Comments on: Why Are Female Martial Arts Masters So Rare? http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/ Martial arts for personal development Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:51:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dr. Annette http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-16213 Dr. Annette Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:59:22 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-16213 I started training in Shotokan karate at age 54. I am currently a Brown Belt (3rd kyu). I intend to be Black Belt by 60. I am 58 now. My dojo has about 1/3 women, most who are Black Belts. I was glad to find this site and read all comments. Personally, I would like to know more of what women in martial arts have to overcome to advance. I know the fears of injury, of hurting others, and just plain intimidation I have already had to overcome to get to where I am now. I also have been surprised at the self-limiting beliefs I had and still will have to overcome as I advance. I read a statistic that only 1 in 1000 karatakas earn a Black Belt. When I read that it takes 10,000 hours to achieve mastery in any endeavor, I think what woman has that much time to herself? LOL! I started training in Shotokan karate at age 54. I am currently a Brown Belt (3rd kyu). I intend to be Black Belt by 60. I am 58 now. My dojo has about 1/3 women, most who are Black Belts. I was glad to find this site and read all comments. Personally, I would like to know more of what women in martial arts have to overcome to advance. I know the fears of injury, of hurting others, and just plain intimidation I have already had to overcome to get to where I am now. I also have been surprised at the self-limiting beliefs I had and still will have to overcome as I advance. I read a statistic that only 1 in 1000 karatakas earn a Black Belt. When I read that it takes 10,000 hours to achieve mastery in any endeavor, I think what woman has that much time to herself? LOL!

]]> By: Fredo http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-15978 Fredo Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:50:54 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-15978 Check this lady out. Ms. Bian Zhiqin is the 20th generation disciple of Chen-style Taiji and the 6th generation disciples of Wu-style Taiji. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqD8UpUqpdc&feature=related Check this lady out. Ms. Bian Zhiqin is the 20th generation disciple of Chen-style Taiji and the 6th generation disciples of Wu-style Taiji. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqD8UpUqpdc&feature=related

]]> By: firstdegree... http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-15827 firstdegree... Sat, 26 Nov 2011 22:02:09 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-15827 I'm a first degree black belt at my studio and am actually a demo team leader as well as an assistant instructor. I've noticed over the years that all the female students in the school where I work become intimidated because many of the male students actually harass them for being girls. I know as a woman that I am constantly being told that the men don't want to hit me... they say things like "I was taught to never hit a girl" or "You wouldn't be able to handle the pain". I always want to reply saying that one day I will probably deliver a baby and that is definitely going to hurt worse than a few bruises. My teacher is a man as well as all my other instructors and most of them pick on me for being female. I know most of the time they are just joking around since they have been my friends and co workers for over 6 years but it still hurts and it causes problems when students see our interactions and then go on to disrespect me during class. I am not usually prone to being hurt by other people's words and actions but this really does get to me sometimes because I worked just as hard as any man to get my black belt and my title as an assistant instructor and demo captain. It actually took me twice as long as a normal student to receive these honors. I did notice that most of the women who had trained with me have quit by now, right after they got their green or brown belts. I don't exactly understand why but I do know that I miss working with them because the men just don't understand that they can hit me if the technique calls for it and I won't get mad. I’m a first degree black belt at my studio and am actually a demo team leader as well as an assistant instructor. I’ve noticed over the years that all the female students in the school where I work become intimidated because many of the male students actually harass them for being girls. I know as a woman that I am constantly being told that the men don’t want to hit me… they say things like “I was taught to never hit a girl” or “You wouldn’t be able to handle the pain”. I always want to reply saying that one day I will probably deliver a baby and that is definitely going to hurt worse than a few bruises. My teacher is a man as well as all my other instructors and most of them pick on me for being female. I know most of the time they are just joking around since they have been my friends and co workers for over 6 years but it still hurts and it causes problems when students see our interactions and then go on to disrespect me during class. I am not usually prone to being hurt by other people’s words and actions but this really does get to me sometimes because I worked just as hard as any man to get my black belt and my title as an assistant instructor and demo captain. It actually took me twice as long as a normal student to receive these honors.
I did notice that most of the women who had trained with me have quit by now, right after they got their green or brown belts. I don’t exactly understand why but I do know that I miss working with them because the men just don’t understand that they can hit me if the technique calls for it and I won’t get mad.

]]> By: Ben http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-15246 Ben Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:22:14 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-15246 my first Taekwondo teacher was a girl...I'm a dude by the way... the only reason guys get embarrassed if a girl beats them is the stereotype boys are "better".If u dont meet the stereotype u lose respect from everyone! Its like Goku in DBZ said "anyone can be great if they try hard enough!" my first Taekwondo teacher was a girl…I’m a dude by the way… the only reason guys get embarrassed if a girl beats them is the stereotype boys are “better”.If u dont meet the stereotype u lose respect from everyone! Its like Goku in DBZ said “anyone can be great if they try hard enough!”

]]> By: Mr. Martial Arts http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-15051 Mr. Martial Arts Thu, 01 Sep 2011 02:19:06 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-15051 Note that all masters are not teachers! If you have been taught by a skilled martial artist that understands the tenets of their system and the culture of their system then whether female or male you will become a true warrior of the martial arts. Note that all masters are not teachers! If you have been taught by a skilled martial artist that understands the tenets of their system and the culture of their system then whether female or male you will become a true warrior of the martial arts.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-14884 Michelle Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:40:57 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-14884 I found this post by accident. But had to reply. I am a martial arts master. I have been studying for over 20 years. I can only say from my own experiences that women will sacrifice their training over their male counterparts due to having children and building their careers. I have had to put my own training on hold to have and raise 3 children, build businesses, and 'squeeze it' into life. My husband is a higher Dan than me. And that's okay. He put the work into it, and deserves it. It wasn't that I didn't want to train or excel or gain more knowledge and rank, I just couldn't get into the dojo. I have made the martial arts my profession. I have made it a mission to not only become a great teacher of martial arts, but to teach others HOW to teach. To pass on the passion and skill to others means more to me than getting higher in rank. Higher rank will always be there. This is not a race to catch up to or win. It is a personal journey that only the practitioner themselves, man or woman, will do. There are more woman masters out there than we are given credit for. Some of the most amazing martial arts women in history were 'game changers' of their art. They have what I call 'stick-to-it-iveness'. They just never gave up. I am proud to be a master. I am proud of the women before me. I am very proud of women who are going to be after me. I am proud of the legacy that I will leave behind. We all need to embrace the martial artist, no matter woman or man, in their own journey of excellence and longevity in the martial arts. I found this post by accident. But had to reply.

I am a martial arts master. I have been studying for over 20 years. I can only say from my own experiences that women will sacrifice their training over their male counterparts due to having children and building their careers. I have had to put my own training on hold to have and raise 3 children, build businesses, and ‘squeeze it’ into life.

My husband is a higher Dan than me. And that’s okay. He put the work into it, and deserves it.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to train or excel or gain more knowledge and rank, I just couldn’t get into the dojo.

I have made the martial arts my profession. I have made it a mission to not only become a great teacher of martial arts, but to teach others HOW to teach. To pass on the passion and skill to others means more to me than getting higher in rank.

Higher rank will always be there. This is not a race to catch up to or win. It is a personal journey that only the practitioner themselves, man or woman, will do.

There are more woman masters out there than we are given credit for. Some of the most amazing martial arts women in history were ‘game changers’ of their art. They have what I call ‘stick-to-it-iveness’. They just never gave up.

I am proud to be a master. I am proud of the women before me. I am very proud of women who are going to be after me. I am proud of the legacy that I will leave behind.

We all need to embrace the martial artist, no matter woman or man, in their own journey of excellence and longevity in the martial arts.

]]> By: Emma http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-14209 Emma Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:39:22 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-14209 Chang's Hapkido Academy in London is run by a female instructor. Chang’s Hapkido Academy in London is run by a female instructor.

]]> By: East Coast Female Tournaments http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-13994 East Coast Female Tournaments Fri, 04 Mar 2011 03:54:06 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-13994 What city do you live in? I may be able to connect you with a good female school that is highly rated. What city do you live in? I may be able to connect you with a good female school that is highly rated.

]]> By: Jane http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-13991 Jane Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:16:03 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-13991 As a female martial artist, I'm always having a hard time to find an instructor to take me seriously and not go easy on me. I get put down way too much, since these instructors assume I'll want to marry and have children and bull like that (i hate kids and i don't want to get married). also, the different clubs i've been in, the guys get embarassed if a woman is somehow better than them. i want to be treated as an equal, not delicate because i have different body parts! >_< but as long as this society is run by men, they'll always have this attitude. I go in to work, get stronger, and am very serious about my training. I get chided for trying to be 'one of the boys' or get teased for 'wanting to be a man' like for some reason being strong and fit is somehow wrong. it's quite annoying. but i don't let it deter me and keep driving for excellence. the one thing i can't stand is that how most of these 'self-defense' classes are really totally weak. no body is just going to just stand there and let you toss him around. it's not realistic! or in some classes, the instructors teach 'modified' movesets because you're female. i won't have any of it. i have yet to find a club that really pushes me to my limits and i'll keep searching but until then, i'll just have to prove that i'm better than what people's (poor) expectations are. I'd love to participate in MMA tourneys to see how well I match up, but alas, I'll be pitted against the very small pool of women that join. (since in this society it's 'wrong' for men to strike women). meh, a fighter is a fighter, no matter what parts they're born with! As a female martial artist, I’m always having a hard time to find an instructor to take me seriously and not go easy on me. I get put down way too much, since these instructors assume I’ll want to marry and have children and bull like that (i hate kids and i don’t want to get married). also, the different clubs i’ve been in, the guys get embarassed if a woman is somehow better than them. i want to be treated as an equal, not delicate because i have different body parts! >_< but as long as this society is run by men, they'll always have this attitude.
I go in to work, get stronger, and am very serious about my training. I get chided for trying to be 'one of the boys' or get teased for 'wanting to be a man' like for some reason being strong and fit is somehow wrong. it's quite annoying. but i don't let it deter me and keep driving for excellence.
the one thing i can't stand is that how most of these 'self-defense' classes are really totally weak. no body is just going to just stand there and let you toss him around. it's not realistic! or in some classes, the instructors teach 'modified' movesets because you're female. i won't have any of it. i have yet to find a club that really pushes me to my limits and i'll keep searching but until then, i'll just have to prove that i'm better than what people's (poor) expectations are.
I'd love to participate in MMA tourneys to see how well I match up, but alas, I'll be pitted against the very small pool of women that join. (since in this society it's 'wrong' for men to strike women). meh, a fighter is a fighter, no matter what parts they're born with!

]]> By: Jamie http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-13981 Jamie Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:26:05 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/why-are-female-masters-so-rare/#comment-13981 There is a woman in Washington named Cathy Cline who holds a 7th Dan in Shotokan Karate . She was awarded this in 1995 I think. At the time, she was one of only 2 women awarded A 7th Dan in Shotokan karate. I wonder how many more women have achieved this since then, in this particular style? There is a woman in Washington named Cathy Cline who holds a 7th Dan in Shotokan Karate . She was awarded this in 1995 I think. At the time, she was one of only 2 women awarded A 7th Dan in Shotokan karate. I wonder how many more women have achieved this since then, in this particular style?

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