Should Women Train?

[Great Sage]

So much has been said about women training in self-defense or the martial arts: Women are not as strong as men, they’re not mentally capable of winning, physically impossible, etc... The underlining message being that it is useless for women to train. Thus, we have another attempt by men to repress women back into their passive roles.

Should women train? — Yes! Will they become better suited to defend themselves? — Perhaps, perhaps not, but at least they’ll have some sort of foundation to work with. In any given street confrontation, the outcome is uncertain, regardless of gender. Therefore, if your training, reponse time or awareness can help you escape relatively unscathed, then its purpose is served.

The mental toughness of a woman should never be questioned. Men gringe when they think of things such as pregnancy, pms, breast cancer, etc... On average, very few people are prepared for the mental stress of an attack. Therefore, it’s not an accurate assertion to assume that women are passive thinkers who will simply lay down and surrender. Today, women are well educated, in better health and certainly capable of fending for themselves.

Women are as strong as men — perhaps, not physically, but as a gender that been scrutinized as inferior for centures, women have strength in their cause. Certainly, there are women who are stronger than some men, but the whole premises of self-defense is that strength is not the defining factor of a confrontation. Rather, knowledge and awareness.

I am not bought on the assertion that many women are so naive as to view themselves as “warriors.” On the contrary, with all the insecurities surrounding women in history, they are less likely to promote their ego. More likely, you’ll see a little girl in a mcdojo showing stints of flamboyance, but not so many women.

In conclusion, women can defend themselves and have done so for many years. There are numerous accounts of women thwarting their attackers. The difference today is not that they are learning self-defense techniques, but that they’ve made a choice not to be victimized.

[Kingston]

next thing your gunna tell us is that the world revolves around the sun....

[Great Sage]

Originally posted by Kingston
next thing your gunna tell us is that the world revolves around the sun....

Hmm... We're dealing with a highly sophisticated mind here...

[kittenTKD]

hehehe sage lol.... as 4 that other guy.... -

[kittenTKD]

omg i didnt read Kingstons post that closely....kingston sweetie, the earth does revolve around the sun.

[jcolvin]

good post. I have really gotten tired of the debate of women training, because I have always thought it was down right silly. I think a lot people loose focus of what these boards are for. Instead of debating if a woman should train they should be posting workouts that they have tried that have improved their skills regardless of gender. I think we would all be a lot better off if those who argue against this would realize that MA is about discipline/skill and that has nothing to do with what sex you were blessed with.

[Tom Yum]

Hey Kitten, have a TKD question. What are the differences between poomse and hyung? Thks.

[Kingston]

Originally posted by kittenTKD
omg i didnt read Kingstons post that closely....kingston sweetie, the earth does revolve around the sun.

.......I think you missed the point.......oh well.

[Kingston]

.....kitten, after reading my private messages i feel i have to explain something to you.

I KNOW the earth revolves around the sun.....

now...great sage was writing a post on how women SHOULD train.....do you realize how stupid that post is....

"everyone thinks women shouldn't train but they shoud!! heres why."

his post mite as well be about how the sky is blue.

his arguments weren't put together very well. Most of his responce was adressing the weakest arguments from the "other side".

"...they're not mentaly capable of winning, physicaly imposible..."

his arguments are just BASIC common sence.

"..its not an accurate assertion to assume that women are passive thinkers who will simply lay down and surrender..."

this one is great "Today, women are well aducated" lol duh....

maybe if this post was writen 50 years ago it would mean something.

Now im NOT saying that the general messege of the post is wrong. That would be as stupid as saying the sun revolves around the earth.

But the the arguments weren't very good. I could talk about how the sky is blue and say, now some people say, "no sometimes i see white stuff in the sky." Thats just clouds, its time people realized the sky is blue. I would still be right BUT my arguments where no good.

SO instead of writing all that, i felt a simple:

"next thing your going to tell us is the earth revolves around the sun" was enough to get my point across. I guess not.

[Ripley]

I can't believe people even ask 'should women train'. My regular instructors a woman and she's past 50 and 5" nothing. Her technique and knowledge of syllabus is outstanding, but sure she doesn't lead the sparring sessions very often. When I take her technique and apply it to my 6"2' height and build, then it's a winning combination.
I train with young male instructors too and they spend lots more time fighting and sparring. None of them have the technique of my older female instructor because they can rely on greater strength and speed. I'd rather learn the technique first and work on the power myself.

[kittenTKD]

I don't think you did, based on your spelling. What does the sun have to do with martial arts? Care to explain? I guess im lost again

[Kingston]

Originally posted by kittenTKD
I don't think you did, based on your spelling. What does the sun have to do with martial arts? Care to explain? I guess im lost again

The sun doesn't have anything to do with martial arts...I never said it did. I explained my point clearly in my last post. Your hopeless.

[Ms. J]

Kingston wrote” everyone thinks women shouldn't train but they shoud!! heres why."
*******

I agree that woman should train but, i am not sure i agree that everyone thinks they should not train. And i am sort of at a loss as to why any one even has that perception.

Granted the average woman does not train and i know many of the reasons they dont. Mostly because i spent years trying to find out why they dont because everyone kept saying they should including the us government and every police department in the nation. " Train in Self defense and Awareness" not necessarily just in a martial art alone. Regardless its still training, and they are not doing it.


Ms. J...

[Kingston]

Originally posted by Ms. J
I agree that woman should train but, i am not sure i agree that everyone thinks they should not train. And i am sort of at a loss as to why any one even has that perception.

exactly, no one thinks that women should not train. Thats why i had the response i did for a thread answering the 'question', "should women train?"

The whole idea that women shouldn't train is rediculous. There is no reason to even adress the issue in my opinion.

The reasons why they accually dont train is a valid issue, arguing there right to, is not.

(By the way, in that quote of mine i was being sarcastic to make a point)

[Ms. J]

ok i guess i did not get the part about being sarcastic. and why i was sort of confused by the statment.

Ms. J...