Martial Arts Empower
I am the first to say that martial arts are for everyone. They are an awesome way by which to live life and a great way to better yourself. They are an activity that joins the body and the mind together in a powerful way. They can be used for defense, for art, and for exercise. They are a personal journey and form of expression. They help with health and a positive outlook.
I cannot lie, though. As a woman in the martial arts, I have had a unique opportunity to grow, expand my horizons, learn how to fight, and become a confident, self-assured person. Personally, I enjoy some of the attention I receive as a female martial artist because I can transform that attention in a meaningful way.
I share my female martial art knowledge in motivational messages that help everyone, but they also specifically encourage women to learn a martial art or take a self-defense class.
Why? Because women need it. Women are more likely to be attacked or abducted than men. Women are generally smaller or targeted because of their kindness which places them in a vulnerable situation. Not every woman, no. I am not implying that we are weak or vulnerable all the time. We can get stronger, though, through training in the martial arts.
Because martial arts are more of a male dominated activity, women who practice karate or martial arts stand out as being strong and powerful. That’s not a bad thing. In fact, there are some really great things about being a strong and powerful woman, thanks to martial arts, that you should know.
1. What exactly is empowerment?
It sounds like some contrived cartoon word without merit, thrown around readily when it comes to women in the martial arts. Are we really empowered and why?
When I pulled up the online dictionary, I found the word “empowerment” to be a convincing description: to make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights. That makes a lot of sense when it comes to women and martial arts. Men are generally stronger, and while they do gain more strength when practicing karate, a woman probably sees a bigger change than a guy when it comes to strength from practicing martial arts.
Because a woman doesn’t typically “fight,” can you imagine how much stronger she gets when she must go a few rounds of sparring? How about when she learns to yell? The most quiet woman can scare an opponent if she has a yell that bellows with a warrior spirit from within.
2. How else does a woman get stronger or more confident through martial arts?
Physically is one way. The other is a mental strength. Women are seen as vulnerable in a mental sense. We are loved because of our softer side and our gentle approach to life and our relationships, especially with our children and those we love.
If we walked around yelling or ready to punch someone I think we would lose some of what makes us so special. However, we cannot allow our softer side to always overshadow our stronger side, especially if danger is imminent.
Having a fighting mentality or one of fierce determination is a trait on which women have to work. Martial arts give us a way to increase our physical strength and our mental strength by learning how to protect ourselves if the time comes to defend. We are “empowered” because we have gained strength in actions and in attitude. Do I want to fight an attacker? No. Do I want to yell, kick, or punch someone? No. But I can. That is the empowerment I have received from the martial arts.
3. Fighting and yelling are not the only way to get empowered through martial arts, right?
Right. Empowerment comes in many shapes and sizes. Training in martial arts seems to naturally lead to other types of physical fitness. Even when I was training more rigorously in the martial arts, it was not the only physical activity that I did. The strength and stamina I received from trianing led me to run 5k races, take dance classes, and lift weights.
It was a great cyclical way to increase strength and focus because these other activities helped me maintain my martial arts practice. Even now, I teach martial arts and also take different fitness classes that help me stay motivated in training my body.
So, general fitness may be an offshoot of a woman’s martial arts training. Other offshoots are becoming martial arts instructors, teaching self-defense, or training others to have a positive mindset. These abilities to train in other fitness areas and to teach others are forms of the empowerment a woman can gain specifically from the martial arts.
4. Why do women who take martial arts stand out?
There is a certain aura about a martial artist, in general. It is subtle. It is quiet. It is fascinating. Add a feminine touch and wham! Fascination is tripled.
Women in martial arts stand out because they are purposeful, ambitious, and determined. They are not necessarily that way before they walk through the martial art school door. Not long after, though, they find a good combination, the right mindset and new approach to their own martial art femininity.
That is why you will see a female martial artist wear a pink uniform, for example. Just because she is a martial artist does not eliminate her desire to be feminine or beautiful or engaging. It elevates her to be all of those wonderful things PLUS being well-trained, fierce, and powerful. It is this combination that sets her apart and makes her stand out.
I have many roles to play in my life, but by far the one that gets noticed or complimented the most is my passion for and training in the martial arts. Maybe because by day I wear a dress and heels and by night I wear a uniform and a black belt.
Maybe it is because by day I quietly sit behind a desk doing paperwork and by night I teach students how to overcome physical and mental obstacles. Maybe it is because I have ambition and desires to change the world for the better by day, and by night I implement those changes by teaching martial arts.
It is the combination of womanhood and action that makes a woman who is a martial artist stand out, and that gives empowerment a whole other meaning.
If you ever wondered how martial arts empowers women, you are a few steps closer to deciphering that code. While women in the arts all have differing views on how martial arts have empowered them, I am fairly certain they would agree that they are stronger and more confident because of them, especially in controlling their lives, just as the online dictionary described the word, empowerment.
There is no turning back for me. I have made martial arts a true, genuine, and intimate part of who I am. While my other everyday roles play a significant and important part in my life, my training is a focus unique to the person I have become. Without martial arts, I am certain I would have succumbed to disappointments and barriers in a negative way throughout my life. In many ways, I am free of the fears and concerns that surround me as a woman. Instead, I am driven me to become the best I can be. I am empowered.
Andrea
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Keep your eye out for my next book:
****How to Start Your Own Martial Art Program****
In the meantime, keep inspired by one of my other two books:
https://goo.gl/Yco5GF – Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone
https://goo.gl/dGfX1q – The Martial Arts Woman
Exceptionally written and so very true
Thank you very much, Kelly!
This just re-enforces my belief about the label of women being the “weaker sex” is a load of BS. I’m just glad that I have the mindset of believing that women can succeed in anything they try, especially in a so called male dominated art. To which I think that will change in the future, if not already. It just kills me that some guys have a problem of women being in charge, whether it’s a sensei, CEO, mayor, or even President. Some people can’t adjust to change. Fortunately I didn’t grow up in a household with that “caveman” thinking. I welcome the chance to have a woman as my sensei. It would be interesting to get a female’s perspective. Not that it would matter to me, as long as I can get quality training. After reading about how by day you are doing paperwork and by night you are teaching, I kind of see you as a Super Heroine. Average citizen by day, doing good by helping others by night. I can see the making of a comic book in the future. 😎 Anyway I wish you, Karatemama and everyone on here who are in martial arts, male or female, continued success and a great weekend. All the best and full respect.
Thanks! There is no weaker sex as far as I’m concerned. I like the comic book idea! Hmmmm….who can put that together for me??? Well, maybe someday!
Hi, Steve!
I am definitely “Clark Kent” when I’m not in my gi. I’m a little older than my grandmother was when I was born. I wear bifocals and sweatshirts with cats on them. Plus I’m still slightly “lumpy” (18 pounds gone, 12 pounds to go). Definitely comic book material.
I have no doubt that you will reach that goal. I kind of feel like martial artists have that “Super Hero” image. When you put on the gi it’s like a being person with great powers. You can accomplish feats, with plenty of practice, that most people can’t do. So yes, comic book material. 😎 As far as the sweatshirt with the cats, wear what you like. Who are other people to judge anyway. Besides I’m wearing a t-shirt with Curly on it. 😉 Have a great rest of the weekend. all the best and full respect to all.
Hi, Steve! Yep, I’m really attached to my “super suit,” (NO CAPES!) LOL! Heck, it wasn’t very long ago when *I* couldn’t do half the things I do now. So do you own sweatshirts with Moe or Larry? How about Groucho, Harpo, or Chico? Have a great rest of the weekend 🙂
So proud of you, ,you have become empowered as a strong and caring woman, keep up the good work
A great big loud OSSU! of agreement! [bow]
Thanks for pointing out we’re still women even though we yell, fight, and break things. We’re women martial artists.
This reminds me of a book I just got done reading – an autobiography of a lady black belt and her experiences in Karate: _Smile at Strangers and Other Lessons in the Art of Living Fearlessly_ by Susan Schorn. Sensei Susan’s website is awesome too.
Again, thanks for another great article! A good read while coming down from the endorphin “high” after Karate class 🙂
[bow]
Women Martial Artists are special! Thanks KarateMama!
Great big loud OSSU! of respect and agreement! [bow]
Thanks for this article – a great read as I’m coming down off the endorphins from class 🙂 I appreciate it that you point out we are still women – we are not women trying to be men, we are women martial artists.
This article reminds me of a book I just finished reading a couple of days ago – an autobiography of a lady Black Belt and what she’s learned from her Karate journey. Nothing spoils a book for me worse than having to write a book report about it, so I’ll simply give you the author and title: _Smile at Strangers and Other Lessons in the Art of Living Fearlessly_ by Susan Schorn (http://www.susanschorn.com/?page_id=492).
[bow]
Very well said, Sensei!
You know, I think another reason martial arts women stand out is that they have found success in an activity that is out of the ordinary. There is no equal to the martial arts. Not physically, mentally, or emotionally. Another reason women stand out in the martial arts is that it’s unexpected. Also, men for a long time(and still do, unfortunately)believe that women didn’t have the overall strength to last in the martial arts. It was this sexist idea that women needed to only be the caretakers. That they needed to be rescued, and that they were too helpless to take care of themselves. Well, I pity those fools! lol. Because, time and again, the world over, women have shown that their skills in martial arts exceed the average male’s skills. After that, all I can say is that I would be more than proud to train alongside and be instructed by a female martial artist.
There are a lot of reasons and many that you mentioned are actually from a man’s perspective rather than how a female martial artist sees herself. Different perspectives but I think we can all agree that martial arts are good for all of us!