Martial Arts and Women

There are a lot of reasons why girls or women are rarely seen on the mat. Most of the world’s cultures think that physical activities like sports (in this case, martial arts) are more suited for boys rather than girls. In the old days, men were the ones who took the responsibility to fight on the battlefield, so they learned ways on how to fight. The women on the other hand, were left on houses, taking care of the family and taking charge of the household.

Some women may be afraid of the commitment involved in studying martial arts. They may also think that they do not have the time to practice it. Some are afraid to get hurt in the process or do not want the hassle of continuously sweating and training. Don’t get me wrong, I think women are beautiful, strong, and resilient. But the fact still remains, martial arts is not that appealing to the ladies.

If you are a Master, Teacher, or a Martial Arts Business Owner, you have the responsibility to offer lessons that would get women’s attention. Women should participate in self-defense classes because of rape and other forms of violence against women. Is this a form of a scare tactic to get more female students and increase the flow of money to your dojo? Maybe. But if that mentality will prepare women in times when they are attacked or sexually assaulted then I could live with that.

Aside from self-defense, there are a lot of benefits that martial art training brings. Looking toned and sexy can be achieved by exercise and a healthy diet. Martial arts can take care of the exercise part. This will also boost health by firming the muscles, strengthening breathing, and promoting flexibility and endurance. Some people may think that Zumba is too girly, or Pilates is boring, then Martial Arts can provide the challenge that you are looking for. Aside from all of these, martial arts also boosts confidence, decrease depression, provide discipline, and improves coordination.

Today, some parents would prefer that their kids stick to their stereotypic activities. Boys would learn karate while girls would learn gymnastics or ballet. We should end the stereotype of what genders can or cannot do. Understandably, martial arts can look intimidating, scary, and dangerous, but it’s not. Let a Master, a Teacher, or another trusted parent explain the benefits of martial arts to girls. If people would only listen and be open minded, then maybe someday we would see strong girls on the mat more often.