enrollment is about 50% women!
I think that martial arts can be for everyone and I am glad to see it!
i have found many women to be very skillfull since they focus more on proper technique instead of using brute strength.

[tkdcanada]

That's understandable. This is how society demands us to be. Being the teacher, who also loves to spar, I sometimes find this amusing. But seeing you feel this way, I see it as an indication that you were raised well. ; )

One person I spar with (male) is only about 13 years old but he's very fast and has very hard kicks. I think I love to spar him the most because of this. Even if he's smaller than I, he gives me a real good go and I feel like I've been given a good challenge AND I don't have to be too careful because he can also take it. I have also taught him in school on occasion. I don't know, for us in our school anyway, it seems to be an easy switch from from teacher (school)/student or adult/child relationship to simply sparring opponents. Personally, I'm glad because if it wasn't for that, I would hardly have anyone to spar with!

Another student (male again) that I taught in school quite a bit ended up sparring with me but only this one was much taller than I (being about 16) and a black belt. He left a huge bruised lump on my arm that took two weeks to go away! But... all in a day's training!

[gojukylie]

I think the obvious differences between Women and Men in the M.A is that women (as mentioned above) do concentrate more on technique. My Kata is defenetally my strong point and why, i don't know. I really enjoy it. Men perform Kata differently I feel.:cool:

[J-kid]

I have never done 1 kata but i study 5 arts

[MJS]

Originally posted by J-kid
I agree, though but i would advise most women to put some money into a weapon instead of martial arts most of the time if you truely want to defend yourself.

Because its commen sense that men are stronger then wemon and men are the commen attackers when it comes to wemon.
So it makes more sense if you truely want to defend your self to buy a gun or a tazer/mace.

I believe martial arts is a fun way to learn how to defend yourself and can be a great way to get into shape. But isnt always the most realistic way for wemon to defend themselves.

Buying a gun is not the answer to all problems. If you dont know how to use it, it isnt going to do you any good. As for women being the weaker sex. Well, just because they are not built like Arnold, does not mean that they cant fight! I train with a guy from time to time, whos GF is also involved in the MAs. He runs a school that teaches the Filipino arts, and is VERY combat oriented. I'll tell you what, if I was about to get into a fight, and I had the chance to have someone watching my back, I'd pick her over some of the male MA's that I know. Shes a terror standing and on the ground.

Dont let the size of someone fool you. Just because they might be small, does NOT mean that they cant fight. Its the skill and the training that the person has that matters.

People do the arts for different reasons--some for the sport, SD, weight loss, confidence/self control, or just something fun to do. If you are training in more of a sport oriented art, can they still defend themselves? Sure, but all of their fighting is geared towards sport and competition. If you get someone who is training in a practical art, which is more combat based, then yes, they will have a much easier time defending themselves.

Dont judge someone just by the way that they look. You might be in for a HUGE surprise!

Mike

[twinkletoes]

J-kid,

I am "give or take" average size for a guy. Most days I feel smaller than average. I was pretty small for a long time. Does that mean that I should "give up" and buy a weapon? I certainly don't think so.

I think a number of things should be taken into account when you are looking for a self-defense system that will suit you. I think that both personality and physical stature are big ones.

Because I am not big or excessively strong, I favor arts that will allow me to use my body equally successfully as someone bigger than me. The best things for my physique/personality are the FMA, BJJ, boxing, and some nasty pressure point usage, so that's what I practice a lot of.

Weren't the eastern martial arts founded on the idea of success against a bigger and stronger attacker? I mean, I'm the first to admit that a lot of the traditional theories are bunk, but that's one of the few I stand by at times: With skill, a smaller attacker will beat a larger, stronger attacker. I've never seen them add (unless you're a woman) to the end of it.

If you study 5 styles, you must have come across this idea somewhere. Why do you feel otherwise? Do you have experiences that suggest that this is not the case?

~TT

[J-kid]

Its true, i have smashed on alot of people bigger then me and it shocks them how i am not afraid of them even when they are 6 3 239 or something.

[J-kid]

Its more the heart and how much you are willing to take. Most woman dont have the kind of heart to be given a combo knocked half way out and come back full force for more.

[Bob Hubbard]

Yo J.
Ask Rich Parsons about my GF. Theres a reason why she's got the nickname "Arnis PitBull". :)

(Rich is built like a QB. My GF more like 100lbs soaking wet. Was interesting to watch em take it to the ground.. :) )

Women can have it. Most don't due to the false idea that they must be timid. Raging testosterone though is not a good thing either.

:)

[Rich Parsons]

Originally posted by Kaith Rustaz
Yo J.
Ask Rich Parsons about my GF. Theres a reason why she's got the nickname "Arnis PitBull". :)

(Rich is built like a QB. My GF more like 100lbs soaking wet. Was interesting to watch em take it to the ground.. :) )

Women can have it. Most don't due to the false idea that they must be timid. Raging testosterone though is not a good thing either.

:)


J-Kid,

I know some women who ROCK!, and I know some Guys who do NOT!

Kaith's GF is one who will come at you and keep coming, no matter how hard you hit here, until the bell rings or you are knocked out, tapped out, to you do the same to her.

[theletch1]

When I step onto the mat I do my absolute best not to see male/female. Every one there is a martial artist and I tailor my interaction with them to suit their ability/pain threshold. When I was in my old kenpo school there were 3 of us that had a reputation for looking like we were trying to kill each other. One of those three was a 20 year old woman. When we did heavy bag work it was on a canvas bag. I've seen her go bareknuckle until here fingers were bleeding and still she kept it up. I'm glad to say that when I left the old school she was one of the many that left with me and continues to train with me at my aikido school. She's just as hardcore and talented as ever and more so than many of the guys in the school. Having the mindset that women are arbitrarily weaker than men is a really quick way to get your butt handed to ya.

As for the original question.... I think women in MA is a great idea. My wife and all my daughters trained in kenpo with me and 3 of my daughters continue to train at the aikido school. Train and train some more, ladies. I'm happy to give as good as I get from you on the mat.:asian:

[gojukylie]

I appreciate the posts guys and girls. I would like to think (being female) that I don't put guys off when I train. As for women being able to handle themselves, I can only say 1 thing. I have not been in a full throttle street fight or been attacked by anyone outside of the Dojo, therefor it would be unwise of me to state that I could handle myself no questions asked. I would however like to state that martial arts is not just about defending yourself in the street. To me, martial arts is a way of life. If I happen to get attacked and I am unable to defend myself then so be it. What does matter is that I adopt the martial spirit. I train hard, I am good to people, I enjoy life and love to help others. Thats what matters. I try to perform my techniques in the dojo as well as I can and when I have tried as hard as I can, I know I can sleep well. So when people say that there is no place for women in martial arts, I think that they need to ask themselves why. The martial arts is for men, women, disabled people, young & old. I am sure that we all train for different reasons, but one reason i am sure is common, to improve ourselves as human beings. That, and that alone is what's important.;)

[cali_tkdbruin]

Hey!! That's pretty close to my approach to the MAs, and I'm a Dude... :asian:

[gojukylie]

Originally posted by cali_tkdbruin
Hey!! That's pretty close to my approach to the MAs, and I'm a Dude... :asian:

:) Thanks for the vote of confidence.:-partyon:

[D.Cobb]

Originally posted by gojukylie
:) I would like to get general comments about what Guys think of Women in Martial Arts. How do you guys feel about it?

Personally, I think it's great when women train in the martial arts. I believe that you should take what ever chance you get to give yourself an advantage when the doo doo hits the blowey thing.:)

--Dave

:asian:

[D.Cobb]

Originally posted by twinkletoes
Everyone comes to the Martial Arts with different goals.

Some people want to learn "self-defense" (which means different things to different people). Some people want to relax, or get in shape, or learn something new, or meet new people, or impress their friends, or become a Power Ranger, or break things with their hands.

Most people come for some combination of reasons. Few people can really isolate just one reason they started the Martial arts.

I think it's silly to point out one group, like "Men", "Women", "Children", "the disabled" etc. and try to think of them separately. The Martial Arts benefit everyone, period. I think it's wonderful when anybody joins the Martial Arts, especially when they are in a position to get a lot out of them.

As for the actual classroom dynamics, I know some people feel funny about co-ed classes, especially in grappling arts. I have 2 co-ed BJJ programs I run, so I've heard all the complaints/comments about grappling people of the opposite gender. I just don't tend to think of it in those terms when I'm working out. A student is a student. Some of my students are the same way--a classmate is a classmate--but a couple still get all weird about it. Ah well. They'll settle down in time.

On a personal note, I'm glad that my girlfriend has a little MA experience. This isn't "because she's a girl", but because she is someone I care about, and she has been attacked in the past (before I met her). I am glad that she has done a little MA, even if it's not something she wants to stick with, just because any bit of confidence she can derive from it helps (and of course, any technical skill as well).

~TT

It's funny you know, I can be as sleazy or more so than the next guy, but once the Gi goes on, that's it. Everyone is asexual. I hit everyone the same way.

--Dave

:asian:

[D.Cobb]

Originally posted by J-kid
I agree, though but i would advise most women to put some money into a weapon instead of martial arts most of the time if you truely want to defend yourself.

Because its commen sense that men are stronger then wemon and men are the commen attackers when it comes to wemon.
So it makes more sense if you truely want to defend your self to buy a gun or a tazer/mace.

I believe martial arts is a fun way to learn how to defend yourself and can be a great way to get into shape. But isnt always the most realistic way for wemon to defend themselves.

This is a great theory, except for a few things that you haven't thought of.

1 If a woman owns a weapon, and she may even be trained to use it. She still has to get it out of what ever she carries it in.

2 Not all countries have such liberal gun laws as the USA.

3 If she is in a country like Australia, as Gojukylie is, then Tazers and Mace are also illegal.

4 Martial arts isn't just about fighting. Sometimes you get to train where martial arts is about Combative strategies. Part of that would be environmental awareness in one form or another. The female martial artist would be trained to take note of what is going on around her, and where her available exits might be. Then she can perform the most important self defense technique, known to man - the 150 yard dash.:)

She didn't fight him, but she defended herself admirably, and got out alive.

Just my AU$0.02

--Dave

:asian:

[J-kid]

Dave i am gonna have to agree with you..... Run-fu is more importian then knowing kungfu tkd judo bjj boxing mt kickboxing or wrestling.

[Senfeng]

Originally posted by gojukylie
:) I would like to get general comments about what Guys think of Women in Martial Arts. How do you guys feel about it? When I practice a technique with anyone, my attacks usually come about 1-2 inches from contact. It surprises the hell out of most women (and others), but I figure that if I pull my punches for a woman she would be receiving an inferior training compared to the other (male) students. No I'm not the instructor, but I think that we receive training from our peers as well as our sifu.

I try to do the same with sparring, but I just keep in my to stay away from that area blow the chin and above the stomach. Occasionally, things happen accidentally. From what I've noticed, some of the female students in my current gung fu class and my old TKD class (very long time ago, were faster than many of the male students.

I have noticed that sometimes a woman's form can be a little sloppy. I'm not trying to make generalizations here, but I used to think that it was because of anatomical differences. Now, I think its because many of the guys in the class DO pull punches. When my form is bad, I found that I tend to correct myself through sparring. If my technique is bad or wrong, I get hit. If it's right, I can feel it.

I guess all I'm saying is that, though I strongly believe that female students are welcome in the class, I think that its part of the role of the male students to make sure that their (femal students) learning isn't compromised by politeness. I've met many women who are actually offended by that type of chivalry.

[cali_tkdbruin]

Are "femal students" sorta like Wemon practitioners? :confused:


:D :rofl:

[Senfeng]

Originally posted by cali_tkdbruin
Are "femal students" sorta like Wemon practitioners? :confused:


:D :rofl:
Oops!:rofl:

[cali_tkdbruin]

Originally posted by D.Cobb
when the doo doo hits the blowey thing.:)

:asian:
Ya mean when the sheeat hits the fan???;)

:p

[IsshinryuKarateGirl]

I find everyone's take on this very intersting. I am a female and I tell you, most of the guys in the school don't see me as one; they see me as another student trying to learn the art. I also find myself sparring with a lot of guys and they let off the accelerator a little, but once they see my go at them, the accelerator goes back into it. Most guys are very surprised at my sparring and say so too. There is also one sandan in my school who enjoys working with me in class. He said he likes my dedication to the art and likes how I can take a punch just as any other guy could. I really find it comforting that the majority of the guys who have posted here don't really have a problem with females in the MAs. I know for a fact that I do not like to be looked down on in class because I am a female.

[samuraishira]

i am in the same school as isshinryukarategirl but i don't know what they think of me. (i am a female) in our dojo i don't get along with every body but i respect eveybody,i can say the same to your opinons, just rescept female martail artists cause like isshin.karategirl and many females that take the ma seriosly we do hate to be looked down on because of our gender.no being sexist in the dojo,please.

[IsshinryuKarateGirl]

samuraishira, that's the best outlook to have...respect everyone even though you may not like them. Us women just feel that being sexist in the school isn't fair. We want the same type of training the guys do.

[gojukylie]

In saying that girls, did you find that you had to earn the respect of the guys or did they just take you as another MA. I had to earn mine. I believe it was a good thing now because the guys are now my best friends and they love training with me as I with them. :)

[goju.glenn]

Originally posted by gojukylie
In saying that girls, did you find that you had to earn the respect of the guys or did they just take you as another MA. I had to earn mine. I believe it was a good thing now because the guys are now my best friends and they love training with me as I with them. :)

I like to spar women. Not because I have to prove I can beat them up [which I can't], but they tend to IMO, think with less bravdo than guys and therefore, I have to make myself move quicker and start getting off the straight line which I tend to get stuck on when I spar. IMO anyway. :) :asian:

[gojukylie]

Originally posted by goju.glenn
I like to spar women. Not because I have to prove I can beat them up [which I can't], but they tend to IMO, think with less bravdo than guys and therefore, I have to make myself move quicker and start getting off the straight line which I tend to get stuck on when I spar. IMO anyway. :) :asian:

I think you have hit the nail on the head here. We don't have to prove anything to anyone.:)

[IsshinryuKarateGirl]

Originally posted by gojukylie
In saying that girls, did you find that you had to earn the respect of the guys or did they just take you as another MA. I had to earn mine. I believe it was a good thing now because the guys are now my best friends and they love training with me as I with them. :)

Oh I definately had to earn my full respect. There were people when I first started that had given me respect and from that it was easier to respect them. But from others, I definately had to earn their respect. It was almost instant respect from some of the males, but others took a lot more convincing. I have noticed though, once I had reached brown belt level, I gained much more respect from everyone. It varies with all people, but I feel overall, I had to gain most of my respect. But, most of the people in my school see each student as a student, not of their gender; so most of the respect comes from rank. But, there is a little gender respect along with it.

[TallAdam85]

i Like them so you have something to look at while your doing your strechs and fun to grapple with them just wish there where more good looking ones in at it or at least at my school LOL

[Bob Hubbard]

Originally posted by TallAdam85
i Like them so you have something to look at while your doing your strechs and fun to grapple with them just wish there where more good looking ones in at it or at least at my school LOL

After looking around at the guys at at least 3 schools..... I think the ladies agree on that wishing there were more good looking ones there.... :)

Course, they might find it hard to focus on their training....what with steping on those tongues, and slipping on all the drool the fan-boy types emit. :)

[IsshinryuKarateGirl]

Originally posted by Kaith Rustaz
After looking around at the guys at at least 3 schools..... I think the ladies agree on that wishing there were more good looking ones there.... :)

Course, they might find it hard to focus on their training....what with steping on those tongues, and slipping on all the drool the fan-boy types emit. :)

Haha...very funny Kaith.... At least someone here knows what we females go through!

[Old Fat Kenpoka]

I met my wife at Kenpo school. I have to give women in the martial arts three thumbs up.

[jeffkyle]

Originally posted by Old Fat Kenpoka
I met my wife at Kenpo school. I have to give women in the martial arts three thumbs up.

It worries me that you can do that! :D

[D.Cobb]

Originally posted byOld Fat Kenpoka
I met my wife at Kenpo school. I have to give women in the martial arts three thumbs up.


Originally posted by jeffkyle
It worries me that you can do that! :D

Aaah so that's how those doctors do the magic thumb trick.....

You know the one, when they are behind you.....

See my hands.... Feel my thumb.....

--Dave

:rofl:

[angrywhitepajamas]

its great!!!

I actually have more fun practicing and training with females than males simply because there isn't so much the machisimo b.s. flying around. In addition I treat the women in my school the same way as the guys. Ill strike them as well as I am able according to their skill (boys and girls).

I just hope the block is there.

but it keeps me on my toes whrn Im on the recieving end too.

[twinkletoes]

I just competed in the NAGA grappling tourney this past weekend, and so the men & women grappling issue came up.

At this competition, there were enough women to have a few divisions for them, so they did. Women were not allowed to compete in the men's divisions.

However, towards the end of the day, one division came up (teen ladies, with gi, i missed what weight/experience class) in which there was only one competitor. There were no comparable divisions to place her in, so in the end she fought in the flyweight men's division. She did pretty well, and nobody made a stink about it in the division, though a LOT of ladies came up to the host to complain after they had been told that women were not allowed in the men's divisions. The host explained that there was nothing else for this girl to do, and that they had all been competing all day, whereas this girl was only doing this one event. In the end I think things were smoothed over.

In her matches, though, I didn't see any problems. All of the male competitors fought her just as hard as anyone else. She lost after a round or two, and the guy who beat her was tough in the ring but courteous afterwards, and I even heard him go over later and tell her what great guts he thought she had. (Which she did, since she was only 14 and competing with the adult men). There were no problems in her ring with gender issues.

I'm not saying one case proves anything, but it was nice to see it go well. I'm sure the issue will continue in the future.

~TT

[Pacificshore]

I personally like the idea myself:D

[shotmanuk]

Deadlier tan the male!!!!!!!!:rofl:

[Jay Bell]

Judo kid said:


shiverey is what i seem to have alot of.

Am I the only one that sees the humor in this? :D

So anyway...as a male, I understand that if I treat a woman differently then a man, my ego is getting ahold of me. You work with people at their level, regardless of what that level is and regardless of what parts that person has.

There's an old proverb in Japan that "Warriors cry for their mothers as they die on the battlefield". There's a point there...try and absorb it, kiddo.

Many of the females that I've trained with in the past love people like you. Why? Because of the whole, "I gotta take it easy, it's a girl" b.s., immature mentality. I've trained with women that wouldn't bat an eye at canning most men I've known.

Woman, by in large, are naturally more fluid then men and rely much less on physical, brute strength. This makes them better. Women also have much less "intimacy" issues. Close in fighting, grappling and the like...guys are weirded out until they become comfortable with this range of work.

[liangzhicheng]

I have a lot of respect for females in martial arts who are actually training the martial art. There are some females who are not into the martial aspect and/or do not take it seriously. These women I do not respect for their martial art ability. However, there are males like this as well. Do I take it easy on females? Frankly, it doesn't depend on gender, but skill and comfort level. One of my favorite training partners is a woman because she can give and take it, and is willing to experiment.


Women also have much less "intimacy" issues. Close in fighting, grappling and the like...guys are weirded out until they become comfortable with this range of work.

Interesting...this hasn't been my experience. In the beginning, it is the females at my school who are uncomfortable with close range. Maybe it's because they come in thinking that Tai Chi isn't a martial art :rolleyes:

And the last note, my Sifu is female :asian:

[Kroy]

They (women) have every right to be training as men do.

[kenposikh]

I must admit that to me the question never even crossed my mind. Where I train we have a formidable bunch of women who are as good as if not better than some of the men.

I once heard of Master Tatum speaking to my instructing and asking why he had sent over a bunch of amazons, they were kicking ass and taking names.

That surely is a complement and something we should encourage.

As for slowing us down how do they? if they are treated like any other student then surely they will not slow you down.

[theletch1]

Right now we only have two women in my school. I've worked with both of them on several occasions. One of them was with me at my old kenpo school and I already knew that going easy on her was the quickest way in the world to piss her off. She didn't feel that she had anything to prove, just felt like she had the same right to quality training that the guys have. I agree wholeheartedly with her. Since she has begun training with us the other woman in the class has slowly begun to become more intense. Both of these women are true ladies off the mat and true warriors on the mat. Treat them differently on the mat and you are not being chivalrous, you're short changing another martial artist.

[kenposikh]

Well Said, I must agree that treating a woman as inferior on the Mat is a sure way of getting your A**s kicked big style. Treat them with repsect as martial artists.

[gojukylie]

It is good to read the posts concerning my original question. It seems on the whole that guys are pretty cool with girls studying the martial arts. I guess being female I expected more posts saying otherwise.

I really believe that in the martial arts it makes no difference. There are so many reasons why it doesn't matter and so many positives for women, and men who train with women. :D

[Ender]

As long as they can cook I have no problem..TIC (tongue in cheek)

[kenposikh]

Originally posted by gojukylie
It is good to read the posts concerning my original question. It seems on the whole that guys are pretty cool with girls studying the martial arts. I guess being female I expected more posts saying otherwise.

I really believe that in the martial arts it makes no difference. There are so many reasons why it doesn't matter and so many positives for women, and men who train with women. :D

Just wish it was more like it outside of the martial arts too. Anyway glad you found the responses positive.

[hardheadjarhead]

We've got about 40-50% female membership in our school, I think. I'd be fine with it if the numbers went in their favor. I have no qualms about their training.

I've run into guys that had real issues with women in the school. They generally keep it to themselves, but you can sense the animosity. This is rare, however. I've also seen guys that had issues with women teaching their classes...they can take a hike as far as I'm concerned.

One father of one of our kids had a problem with my wife...I don't think he liked the idea of a woman teaching his child martial arts. She told me she got this vibe that made her feel he wanted to hit her.

Some women have issues that need to be addressed on the mat. Some are uncomfortable with grappling, contact, sparring, weapons training. Some are sexual assault or battered victims, and have that load of baggage with them when they train. These are different issues than those men face, but they can be dealt with and the woman can grow and flourish as a martial artist.

Men have their own issues. I sometimes have a harder time dealing with them than I do with women's issues.

Regards,

Steve Scott

[arnisador]

Originally posted by hardheadjarhead
Men have their own issues. I sometimes have a harder time dealing with them than I do with women's issues.

Wow, this observation could start a very long thread. Ego/macho issues, people still fighting that high school bully from 20 years ago, people who think it's a competition and they have to beat out their classmates...I could go on and on.

[Rich Parsons]

Originally posted by arnisador
Wow, this observation could start a very long thread. Ego/macho issues, people still fighting that high school bully from 20 years ago, people who think it's a competition and they have to beat out their classmates...I could go on and on.

Two guys who start at the same time, only one drops out and the other continues and then drop out comes back and wonders why they other is higher rank then him? And the band played on ;)

[hardheadjarhead]

Yeah...all good stuff...but probably needed in another thread.

Regards,

Steve Scott