By Misty Jensen
I had just started karate as the first girl, ever,
in the junior class, and it was time to spar. I remember
getting up to face one of the orange belt boys. He looked
a little nervous. That was OK, because I knew exactly
what to do. Id seen boxing on TV, after all, and whoever
knocked the other one out first won. Right? It took
my instructor, the only other female in the school,
only a few seconds after "Begin!" to jump
in immediately to break us apart, or rather pull me
away from the boy who was backing up frantically, trying
to reconcile the rule to never hit a girl with the fact
that one was charging him at the moment. After an explanation
on what control was, I was ready to start again, but
he wasn't. His reason? Embarrassed, he bit out the frustrated
statement in a whisper directed at our instructor, just
loud enough for me to overhear, "But, where am
I supposed to hit her?"
Women in the martial arts face different challenges
than men, but also enjoy a unique set of advantages.
Kenpo Karate is an art that has long been considered
rough and brutal, a man's domain. Yet', it possesses
less well-known qualities that have a lot to offer to
even the least physically active or timid woman.
Defending yourself against any of the increasing list
of crimes against women is the obvious benefit. I, on
the other hand, have never used my twelve years of experience
to foil one mugger or beat off a single attacker. Yet,
Kenpo has helped me develop a confidence that benefits
me every day.
In a book I recently read, the author made a statement
that demonstrated very well one of the integral differences
between men and women. He wrote, "Ask a man you
know, "When is the last time you were concerned
or afraid that another person would harm you?"
Many man cannot recall an incident within years. Ask
a woman the same question and most will give you a recent
example or say, "Last night," "Today,"
or even "'Everyday."I
So many women enroll in karate schools to gain the
confidence they lack, the one that eliminates the fear
and the ability of others to physically intimidate or
manipulate them in their daily life. So how come it
doesn't always work? What about the black belt lady
you heard about that got beat up, whose karate didn't
help her at all. What if you're in karate now 3 but
doubt it would really work against some of these tough
guys you've seen. Besides, you are always paired up
with another lady, and the two of you attempt your own
version of a fighting art that seems to somehow lack
the deadly effectiveness of the guys practicing next
to you. That's O.K., you're told, women will never be
able to hit as hard or as effectively as men, they're
just built different, that's all.
Anyone who believes that hasn't been hit by some of
the women training in the AKKI The secret to their success
lies, first, in a very effective system of self-defense
and instructors that are capable of teaching it. The
second key comes from the student and her ability to
communicate and get the most benefit out of the system,
her instructor, and fellow students.
First, the system of Kenpo Karate has a lot to offer
women. To start, its underlying understanding of fundamental
principles makes it an extremely effective fighting
system. This art is refined and sophisticated to an
even greater degree in the elite group taught by Mr.
Paul Mills. From personal experience, I've seen the
tremendous increase in power his teachings can develop,
regardless of sex. His are the only teachings that I've
found in twelve years of studying and 'investigating
various systems that could give me complete confidence
in my abilities to harm, not just halt, an opponent
of any size.
De Becker, Gavin. the Gift of fear: Survival Skills
that Protect Us From Violence. New York: little, Brown,
1997
Not only is Kenpo extremely effective, but it has another
unique quality: the principle of tailoring. Female students
who take advantage of this principle find themselves
benefiting a great deal more than those who don't. Women
are built different. We're smaller and not as strong.
But these and other factors can be used to our benefit.
Being smaller presents less of a target area. A smaller
mass is easier to set into motion and speed comes easier.
Smaller weapons can be used to maximize the pinpoint
effect. A bullet is also small in mass, but deadly just
the same. The grumbling complaint about the gals' bony
fists and elbows and how much they hurt is a common
one among Kenpo schools. When these and other elements
are taken into consideration, the art of Kenpo can be
tailored and altered to be just as effective for women
as well as men. Not only should the instructor suggest
alternatives to take into account a woman's strengths
and weaknesses, but the student herself, as her knowledge
of motion increases, should analyze what she's doing
to find new methods of execution and discover what works
best for her. Enforcing conformity to a style that was
originally designed for men to execute, will only handicap
a woman's ability to develop into an effective martial
artist.
Communication is the second most vital key to a woman's
success in the martial arts and absolutely necessary
on the subject of contact. Learning to hit and getting
hit are two of the greatest benefits of the martial
arts.
The first takes more time for some than others. It
isn't uncommon for a lady to think that she'd never
be strong enough to physically injure a man. The only
way to develop the confidence that it is possible is
by actually doing it. Once you've learned a basic or
technique, there is no substitute for executing it many
times over on as many different workout partners as
possible. If you aren't given that opportunity, ask
for it! The only way I've developed the confidence to
generate the power that I have is by working the techniques
on as many guys as I can get to stand still for me.
We always have an open communication and they let me
know when I should increase my power, have hit it right
on, or have hit too hard. You can't reach the top levels
without this experience, and lots of it.
The second, getting hit, is just as vital as the first.
It is something most women have some fear of, but once
they gain experience in the controlled atmosphere of
a good karate school, it isn't difficult to overcome
that fear. Schools that allow no contact are severely
limiting the growth of their students. It isn't uncommon
for panic or fear to freeze a woman when she is hit
for the first time. Having this happen in the controlled
atmosphere of the studio is a learning experience. On
the street, it can be fatal. Again communication is
vital, or you can't learn. There is a limit to what
a woman's body can take. You can't expect to let the
men hit you as hard as they do each other. Taking an
injury out of too much pride and a desire to be 'just
as tough' as the men is as stupid as never having contact
at all. There is a happy medium where you will grow
in experience, train your body, and increase your confidence
until it can eliminate any fears you started with. The
key is communication between you, your instructor, and
your workout partners. Sometimes it is up to you to
take the initiative and ask to work with a variety of
partners. Don't limit yourself to one partner, male
or female. Communicate with your fellow students. If
they don't hit you at all, explain the 'safe areas for
them to hit, and ask them to. When they hit with about
the right force, let them know they've got it right.
By working with you, they are also learning to refine
varying degrees of control and targeting. If you're
getting hit too hard or in a vulnerable target, you
have to speak up. If you've chosen a school with a good
teaching atmosphere among the students and instructor,
all of this should be encouraged and-cause no problems
whatsoever. If it does talk to the instructor, try to
work something out, or change schools.
Injuries, barring accidents, in the studio are completely
uncalled for. They disrupt a students training schedule,
disrupt the easy friendship a school should have, and
will drive away students who decide, completely within
reason, that they don't have to put up with that kind
of treatment. Controlled contact, however, is what you're
looking for in a school, and is the only way that a
female martial artist will develop the knowledge that
she can face any physical threat with confidence.
There is not only a definite place for women in the
martial arts, but also the potential to develop their
skills as fully as any other student. The complete confidence
in my abilities and elimination of fear are only a couple
of the benefits the years of training have given me,
and can give to any woman who is willing to dedicate
the time to learn the same. Kenpo Karate obviously has
many advantages to offer, but there's a key one that
keeps me coming back. When you're able to execute your
skills with a precision and explosiveness that's completely
exhilarating you'll know why I love Kenpo. It's fun!
Lots of fun!
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