I have been a martial artist for ten years now, and when I look back at the journey, there has not been a day when I regretted being one. Karate has helped me grow and develop myself while also helping me feel good about my own body. But the one thing that has always bugged me is the negligible number of girls in this field. You talk about feminism and gender equality all the time but then call it a man’s sport when it comes to getting out of your comfort zone? Stop caring about what the world has to say and join the karate school nearest to your place!
Girls, today I give you a few
reasons as to why it is a great idea to join martial arts.
1. Self defence: The first point is completely
obvious. You need to learn martial arts as a measure of self defence. Nobody wants
to get raped or robbed on the street, right? Trying out your karate skills on
your attacker might scare him off. And if it doesn’t, it’ll surely buy you some
time. At least you won’t be helpless!
Martial arts can help you overcome
this feeling. In this field, you won’t be judged based on your gender but based
on your performance and rank. As your rank goes up and your juniors (both boys
and girls) start to look up to you, your confidence is bound to increase!
3. Strong is the new sexy! Gone are
the days when the girls were supposed to be soft, sweet and always dependent on
their man to rescue them. Wake up. Be your own hero. And if your man tells you
he only likes soft girls, then trust me, you don’t need that man.
4. Know your weaknesses. While you push your
limits, you start to know what your weaknesses and limitations are. With the help
of your teacher and fellow martial artists, you can work on them and overcome
them too. In my life, I’ve had some of the best karate teachers who have helped
me focus on my targets and push myself to achieve it.
5. Snap out of the lazy you! What are
your excuses for not training? Too hot? Too cold? It’s raining today? Too tired
after work? I say, join a class and pay up the fees in advance. This just might
as well make you get out of bed. And once you start to train and see the
improvements in yourself, nothing on earth can stop you.
6. Bonus- Make great friends! Yes! When you train together and spar with so
many people, you’re bound to interact and make friends. You help them get up
when they fall, take care of them when they get hurt in a fight and console
them when they lose a match. You encourage each other to push your limits and
celebrate together when you reach the targets. I have found my best friends in
the dojo and I’m sure my friends will agree to this too!