Motivations to become a martial artist

[Megami]

Speaking of comrades....

Hi Chris! Congratulations to you and yours-- I'm sure you are both ecstatic and very exhausted LOL!

[Redcat]

Answering this belatedly - I just got in to MA because I'd been curious about it for a long time and just never had time to fit it in until recently. I have been doing sports since I was a kid and as an adult, rode horses competitive up until a few years ago. I got out of that for a while and was thinking of either buying another horse and getting back into riding or doing something completely different; I decided to try MA (no art in particular) and serendipitously found my current school.

As for fashion - lol - see my current post about women's gis. I am no fashonista but I do want something that fits. In men's gi's of my "size," I look like a weight loss "after" picture.

[Eliz]

I will check your thread out next. As for the horses, our very own KayJay might have disagreed. I think her love of horses and love of MA's are pretty equal.

[Redcat]

I will check your thread out next. As for the horses, our very own KayJay might have disagreed. I think her love of horses and love of MA's are pretty equal.

I have chatted a bit with KayJay about horses in the past. I think she and I did the same sport primarily, in fact! I loved it but fell out of it when my older horse retired and life took a bit of a turn.

[LadyPhoenix]

This is my first post and I find this community very open, respectful and insightful. I could go on but I should stick with the topic. I'm not sure if it's too late to reply this but anyway, here I go.

First of all, I would like you to know that English is my third language and I hope you understand some of it. I'll try to be understandable but I'm sure it won't be much of a headache....hopefully so.

Koshu, women have participated Martial-Arts since the creation. In Asia, women had to learn some of it to protect their house and their family too while men went to war. They don't learn much of it but they did learn. I'm not saying it happened all the century that had passed because there were times that woman liked to be what society was acceptable: woman have to be and do this and man have to be and do this. It depends on the country.

In this time, we are still searching to be equal with men. It wasn't a long time ago that the rights of women happened. Compared all the years that had passed before that and until just recently (around 60 years ago)... It's still just beginning. Obviously, there are still men who want to treat women how it should be treated in “ancient way” (sorry to say that) and there are women who still wishes that men treat that way (negative or positive way). For example, some men would treat a girl like a whore and others like a princess. There are, of course, levels how to treat a person but it’s just basic. Now those women have an equal right for many things...but is it the same thing with physical match? After all, men have considered that only men can do “wars”...?

So,

Why do women initially take up the martial arts?

What motivates women to continue to develop as martial artists -- how do women martial artist's motivations evolve over time and experience?

It’s simply normal since we have the rights to do that. It depends on woman if they feel comfortable to be around with men. If both man and woman are physically fit, it’s a fact that a woman is weaker physically than a man. That can prove wrong because, like men, there are women who can beat a man. I believe it depends all in your head as in emotionally, technically, etc. and in your heart whoever gender you are. If you’re looking women's experience as to why how they began Martial-Art, I could give you myself as an example too. Either way, I’m not sure of your questions.

I began Martial-Arts when I was 8 years old. I didn’t stick longer in the same school like I wished to be. Sucks big time. I initially started to be interested or to be motivated in MA because of a cousin in Guatemala. He started Kempo since he was 4 years old and got black belt when he was 20 years old. Anyway, he had yellow belt (6-7 years old) when I came in (8). I don’t know why most Martial-Artist have forgotten that getting black belt in Karate takes time. Anyway, so my little brother and I went to his big school. It was still under constructions and there were no bathroom for girls yet. So this Sensei came in with a really serious and strict look.

My family talked to him that we wanted to join his school. I remembered that he talked to me personally that I’ll be the first girl in his school. He said to me that his school is serious and once you enter his school is for life. That there’s no playing around like a girl and that I had to work hard to reach my goal. It didn’t frighten me because it wasn’t an order; it was more like an advice and a warning in a sympathy way with a serious tone.

There were two reasons why I accepted: I sensed Sensei an honest and sympathic man and he did support me all the way....the hard way. And the other... because of my cousin. He believed that a girl is weak and there were always competition between us. Well, actually, I was always looking for a fight and a moment to prove him wrong. He always send his “messages face” that I will never win. So, yeah, obviously, my motivation was proving them that I can do it and I did really like Kempo. A year later, I had to go to Canada and my Sensei said, always with his serious look, that I have to continue to train hard.

Months later after that, I joined Karate Kick Boxing for almost 2 years but they changed places and as an independent kid, I got confused so I left.
Four years later, I joined Karate Okinawa for two years but the school got fire and they translated me to another school which called, Karate Kyokushinkai. I didn’t like that place. It was disrespectful but the atmosphere was tough which I like, so I endured until my inscription was expired.

A year later, I had problems and I didn’t much trained for 4 years. Then I found the “light” and wanted to return again, so I entered Kung-fu. I wanted to do something different. Fang Shen Do caught my eyes. Although, different than any school I went through, but it was all I ever wanted. I heard bad reputation from them because of Sijo been a fraud and all the money they take. I knew that Kung-Fu always cost a lot so that’s not a problem for me. Whatever the stories they had from the past, it doesn’t matter for me because I can see what is honest and what is not. That’s my point of view.

However, I stayed for a year and had to move another place far from them (1 hour in car). I am "self-training" now without them. I will finish what I have to do here and I will return there once again. That’s a first time I do that for returning...

So that’s my story and...yeah, unfortunately, my cousin still hit hard every time I go there for a vacation. It’s kind of knock-out. He still always wins. That's what I like about him. He hits me for real. And Sensei always welcomes me in a military way.

My motivations are not anymore *proving*...ok, perhaps a little. I know that I can beat many men and women martial-artists if my determination and my will are strong. But the competition is not that thrilling anymore. Why compete when you can help others to become strong also? If there’s a moment that I really have to prove them wrong for a cause I believe in, I will. But why competing when that person is already proving it? Let them do it. Let them beat hell out of each other to win a competition.

However, I will still fight with my cousin but this time, not to prove him that I’m not weak but simply to become stronger mentally and physically thanks to him. I will fight only to survive and to protect my family.

I’m not saying I’m against in competition. I always find amusing to see women in a ring. If that woman goes vs man, I will support her instead of proving that I can beat her.

Hope with my experience, you understand some woman point of view(me) about her motivation to go on Martial-Art.


LP

[TonyU]

Welcome to BudoSeek LadyPhoenix.

[LadyPhoenix]

Thank you Tony.

[DragonMind]

LadyPhoenix,

What you need is an equalizer to balance the scale between your cousin and you. Males have greater muscle mass and denser structure than females. Just a simple fact of biology. Learn how to use a stick and see if the outcome changes...

[Eliz]

Welcome, Barbara.

[LadyPhoenix]

LadyPhoenix,

What you need is an equalizer to balance the scale between your cousin and you. Males have greater muscle mass and denser structure than females. Just a simple fact of biology. Learn how to use a stick and see if the outcome changes...

I knew that a long time ago and I knew that I might beat him with weapons.
The only thing I didn't know that Sifu told me that you can gain skills by learning weapons.

I was sceptic at first...I was so thick headed that I focalised what I believed it's fair. Still, I won't use weapons against my cousin if he doesn't use weapons to fight me.

I don't know many knowledge about Martial-Arts...I couldn't stick longer in one school but I hope I would gain many new skills by learning how to use weapons.

Anyway, thank you to remind me about that. As in emotionally, I can find my balance but not really as in physically. I need to find another way since I'm a woman and I don't have the same denser structure than males.

Thank you Eliz, for the welcoming.