In the seventies men didn�t want women in the dojo, there were even several �Women�s Only� martial arts schools.�Class material was the same as in male-dominated dojos?�?the difference wasn�t what was taught but how. In your typical martial art...
In the seventies men didn�t want women in the dojo, there were even several �Women�s Only� martial arts schools.�
Class material was the same as in male-dominated dojos?�?the difference wasn�t what was taught but how. In your typical martial art class they begin by tearing the ego down, but in women-only classes you build the ego up?�?not in a �you look great� kind of way, but something more like �yes, your doing great!��
We have come a long way since the days when we were not welcome in class and most schools have �Americanized� martial arts for men and women, building our students up instead of crushing their ego, Jiu Jitsu does that on its own.�
The new ways of teaching is great, increasing the numbers of students staying but, sometimes this causing students to forget Jiu Jitsu IS a martial art where a certain level of respect, hard work, frustration and having your ego crushed.�
Being a female in a male dominated sport, I am happy to say that I don�t feel like I get any special treatment. I come to class prepared to work, roll with the guys, push my training parters and get my butt kicked...a lot!�
After almost 8 years of training and seeing a huge growth of women in the sport, which is awesome, I still see many glimpses of why men didn�t want us:
Giggles
Flirting
Period talk (my husband just loves this one)
Drama
�I can�t do that one because I have cramps� etc...
�I only want to go with girls�
�He�s too strong�
Yes....I have been guilty of some of these things too.�
It�s ok to have fun and enjoy Jiu Jitsu but, we need to remember this IS a martial art. �
There will always be men who are uncomfortable training with us, men who will be annoyed with our �girl talk� and giggles.�
So...the moral of the story is: have fun and enjoy training but, if we want to be taken seriously, be aware of the �Martial Arts� aspect.� Have respect, focus and train hard!
Class material was the same as in male-dominated dojos?�?the difference wasn�t what was taught but how. In your typical martial art class they begin by tearing the ego down, but in women-only classes you build the ego up?�?not in a �you look great� kind of way, but something more like �yes, your doing great!��
We have come a long way since the days when we were not welcome in class and most schools have �Americanized� martial arts for men and women, building our students up instead of crushing their ego, Jiu Jitsu does that on its own.�
The new ways of teaching is great, increasing the numbers of students staying but, sometimes this causing students to forget Jiu Jitsu IS a martial art where a certain level of respect, hard work, frustration and having your ego crushed.�
Being a female in a male dominated sport, I am happy to say that I don�t feel like I get any special treatment. I come to class prepared to work, roll with the guys, push my training parters and get my butt kicked...a lot!�
After almost 8 years of training and seeing a huge growth of women in the sport, which is awesome, I still see many glimpses of why men didn�t want us:
Giggles
Flirting
Period talk (my husband just loves this one)
Drama
�I can�t do that one because I have cramps� etc...
�I only want to go with girls�
�He�s too strong�
Yes....I have been guilty of some of these things too.�
It�s ok to have fun and enjoy Jiu Jitsu but, we need to remember this IS a martial art. �
There will always be men who are uncomfortable training with us, men who will be annoyed with our �girl talk� and giggles.�
So...the moral of the story is: have fun and enjoy training but, if we want to be taken seriously, be aware of the �Martial Arts� aspect.� Have respect, focus and train hard!
