Just as we were taught to read and write and all about fire and water safety so it should be that we must learn to protect ourselves. I consider my Martial Arts training a real life skill. It seems inconceivable and foolish to me that my woman friends have no clue how to protect themselves in the event of an attack nor do they think it’s important enough to learn how. This is a skill, in my opinion, that should be taught to every child and in particular to girls.
When I was pregnant with my daughter I remember thinking how am I going to let this beloved child of mine out of my site. I wondered how I was ever going to let go and let my child walk to the bus stop or go to the park with friends or do any of the many things that young teens want to do without parental supervision. How could I allow these things without worrying frantically about safety? I know anything can happen these days but the fact that she was trained in Martial Arts allowed me to breathe far more easily than I would have otherwise.
I am so thrilled that my daughter, also trained in Martial Arts, was brought up with this skill. She has never known any different than being able to protect herself. It is second nature to her. When she reached the age where her and her friends wanted to walk to a park or to a store her friend’s parents would always ask if she was going. If the answer was yes then they were allowed. If not, they were not allowed to go. It amazed me that these parents relied on my daughter to exhibit common sense and the ability to protect while they never considered ensuring their kids learned these skills. These parents were always generous in their compliments on my daughter’s common sense and her Martial Arts abilities but somehow they never considered this for their own kids.
A comment that I hear over and over at the dojo (karate school) is in regard to the teenage karate students. The comment is inevitably what great kids they are. Not only are they keeping physically active while they are learning to protect and defend themselves but they are learning life lessons in respect, morals and self discipline. How many of our children have positive real life role models? The Sensei (teacher) and the instructors at the dojo are terrific role models for kids. The kids meet with these role models on average 3 to 4 times per week. What better place could they be spending time?
For adults, there is no better way to keep in shape while we learn to protect ourselves. Many of the adults that I know at my dojo joined the program because their children were already students. For me this was also the case. In fact, my husband was feeling so left out while my daughter and I continually discussed and practiced our Martial Arts training that he too became a student. Shotokan Karate has proved to be an incredible bond between ourselves and our daughter. We are a Martial Arts family and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Watch for my blog on Adults Avoiding Injury In Martial Arts.
How many of us woman can say with absolute conviction that we feel empowered? Do you walk about your community with a confidence and an awareness? Do you feel strong, capable and even courageous? Are you strong, both mentally and physically?
Have you reached levels of fitness that you didn’t know you were capable of? Are you always learning new and challenging body movements and mental skills? If you can answer yes to all of the above chances are you are a woman enjoying the benefits of Martial Arts training.
My Martial Arts training empowers me in my day to day life as you will see from the following story and remember that it is empowering for a woman to know that she doesn’t always have to “be nice and polite”.
I had to meet up with a friend to exchange some paperwork. We met outside of a local Library. I parked behind her and went up to her car. She was standing with her driver door open and we were talking. I was very aware, the whole time we were talking, of a man pacing up and down the sidewalk on the other side of our cars. Then I became aware of a young man approaching us from the other direction. He came up and asked us how we knew his name, which of course we didn’t, it was simply his opener. My friend started to engage in a conversation with this young person who was wearing a hoodie and had his hands in his pockets. He said he was hungry and could we help him out. I told my friend to get in her car it was time to go. She kept talking to this young man and told him she always helps out the poor and homeless by delivering goods at Christmas time etc. I was very insistent that she get in her car immediately as it was time to go and he kept trying to engage her in more conversation and he was getting agitated with me because I wouldn’t engage. I told her again to get in her car, practically having to push her in, and lock her door. She was trying to be nice and polite all the while not knowing that his buddy was on the other side of our cars and also not knowing or even wondering if he was concealing a weapon inside his pockets where his hands were. She finally got in her car and the young man was still trying to extract some monies or whatever from us while the other man who I believe was with him was on the other side of our cars. I walked back to my car keeping my eye on them both and got in and locked the door and we both drove away. If I hadn’t had marital arts training I might have been very frightened and even engaged in conversation “to be nice”. That situation may have turned out much differently. Because of my martial arts training I took charge and I was mentally preparing myself for anything that might happen while also quickly disengaging.
I have been a student of Shotokan Karate for 5 years. I started at the not so young age of 42. The only regret I have is that I didn’t start earlier in my life.
If you are looking to become a more empowered and fulfilled woman then give Martial Arts a try. Watch for my next blog on “Martial Arts is a Life Skill for Women”
For 4 years I sat in the waiting room at my daughter’s dojo while she was being taught how to defend and protect herself. For some reason I just never made the connection between her defending herself and growing as a skilled female Martial Artist and me defending myself and growing as a skilled female Martial Artist.
I always attended the belt testing sessions and I watched many adults and children progressing through the ranks of the belt system. I was always happy for them but I still didn’t see any relation to their skills and my life. It happened to me after one particular belt testing session. I watched a woman who had been in the dojo for perhaps 2 years as she earned another belt plus she had lost a significant amount of weight since she started training in Shotokan karate. I caught a glimpse of the deep satisfaction she was experiencing and I suddenly realized this was not simply for my daughter but it was for me too.
I signed up immediately and began an incredible journey. I knew little about dojos or karate etiquette but I found myself enjoying and appreciating the required rules of respect. So seldom in our society do we experience the kind of respect we are all entitled to receive and we are seldom held to a standard where we must exhibit rules of respect.
I have been training for 5 years and I can proudly say that I, a woman of 47 years of age, am a 3rd degree brown belt. I have shed some tears and experienced more physical injuries than I care to remember, however, the physical and mental benefits that I have experienced cannot be replaced. The sense of satisfaction I feel is beyond measure.
I feel physically and mentally capable of defending myself should I ever have too. I have learned from my Martial Arts training to be aware of my surroundings and I carry this into my life every day. I did experience a level of fear in my life prior to my training. This fear has been replaced by confidence. I know that if ever I am attacked I have an extremely good chance of prevailing.
I really enjoy the physical benefits that have come along as a bonus. With the physical demands of training comes the ability to eat and enjoy food without much worry of weight gain. To look at me you wouldn’t know that my body has become extremely muscular providing me with a great deal of strength.
If you are feeling stuck in a rut and you are bored with the gym and pilates and yoga classes and you think you are too old to learn a new skill like Shotokan karate then please think again and give it a try. I have friends at the dojo that are in their 50s and have never felt better. Watch for my next blog titled “Women and Empowerment with Martial Arts”.
