Are female martial arts masters as rare as they seem? Or are their numbers proportionate to those of female students? I don’t know the answer, but if I had to guess, here are some of the factors I would consider.
The Strength-Sensitivity Paradox
Paraphrasing Mark Twain, a martial art is something that everyone wants to know, but nobody wants to learn. The learning is arduous, occasionally painful and frequently embarrassing.
Having reached the limit of their endurance, students are sometimes tempted to abandon the principal objective, and start playing to win instead of investing in loss. Practically speaking, this means using strength and speed to “fill in the gaps”, or compensate for inferior technique.
The use of excessive strength and speed interferes with cultivation of sensitivity, precision, coordination and efficiency. But how can this be so, if no martial artist wishes it to be so? Cannot we have our cake whilst eating it too? Therein lies the paradox, or irony, if you will.
Women Learn Faster, But Men Go Further?
I have attended classes where men outnumber women 10-to-1, and I have attended classes where women outnumber men; in both environments, the average female student seemed to absorb and master new material faster than the average male.
I have a few theories to explain this. First, women are relatively less tempted to muscle through poorly executed technique, because they have relatively less muscle to use; thus, the only route to success is through correct technique. Second, women have different expectations and priorities in training; specifically, they are less inclined to mistake the classroom for a no-holds-barred fighting arena, and place less value on the bragging rights acquired by beating other students.
If earning a reputation as “the best female Kempo fighter in town” is roughly equivalent to becoming the hungriest midget in a pie-eating contest, then why even bother?
Credit: StuSeeger
Despite all this, the male gender holds a trump card: willingness to expend overwhelming effort towards mastery of an impractical skill. Am I right, ladies and gentlemen?
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9 responses so far ↓
1 Jarrod - Warrior Development // Jun 22, 2008
I would say there are a few reasons why there seem to be fewer senior female martial artists than male.
One is the same reason as why more men take up martial arts than women, there does not seem to the same desire for power, assertiveness, strength in both genders.
When I say senior I am thinking in terms of doing martial arts for 50 odd years. I think most societies were very male dominated and not receptive to female expression back in the 50’s and 60’s. Even though it was probably more open than in the 10’s it was definately not as accepted as it is now.
2 Rick Matz // Jun 23, 2008
I would amend your paraphrase of Mark Twain.
A martial art is something everyone wants to TEACH, but not learn.
3 Chris // Jun 23, 2008
Jarrod,
Show me a male-dominated society, and I’ll show you a society of eunuchs. There are just too many ways to exert force.
Rick,
Yes,
Everyone wants to teach, but nobody wants to be taught.
4 karrie // Jul 1, 2008
You know, this is a good question. I have trained in karate for nine years and it has taken me that long to really begin to understand all of the complexities of that MA. We have a higher ratio of men to women in our dojo and most often than not it’s the women that drop out first. Why? Could it be the style is too aggressive for their liking? Could it be that there are too many men in the class and therefore they feel intimidated? For me I have never been intimidated by the men in class, but I am a strong female (both in mind and body. Don’t mistake that statement for bragging, BTW). What I have seen is that the strong females last. Those with a strong drive go further. I don’t know the real answer to that question. Women have far less to “prove” than men; we don’t have a tendency to want to show our peacock feathers (no harm intended….) and since MA has a tendency to draw upon those types of men the women just don’t want to waste their time.
5 Kali Filipino martial arts // Jul 2, 2008
i do believe in this: “Women Learn Faster, But Men Go Further”
no offense meant.
6 Thomas // Jul 3, 2008
I’m agreeing with Karrie, there are definitely women out there, and all the women that I train with are very strong in both skills and character. Those that come tend to stay, while the men seem to have a much higher rate or rotation. My judo coach is a woman, and is definitely one of, if not the, best judoka I’ve ever seen.
7 Gareth // Jul 8, 2008
My instructor is a woman and is very good, is a pity that female instructors are hard to come by. I have just opened a club in the UK and could do with a female instructor or assistant instructor
8 Martial arts warrior // Jul 14, 2008
Who said that female martial art masters are rare… In old time in orient there were many — wing chun, last wife of master whong fei hung are a few… Please note that all masters are not teachers (or coaches)…
9 Martial arts warrior // Jul 14, 2008
Who said that female martial art masters are rare… In old time in orient there were many — nug mei, mothe rof fong sai yok, wing chun, last wife of master whong fei hung are a few… Please note that all masters are not teachers (or coaches)…
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