Embracing Fierceness as a Female Fighter

While recognizing the inherent biological differences between men and women along with the social norms of women being equated with weakness, Anna Martinez argues that women should not be afraid to train in the male-dominated sport of martial arts because it can offer strong senses of confidence and security, like it did for her. I believe that her writing successfully articulates the importance of women embracing their fierceness to combat the gender stereotypes in martial arts, and how doing so would help future generations of women.

The biological differences between male and female athletes have always been talked about in the discourse of sports. Many people believe that in co-ed sports such as martial arts, men being “bigger” means that they are better. But what exactly does “better” mean in that context? Are men more able to take someone down or throw someone over their shoulder? Probably, yes. But as Martinez writes, that does not and should not mean that women should be taken less seriously due to those inherent biological factors. The association of women being equivalent to weakness or lack of skill has been normalized by society, and something Martinez references many times in her essay. Talking about issues is the first step to solving them. The more that athletic sexism is exposed, the more progress can be made for female martial artists going forward.

Despite the harassment, Martinez writes on how that did not stop her training, and how it actually furthered her passion to continue and inspire other girls around her. Martial arts acts as a great way for women to know how to properly protect themselves. ⅙ of every American woman has been a victim of an attempted or completed sexual assault in her lifetime. While I do carry my keys between my knuckles when walking home from work at night, knowing that I am able to physically defend myself if I’m attacked is comforting (in an uncomfortable situation). Martinez feels the same, writing how she would be able to take down a towering man with a kick to the head. Embracing her fierceness and writing with such confidence just shows how martial arts has benefitted her, and what it can provide for other female practitioners.

Some people may disagree with Martinez’s feelings of enthusiasm towards female participation in martial arts, as it may not seem incredibly pressing. We see media representation of female martial artists like Michelle Yeoh, and even martial arts being practiced on screen by women like Uma Thurman. And the fact that Anna is able to participate in martial arts in general would be enough representation for many people. So why ‘make a big deal’ about getting women to participate in something that they already have been able to? But through explaining the objectively beneficial aspects of martial arts like better coordination, cognitive skills, and reducing mental health issues, and especially the positive outcomes that learning self defense provides for women, Martinez proves the importance of female participation in martial arts.

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