Deluxe Martial Arts Forums - View Single Post - The Truth and Lies About Women's Self Defense

rooke · 06-10-2002, 06:13 PM

Hi Erica,

Great post. I help teach martial arts, and those statistics are very important for most people to be aware of.

I would like to answer one aspect of it however. The assertion that we're a patriarchal society where we must psychologically demean women with "Women's Self Defense" I think is VERY misleading and offbase.

Most women I know don't want to take self-defense because they're worried about some testosterone over-run gym with big guys hitting and punching. They don't want excellent body mechanics for a power punch, and in many cases don't want to know fatal points to strike either. They're interested in simply doing the least possible damage to escape a situation. (For the record, I disagree with this). Now before we go into a tangent about how society does this (true), let's continue to go after this point...

By saying "WOMEN'S Self Defense", it immediately let's women know they its a setting where they don't have to feel threatened. Many might be taking this for future knowledge, but some have already been victimized, and might need a secure setting as they start coming out of the shell they've built (men do this too... this is a generalization about people). Therefore a self-defense setting that has other women is less theatening. After all, how many men would feel comfortable, if they were the only MAN in a self-defense class?

Furthermore, a woman might have different self-defense obstacles than a man (due to society, absolutely). Many fighting positions require mobility and the fist to bring an opponent down. Long nails, high heels, and some clothing might be too restrictive for a woman who might have to wear these as she goes to work. YES, there are better clothes for mobility that are options, but many women don't necessarily go for that (just as many men don't...vanity hits everyone).

Now having said this, I think a "Woman's Self Defense" class might be a good starting point for a woman who wants to enter learning slowly. But by NO means do I feel its sufficient.

Women I have talked to are less willing to carry a blade or weapon than a man. Many are not willing to seriously injure an attacker until the attacker escalates things (my belief is that once an attack is on, you don't let the opponent lead, you shut things down immediately). These are problems that must be addressed.
But seeing a problem with saying "Women" in addressing martial arts might be targetting something needlessly.

Now again, my assertions as you see address the perspective of women I've talked to and known. My viewpoint is that they're not aggressive enough. Then again, testosterone might account for my views since the male androgen is responsible for aggression in a normal psychological make-up.

Thanks, I look forward to your response!
Rooke

06-10-2002, 06:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
rooke Novice Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 24 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	defense... Hi Erica, Great post. I help teach martial arts, and those statistics are very important for most people to be aware of. I would like to answer one aspect of it however. The assertion that we're a patriarchal society where we must psychologically demean women with "Women's Self Defense" I think is VERY misleading and offbase. Most women I know don't want to take self-defense because they're worried about some testosterone over-run gym with big guys hitting and punching. They don't want excellent body mechanics for a power punch, and in many cases don't want to know fatal points to strike either. They're interested in simply doing the least possible damage to escape a situation. (For the record, I disagree with this). Now before we go into a tangent about how society does this (true), let's continue to go after this point... By saying "WOMEN'S Self Defense", it immediately let's women know they its a setting where they don't have to feel threatened. Many might be taking this for future knowledge, but some have already been victimized, and might need a secure setting as they start coming out of the shell they've built (men do this too... this is a generalization about people). Therefore a self-defense setting that has other women is less theatening. After all, how many men would feel comfortable, if they were the only MAN in a self-defense class? Furthermore, a woman might have different self-defense obstacles than a man (due to society, absolutely). Many fighting positions require mobility and the fist to bring an opponent down. Long nails, high heels, and some clothing might be too restrictive for a woman who might have to wear these as she goes to work. YES, there are better clothes for mobility that are options, but many women don't necessarily go for that (just as many men don't...vanity hits everyone). Now having said this, I think a "Woman's Self Defense" class might be a good starting point for a woman who wants to enter learning slowly. But by NO means do I feel its sufficient. Women I have talked to are less willing to carry a blade or weapon than a man. Many are not willing to seriously injure an attacker until the attacker escalates things (my belief is that once an attack is on, you don't let the opponent lead, you shut things down immediately). These are problems that must be addressed. But seeing a problem with saying "Women" in addressing martial arts might be targetting something needlessly. Now again, my assertions as you see address the perspective of women I've talked to and known. My viewpoint is that they're not aggressive enough. Then again, testosterone might account for my views since the male androgen is responsible for aggression in a normal psychological make-up. Thanks, I look forward to your response! Rooke