Why women need martial arts more than men

[PT1911]

Because there will be people who will skim over this and make a judgmental opinion without reading the whole article, here's the TL:DR

- Ladies, if you want to meet awesome men and make more female firends, in fact better quality friends, learn to fight

Now the regular article.

As someone who has been in martial arts for a long time, and as much as it has benefited me throughout my childhood and teen years;keeping me out of trouble, my instructor giving me a good beatdown (verbal, not so much physical) whenever I stepped out of line with my parents, the benefits towards an adolescent male are exponential.

But with that, I've realized about 95% of the friends I've made in martial arts have all been guys, very little to no women.

Go to any other extra curricular and the ratio is better: theater, music, soccer, basketball, swimming, track and field, football (there are women's leagues) the list can go on. Granted there are cases where the ratio is more women to men (dance/cheerleading for example) but even then, there are guys who recognize they can meet some awesome women taking part in these activities, despite what traditional gender roles may suggest

That being said, martial arts have always been predominantly practiced by men. Nothing wrong with that, but its time for women to join in as well. As much as I...distaste the attitude of UFC, it is great to watch the women fights they've recently adopted. I find them exponentially more entertaining than the male fights.

Why? Because its great to see beautiful women be on the same athletic and fighting level in a sport dominated by men. Hell, sometimes they're more technical and graceful, turning the match into a show of skill and not necessarily just one of brute strength. (With the majoirty of male fighters, everyone tries to go for the big KO punch, instead of being a clean technical fighter, but thats the general attitude of UFC)

He'll, I'd take her out to a nice dinner, I don't care if she's in better shape than me and could KO me with a nicely placed punch. She's cute

So ladies, here are a few reasons why you should take up martial arts:

1) It's a hell of a way to stay in shape

The first picture is an actual MMA fighter. The second picture explains my point. Photo came from a blog about why women should take martial arts. It literally speaks for itself.

2) It's empowering

I'll say it. Men commit sexual assault more than women. It's a fact. The worse part is that it is usually commited by a close friend instead of a total stranger. God forbid should that happen, but if it does, you'll have the confidence and skill set needed to put an end to it on the spot. And yes, a couple of my female friends from martial arts have told me stories about them applying their training. Its real, and it will help and benefit you.

3) You'll be more comfortable with your body

Sort of ties into number 1 and 2, but as seen on GaG and in the real world, women can be extrememly uncomfortable with their bodies. Think she's uncomfortable with her smaller stature? It's a demo sure, but the skill and confidence are there. At the same time, she's able to do that after YEARS of practice and training. Its a slow process, but most assuredly worth it.

4) Boys will no longer disrespect you

I feel like I'm going to open Pandora's Box with this statement, but I'll say it anyways. When I say boys, I'm implying a certain maturity level. Men respect women, boys don't. There are a lot more boys of varying ages in this world than men.

I also felt the pic was cute.

5) You'll gain one of the best support networks ever

I will attest to this one immensely. I've been training since I was 8 and the people I've met there, both kids and adults, have been a constant support network in addition to my family.

A couple of pictures of myself and my school

For further reading ( I took what I felt where the major points from these):

https://news.distractify.com/avericlements/every-woman-should-try-a-martial-art/

https://zojodojo.com/martial-arts/five-reasons-why-women-should-do-a-martial-art/

Hope you all enjoyed reading. Men feel free to give your opinion as well

[Hannah591]

This is all true! I've been doing kick boxing for about 2 years now and this is spot on. Some of them I didn't expect either, like a support network. I've met amazing people who have been helping me during my break up with my instructor (awks) and have always been lovely to me. My lessons always boost my mood and I feel so good in myself.

Boys do seem to view me as equal to them when they find out I'm a kick boxer and some seem to be intimidated by it because I am stronger than some guys. I love that feeling of empowerment, guys know I'm a tough cookie.

It developed my abs and flexibility and improved my stamina and confidence pretty fast. I can kick someone 6ft tall in the face whilst I'm 5' 6". I have much better balance and coordination. My high kicks have almost become my party trick haha.

When I first started, I was so into it and I felt confident that I could protect myself from almost anyone. Although I can't consciously remember certain moves (my ex taught me jujitsu privately), I feel it will come naturally or I'll remember a particular move if it was needed.

I remember when I had excellent aim in target practice and was successfully and continuously kicking this small paddle and people actually stopped to watch! That was a good session.

Girls should definitely look into it and don't worry about being the only girl, you'd be surprised at how many girls do it. There's almost more women than men doing kick boxing now where I go.

If you go to a class and they're expecting too much from you, they're not helping you enough or are making you do moves they know you couldn't do, then you should find another class. When new people start, the WHOLE class must go through the basics, every student helps the new people and make them feel welcome, the instructors appreciate any limitations you have and will check on you throughout the class. You should always go for classes like that.

Damn this makes me want to go training.

[Hannah591]

If you want to get toned and exercise without feeling you're doing any work, martial arts/kickboxing will do that for you. You go there to learn and enjoy the atmosphere but after a few months, you notice just how much your body's improved. :)

[Levin]

Sorry, I know it's seemingly not the most pertinent question, but how was your bf an instructor at the age of ~18? I always get little platonic crushes on the women in my class, because it takes a certain admirable mentality where you take responsibility for the inner workings of your body, and I know you have a reasonable level of internal control. It's all too easy to sit on a couch, and fester; and that really is why older people rot (and because they are over worked), not just because they are getting old. I'd also love to compare the stuff that I do with kick boxers.

[PT1911]

Need a training partner? :p

[Hannah591]

He was volunteering for like two years as one, but eventually took the business over with his co-worker.
Yeah I understand.

[CootiesInfection]

Had an argument with a feminist at my school who was trying to make it sound like the entire male race was out to get her and should be put behind bars for having a penis. She was like, its mens fault i have to carry pepper spray around and live in fear every time i walk down the street. I was like, no its fucking not. Its your fault! Have you ever had to actually USE that pepper spray? As someone who's been mugged, jumped, assaulted various times i wouldn't even be fucking alive if i hadn't learned to defend myself. And there's no excuse for women not to do the same. You can't just play the victim and rely on social pressures to MAKE some random bystander come to your rescue or to make the murderers and rapists just stop being murderers and rapists because you yelled at them enough. That shit is already illegal, and they wouldn't be doing it if they weren't ok with breaking the law. What happens when its just you and them alone? Calling 911 is fucking useless, unless you got a way of defending yourself until the cops arrive. Learn to fight, you don't have to be able to win, you just have to be able to drag it on long enough to make it out in one piece.

[Schneidy]

You make some very good points here that I totally agree with. I trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for about a year and a half in high school and just got back to it again a couple months ago.

One thing I've found is that in the kids classes there's a pretty even mixture of girls and boys but in the adult class it's almost entirely guys. There are a couple other girls I train with but a lot of the time I end up being the only girl there.

I've gotten very used to training with people who have a significant height and/or weight advantage over me since I'm one of the smallest people in the adult class. Because of this though I feel more confident in my ability to take on an attacker in self defense if I ever needed to.

Everyone I train with is there because it's something they enjoy and want to improve at but they also want to help everyone else improve too. It can be anything from catching you up on a missed class, or simply pausing for a moment to show you something new you can do from the position you're in. It's a great environment to be a part of and I just wish more girls would realize that and give it a try.

[PT1911]

Training with people bigger than you is so helpful, albeit scary at first. And yeah, having people always make sure you actually understand the material, the techniques, that goes a long way

[Schneidy]

When nearly everyone is bigger than you it's something you get used to pretty quickly, though it can be frustrating at times. It's great to have people who are willing to take the time to help you learn, or who will laugh with you when neither of you can figure out the new move you were just shown.

[Anonymous]

I've been doing mixed martial arts, mainly karate, with some grappling and kick boxing thrown in, and a combination of a few other things, too, for going on 5 years now. Since coming to college, my training has been off and on, since my dojo is two hours away and I don't have a car. But yes. Girls should definitely do martial arts.

It is a great way to keep is shape, yes. But it is also something that teaches you about yourself, increases your confidence, and changes how you think. You learn that you can do a lot more than you thought, that the point of exhaustion is a lot farther out there than you think, and you can keep going and endure. You learn that pain isn't something to be afraid of. You know you don't have to be afraid because you can defend yourself. You learn to think in strategy, on your feet, about defending yourself and others, where danger might be so that you are not taken unaware. You learn to work as a part of something bigger. You learn how to gracefully give and receive respect and to compete respectfully. You learn not to get angry when you get hit by your own fault. You learn the value of strength and skill under self-control.

I cannot say how thankful I am for my martial arts training, and not just when I walk across campus in the dark after midnight.

So yeah, girls, take martial arts! Even if you don't love the physical part (I do, though), the lessons you learn through it are invaluable, as is the ability to defend yourself.

Great MyTake!

[spuitkaas]

I do kickboxing and support this message. However, it has to be someone's interest, but that counts for every gender. This whole take counts for every gender by the way. It's good for everybody, but you do need the interest in the sport.
Girls, I can talk from experience, a lot of guys actually think it's awesome and you gain a lot of respect.
I do have to mention that a lot of girls actually already do kickboxing and karate. I've been to 3 kickbox group lessions and there were overall girls. Also I did karate for a few lessions and there were plenty of girls, so maybe it's just our culture or something, but I just wanted to mention that.

[PT1911]

You're right about it catering to both genders, but like I said in the article, we need more women haha

[spuitkaas]

That's because a lot of women don't think of it as a women's sport. My mom was against it too when I announced it tobher. She still doesn't really like it, but she accepts it. My dad thinks it's pretty awesome though haha.
Especially older people think it's not right. Everytime I tell an older person they're like "why would you do such violent sport?", but I honestly don't see kickboxing as violent, but maybe that's because I don't do real competitions.

[PT1911]

Its probably because images of UFC come to mind. I despise Dana White and his marketing, but I respect the athletes

[inamorata]

Great friends and support network? Hell yes!

You stay in shape? Yes, but you don't look that womanly if you train as much as I did. I also developed overly large palms which I dislike now that I stopped.

Attractive? No and yes. Not more than girls who train volleyball or some other more "feminine" sport that shapes your body better. Not more attractive than regular thin girls (tend to be equal here), while you are more attractive than whales.

Self defense? Fuck no. I have yet to see a fight in which a woman stands a chance, unless she has years of training on the wimp she is fighting. If she's small, that won't help her either. I don't care how good you are, you're no more safe than untrained girls. If anything they have more chance of only getting raped, while you'll also be bludgeoned to death.

Women definitely don't need MA more than men. They can't use them right.

I was in a dojo for 15 years. Dad had me start as soon as I learned to walk right. I regret it and I don't at the same time, but I wouldn't choose it if I could go back. I'd pick volleyball.

[PT1911]

I only take issue with what you said about self defense. You can train and condition all you want. In the end, if your instructor does a shitty job of teaching you the techniques, then its pointless.

I've been in fights (legit self defense) and I've won. People take a swing or two at me before I duck under, wrap around and rear naked choke them. A female friend of mine that I train tells me of all the tines when guys got too grabby, she puts them in a joint lock, and they back off. A kid in one of the kids classes at my dojang had bully problems, until he learned to block every strike and fought back and won.

It works, you have to understand how it works. Anyone can kick and punch, but to know how to o move properly, think clearly, analyze the situation, that is the key.

Otherwise, I understand your opinion

[PT1911]

In addition, we have girls constantly practice against us bigger, heavyweight guys.

It works

[inamorata]

My instructor was a good one. And I base that on the fact that I fought and won silver and gold twice on the Balkan level tournament.
Guys were even better than girls and one went onto win gold in an European tournament. We were a decorated club as far as decorated clubs go.

Your friend attacks guys who get grabby, but that's because they don't fight back. That's no proof of her skill it's just proof no guy wants to brawl a girl.

And I also trained MMA, my sensei brought others to expand our knowledge he didn't believe in sticking to a structured rigid technique for advanced fighters. He himself had black belts in many different arts. I know how that training goes. It's an utter fantasy land. A guy who wants to rape me can beat the shit out of me to stop me from grabbing him, or doing much of anything. When someone is on top of you, the element of surprise, THE ONLY TRUE advantage a lady can have is pretty much gone.

Filling women's heads with this fantasy is nothing but dangerous.

[inamorata]

Also, when a woman does get a guy into a hold by some chance, she better be ready to kill and better know how. It's so easy to get a guy to tap out. I've done that.

There needs to be a reality check training in every dojo in the world. Get the chick who thinks she can do it and have some sadist beat the shit out of her.

Even among men there are weight categories. They are there for a damn reason.

[PT1911]

Obviously, you were never told how to ground fight. And yes we have weight categories as well. So how do the smaller people train? They train against the bigger opponents.

And its honestly sickening to hear that someone with your experience and knowledge is complaining why women shouldn't learn to defend themselves.

That's basically what you're saying.

[inamorata]

Read my original comment. I never said don't do it. I just told the truth on what benefits it will actually bring you.

[Anonymous]

Very inspiring Take. I took Jiu Jitsu briefly as a teenager and made it up to a green belt, I did it for about a year and a half and I REALLY enjoyed it. I stopped because of other reasons (financially draining for my parents), but I remember being in tip top shape. I was never overweight in my life up until last year when the doctor told me that I needed to lose about 15lbs to be at a healthy BMI and that's when everything starting going down. I was stressed out from working long hours and being a full time student, so I decided to join the local Planet Fitness. The thing about going to the gym is, little did I know, it takes so much discipline. I just hated it, it was so boring and all I did was treadmill and burned 200 calories in like 40 mins. This Take actually makes me want to enroll in CKO classes, especially after seeing the picture of the woman with the dramatic weight loss. I want to be that thin girl with the nice abs again! Thanks

[Anonymous]

Agreed. I've always been in and out of martial arts, though, because I'm very non social and never really liked going to classes with a bunch of people. However, my father is a black belt in aikido and a blue or brown belt in Tae Kwon do so I've grown up knowing a bit myself. In fact it's pretty much bred into my family by now that we all know how to count to ten in Japanese. For us it's like counting in Spanish, you never really use it, but you know it like the back off our hand. I went to karate when I was little, but then dropped out because some of the kids there were a little jerky. Fast forward and I came back around the beginning of middle school. However, I recently quit because there's just too much going on for me. All of my times there I will agree;there's a lot less girls then boys. About 95% of the times I was there I was the only girl unless it was a tournament or something. Girls should do it though because it is plenty of fun.

[miserybusiness]

Yaasssss OP you spill that truth tea! Haha. Good take! Very valid words.

I had the opportunity to learn taekwondo when I was 16/17 but I was too scared and intimidated. My brother and sister learned it instead. I kind of regret it because I don't think I'd be able to do it now. I'm faaar too weak and lack the stamina and energy to keep up with the others. Not really sure what happened to my body. But if I could go back in time to when I was young and energetic, I'd definitely do it.

[PT1911]

Don't talk like that :P

You can still do it lol. When I started as a kid, there was a 60 year old woman training there. It did immense help to her joint problems and overall, just physical therapy. She also kicked major ass.

It's literally your mind stopping you :)

[FatherJack]

Great take , have background in Karate & at higher levels Tae Kwon do , Western Boxing , British Army's own no nonsense " Judo & Wrestling " Muay Thai & Filipino based mixed styles. Got a " Liver Shot " kick from a girl with a ballet background , definitely contributed to her kicking skill , females kick better than guys. Will add that you are far more likely to be physically attacked if you are male by both genders !!

[PT1911]

lol@ the kick

[southerngirly10]

I do karate for 8 years and boxing it's great

[PiuBelloAmante]

men are sacrificial in society, they always have been and always will be, thats why men have been the ones who have fought wars, defended other people and sacrificed there lives selflessly throughout history

that being said i think everyone should train in some sort of martial arts, whether its karate or boxing

[KarateKatie]

I completely agree with you! I am a black belt in karate and I have been training for nearly 8 years. There are generally less females than males in martial arts, maybe because females dont want to intimidate or scare off potential males. Since I started, there definitely has been an increase in the number of females joining my karate which I feel is the way forward.

[Nodramaqueen]

I like this. I will admit I previously judged the title but by the end of your take, I had been convinced otherwise. I used to do karate for a while before I moved didn't get very far but sometimes I do wish I started again.

[PT1911]

glad you read the whole thing :)

[aloniara]

Absolutely agreed! I'm always encouraging my female friends to try out some form of martial arts or self-defense. Often I'll offer to teach them myself because I think it's so important. I've been doing martial arts since I was a little kid. I'm now a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and have been a self-defense instructor in the past, and it's shaped so much of who I am - I know I wouldn't be nearly as strong and confident as I am today if I'd never gotten involved.

[Pinkbeauty]

I like your mytake and I to think girls should martial arts because they could that as a way to stick up for them selves but I don't think I'd be able to do martial arts but iv been told that if u play sport u could be mad at people if u luse but u can't hit people and I was never bullied out side the Internet but I was cyber bullied online and when that happened I didn't tell people to help me instead I stoped the cyber bulling from happining myself by talking to the people and blocking and reporting the people who bullied me but my question is should I try and stickup for my self if I was bullied or do I tell some one because I don't like to be the person who has to rely on people to stick up for me even thou I was told that I should be telling people if I was bullied

[Shutupman]

I agree! I've been kickboxing since 8 years old, i quitted when I was 11 but restarted when I was 17 and also took on extra boxing classes. I so missed it! Especially the feeling of mutual respect and the feeling of belonging somewhere is just amazing! Nice take! :D

[emerald77]

Agreed! I have been practicing Taekwondo for quite some time now. And it has helped me out a lot in many ways. But what's most important to me is that I can walk down the street alone and not have to be paranoid about it.

[PT1911]

damn straight. That's the goal

[FALLENCHRISTEY94]

I do take mma mixed martials arts and mayi thai fr years too and I love it and had tons of tourments and I won tons of them and its fun too learn all forms of combat and mixed martials arts too!!

[PT1911]

Keep kicking ass girl!

[FALLENCHRISTEY94]

thnks im about more than 12 years in so far

[PT1911]

That's great! Don't stop!

[FALLENCHRISTEY94]

I won't thnks

[Phoenix98]

I wouldn't say women necessarily need it more, but I would defiantly recommend it to them. I've been doing martial arts for around 10 years now and I can contest to the advantages it brings you. But that being said man or women if your not dedicated, train hard and give it the years of training required. Then you will never be a martial artist.

[biracialQT]

Ughhh I know tell me about it!
I've always wanted to do martial arts since I was 7, but my mom kept telling me that team sports are better for social relations and she doesn't like violence. Soo I did stupid soccer and handball and now I play basketball wich I don't mind, but I would like to do martial arts on the side. Only that would be too expensive. But anyway I'm too old to start :(

[PT1911]

nah, never too old to start :)

[biracialQT]

Oh please id never be able to learn as much now

[DVanx]

I don't think you're too old to start at all. my girlfriend is a martial arts teacher and she has beginners student who are your age. :)

[AshleyMD]

Good points, I've decided though that I don't need it because the points you've made are things I have solutions for already. And I also shouldn't be learning things I could harm people with, I might actually harm someone because I'm just trying to have fun. Although it sounds like loads of fun but I'm not a fan of discipline and I heard there's a lot of that when you do martial arts.

[PT1911]

Fair enough lol. I 100% understand the discipline thing. That's not easy.

Its good though that you have solutions to some of the points I mentioned. A lot of people, not just women, don't.

[TastikD]

I liked this article, a lot!
Started karate when I was 6, I'm a black belt now :) it's not only to learn how to defend yourself as you said it's the dedication, it teachs you patience and how to be calm, good for the body for sure but the friends are the best! Started together at six and still friends at 23 ^^ so I totally agree 👍