Kickboxing and Sexism- Eri S.
While talking to my friends a while ago, I mentioned the reactions I get from people (especially men) when I talk about kickboxing. It was meant to be funny, but after they dropped me off at the kickboxing studio, I realized just how strange those comments truly were. Some of them include, but unfortunately are not limited to, the following:
“That must be great for self-defence!”
“Maybe you should try something else, like dancing.”
“Wow, I didn’t know you could do that…”
They always seem to have the same physical reaction too: their hands slowly cross over their chests, their brows furrow in confusion, and they lean back slightly, looking me up and down as if my size and gender make me incapable of hitting and kicking someone.
One comment, in particular, stands out and is the most common: their minds immediately jump to the idea of me needing to defend myself in public. It’s as if they can’t fathom any other reason why I would want to learn such a “violent” sport. It’s not just non-martial artists who hold this shallow opinion, but male martial artists too.
Many female martial artists talk about how difficult training can be because their male counterparts often seem to operate in one of two extremes. The first is trying to overcompensate (perhaps to impress or intimidate), hitting harder and faster on purpose, which often leads to unnecessary injuries during exercises or sparring. The second extreme is not taking the session seriously, with false concerns about “hurting their partner”—which is amusing because, in martial arts, you’re bound to get injured in some way. They also struggle to adapt to a smaller partner’s size, as if short men don’t exist either.
Both of these approaches are unhelpful, leaving people emotionally and physically drained. For many, it even leads them to quit a sport they may love.
Unfortunately, I’ve experienced this first-hand as well. So, in response to these comments, I decided to write this article highlighting women who have dominated their martial art. It’s time to shift our perspectives about women in sports—especially martial arts.
I’ll start with the karate powerhouse that is Nobuko Oshiro. Nobuko Oshiro is the highest-ranked female karateka in Okinawa, who in 2023 was awarded the rank of 9th-dan. The 9th-dan is the second-highest level in karate, with 10th-dan being the highest. She is also the first female grandmaster of karate. Achieving a rank like this requires decades of dedication and training. In the past, she even held the record for the most push-ups in her dojo-managing 200 without a single break.
Amy Truesdale was born without her left arm but she didn’t let it deter her and became fully immersed in the world of taekwondo at a young age. Despite doing many other things such as ballet, she chose to focus on taekwondo and over the years has earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and a silver medal at the 2023 Rotterdam European Para Championships. She has been training for Taekwondo for 25 years and despite changing from able-bodied taekwondo to para-taekwondo in 2009 (which has a different set of rules and regulations) she didn’t allow it to deter her at all, as she went on to win gold in the Paralympics.
Lucia Rijker is a Dutch boxer and kickboxer. Her kickboxing skills are so amazing that she often has a string of matches that she wins being getting defeated, one of her winning strikes lasted 36 matches! She has earned nicknames like “The Dutch Destroyer” for her power in the rings. She was the IWBA Women’s Boxing World Champion from 1988 to 1989 and the WKA Women’s Division World Champion from 1985 to 1994. In 2019, she was one of the first female boxers to be placed in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Yamamoto Mariko holds the rank of Kendo 6th-dan. Kendo is a bit like fencing with bamboo swords and protective armour worn by both fighters. Being 6th dan in Kendo is two levels away from 8th dan which the highest dan grade possible. She has won two All-Japan Women’s Championship titles and served as captain at the 17th World Kendo Championships. Her matches seem to be over so quickly with the confidence in which she uses to beat her opponent.
In conclusion, take your female martial artists seriously, even if they are beginners, there isn’t a single martial art that is solely meant for men and neither subtle or overt sexism belongs in martial arts. If you are a girl reading this nervous about trying a new sport it’s okay to be scared, just remember these women and try it out anyway!
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