I know, I know….why am I focusing on being a “female” martial artist and not just a “martial artist,” you are wondering.
The reason is simple. I am a female martial artist and I see life through that perspective. There are plenty of explanations about why I feel being a woman in this industry is so important, but what it really boils down to is that the physical and mental aspects of my martial art have touched my womanly life in many ways. It is just one component of the application of my art. Not everything about my karate has to do with being a woman, but some of it is.
Anyone can disagree with my message, but that is okay, because it’s mine. I’m not claiming it to be the only way, or the only message, just my simple opinion on why I can’t live without my martial art mindset and how it’s helped me to overcome every single overwhelming obstacle I’ve had to face in the past twenty-six years.
I’m going to Win at Life just by being me…and I’m proud to say it’s because I’m a female martial artist.
Andrea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfNAWVc2PFo&feature=youtu.be
Great video!
I’ve always held martial arts women on a pedestal. I guess it’s because of the fact that martial arts training is not an easy journey. Martial arts training is an extraordinary journey at the end of which, people emerge stronger. Yet, not everyone who begins martial arts lasts up to black belt rank. For me, the reason female martial artists are so appealing, especially those who reach black belt, has to do with how they shatter the narrow-minded societal expectations of women in the past. Yes, there is still sexism in martial arts today, but to see women show just how awesome they are as instructors and students, even besting their male counterparts in each aspect of martial arts training is too cool. Anyways, Sensei Andrea, the Force is very strong with you! 🙂
Thanks for watching and for all of your encouragement. I don’t need a pedestal, but I do enjoy sharing what I know about hard work and martial arts 🙂
I’m quite certain that I wouldn’t have handled caring for my father-in-law while he was very ill and living with us with as much strength and confidence as I did without the martial arts (of course I think the other way around was likely true as well in that I am a better martial artist *because* of what I did for him!)
Like you said in the video: one gender isn’t necessarily better or worse than another when it comes to martial arts, but I have found a woman *can* perform those “womanly duties” better (like caring for others, etc), when she herself is strong and confident.
Learning a martial art is an absolutely wonderful way to build that inner strength so necessary to be a powerful woman 🙂
I think each woman has a story to tell and it will always revolve around the training of her spirit and inner strength! Thanks for your comments, as always!
Great !!!!!””
Ossu! Back in the mid 1980’s when I was a teen, I trained under a lady Sensei who had come up in the ranks during the 70’s – a time when women were still battling so much sexism. It must’ve been very tough for her socially, and I really never asked if it had been tough to carve her way through the ranks, but it’s conceivable she had to fight the sexism battle on that front too. She really showed me what us gals are capable of during a very formative time in my life.
…and we are very capable! Thanks Joelle!