Do some women learn martial arts differently to some men?
Do we sometimes unconsciously valorise more “masculine” ways of learning in the dojo – without even realising it . . . ?
Why I’m not inspired by female warriors – despite loving martial arts
A friend has sent me a three-minute video called Women Were Some of the Fiercest Samurai Warriors Ever. It’s about a woman called Takeko Nakano who led an army of women to fight in the Boshin War (Japanese Revolution).
He thinks he’s sent me an exciting, inspirational and glorious story about women’s empowerment, which I will love as a female martial arts practitioner […]
A morning with Mara Yamauchi – Part Two – Ways to engage more women in sport
Some notes I made from a recent event for local female sports coaches. Topics covered include: Competition and self-esteem; Technology – help or hindrance?; Technology and gender . . . ?; Supporting women from minority ethnic and cultural backgrounds; The support of men
What kind of coach is best at engaging women and girls in the martial arts?
This is a follow-up to the post I wrote for Megan (A Martial Artist) last week, still on the theme of supporting girls and young women who lack confidence, or face other barriers to participating in the martial arts . . . [Picture credit: 101015_14 by Gary Smith via Flickr]
Ten tips for engaging young women and girls in the martial arts
I recently attended an Us Girls three-hour training session called “How to Engage Women and Girls in Sport” The course was packed with evidence-based tips, other information and rich discussions, and was well worth attending. Although it was fascinating to … Continued
News stories about women and martial arts: 30 April 2016
Inspirational and interesting stories about women training in martial arts around the world . . .
A 21st century woman’s take on the sensei / student relationship in martial arts
Picture credit: Aikido by Kesara Rathnayake. Licensed under CC-by-sa 2.0 What does a typical student / sensei relationship look like in a 21st century dojo? Lori O’Connell suggests three forms it can take: Exalted Guru (very formal – student submits … Continued
Are “kick-ass” martial arts movie heroines empowering – or not . . . ?
Training in the martial arts can be incredibly empowering for women. So surely watching movies about female martial arts experts who kick ass must be a truly inspiring and liberating experience? Well, not necessarily . . . I was lucky … Continued
How one woman’s bad karate suddenly became my heart’s desire
Have you ever walked into an unfamiliar situation, and completely misunderstood what you saw in front of your eyes?
Only to be shocked as the truth suddenly dawns on you, and your mind flips over into a completely new reality . . .
News stories about women and martial arts: 15 February 2016
Inspirational and interesting stories about women training in martial arts around the world . . .