Martial Arts for Women

Before we start to discuss martial arts for women, here are some great books on the subject that you might want to check out. All links will open in a new window.

Martial arts for women, you say? Isn't the fighting arts for anyone and everyone, the feminine part of the population included? Touché - that's exactly the point!

When we start talking about martial arts for women there are so many strange adversions showing up - from women as well as men. Some find it "not feminine". Could someone please define feminine for me?

Then there are women who say they don't like violence or don't want to "fight". Now, I do respect and understand the part about violence, but who ever said that it need to be a violent perspective on martial arts? Indeed it can be, but it doesn't have to be - it depends on the art. As for fighting, you can be a woman in the fighting arts without ever fighting! Largely it depends on the art, and also on how you define "fighting" :-)

Then there are guys, most of the times not involved in the martial arts themselves, who "worry that a woman might get hurt". Boy, oh boy, please let me pass this one in silence... Any man (teacher, student or owner) in almost any martial arts school, will welcome any woman to train and participate - period. Being hurt... :-) Most likely these cavemen are the ones afraid being hurt.

There are other objections such as the one that a martial arts school is for bullies and guys with an ego problem - not a good place for a woman to learn martial arts. I agree - there are unfortunately still such places, and if you wish to be a woman in the martial arts you better seek out one of the many schools that are not like this. Fortunately most of them are quite different!

Some that may be interested in martial arts for women believe that a martial arts school is like an old boxing gym - dirty, smelly, crowded, no showers... Yes there are places like that too. But again, you may find schools that have a top, modern, clean and spacy environment. All you have to do is look around and ask other women where they train. I like to remind you that many modern fitness-centers also have martial arts related training on their schedule.

Another objections is that some women don't want to, or can't train with men. That's understandable - there are many reasons why this may be. Again there are ways around this. You have special classes for women at some places, special seminars or courses, and there are places that offers private tuition. Again, ask!

One thing that I sometimes hear is this view that martial arts is a "guy thing". Sorry to break a myth here, but it is not correct. For reference, why not check out one of the books above? Martial arts is not a thing for guys - it's a thing for anyone who wish to become stronger, more secure, more self-reliant and focused. Jennifer Lawler says in her splendid book "Dojo Wisdom": "I am a woman warrior. ...Being a warrior isn't about learning how to kick people in five different ways. Being a warrior is about how you live your life."

 On the following pages you can read about self-defense for women. You have also a page that shows you successful self-defense by women. Eventually we will have other spesific pages added - any ideas will be very much welcomed!

 Missing anything? Since I have given up the idea of becoming Mr. Know-it-all a long time ago, and I'd love to hear from you regarding any subject you feel will add to these pages!