Women in Martial Arts & the Male Chauvinists against Them...

This post is dedicated to all the Brave, Dedicated and Hardworking Women practicing Martial Arts all around the world...

Many martial art Internet forums / communities / groups generally have at least one anti-women post or topic like the ones mentioned below and other kind of biased nonsense.
“Boys are stronger than girls” http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=706322&tid=2515435392517766993
“Karate 4 boys, Dance 4 girls” http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=706322&tid=2531417622949608427

What these male chauvinists try to state is that women are weaker than most men so they (women) should not learn martial arts or that there is no use for them (women) to learn martial arts etc...

First of all, these posts just prove their ignorance and their “Frog in a well” level of knowledge and awareness and secondly it is meaningless trying to rationalize the facts with them.

So, let’s see the bare facts:
If it was really true that only a physically stronger person would always win... then there would be no form of martial arts existing today, because there would be no point in learning them, as one would anyway always loose to a physically stronger person....

Other than the Spiritual Aspects, the only other reason, Huge Strong Built, Americans, Europeans etc. pay respect to Asian Masters who are small built and not equally strong is because of the effectiveness of the Martial Art Techniques that these learned masters posses...
One Good Example: Sifu Bruce Lee (5ft 7 1/2 inches tall and weighing 128 pounds) and his student Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7ft 2inches tall and weighing 225 pounds) and many of his other students.

Martial Arts were developed primarily to help the weaker person defend himself against a stronger person... as it is only the proper implementation of the techniques that can counter/defeat the strength of a stronger person...

So if a woman should not learn martial arts (even if she is really strong) because some people think she will always be weaker than some strong man, then the raw truth is that no man has the right to learn any martial art either as there will always be some man stronger than him and will surely loose to him. In fact there are many men learning Martial Arts who would be beaten up left, right and center by women practicing in their dojo or a bigger percentage of men learning Martial Arts who could be beaten to death by women like Cynthia Rothrock or Chloe Bruce, so I guess they should all stop learning Martial Arts.

Every knowledgeable Martial Artist knows the bitter truth of Life that: “There is always someone BETTER, STRONGER, FASTER and DEADLIER than him/her Somewhere” and so it is important for a Martial Artist to always be Humble and always respect everybody irrespective of age/sex/size/race/religion or creed...

Hope this puts an end to this meaningless debate...

I now take this humble opportunity to invite each and every woman reading this article to start learning any kind of Martial Art they can and if you are already doing so I request you to never get discouraged by anyone and stop learning it because of any kind of discrimination or bias...

Take Care... and Keep practicing...

NOTE: All Images are copyright and belong to their respective owners...

Dress Code for Beginners Learning Martial Arts...

DISCLAIMER: DIFFERENT MARTIAL SCHOOLS AND THIER TEACHERS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES HAVE DIFFERENT DRESS CODES BASED ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SYSTEM THEY PRACTICE. THEIR CULTURE AND DEFINITION OF HUMILITY AND MODESTY, SO FEEL FREE TO IGNORE WHAT YOU CAN'T CONNECT WITH.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT APPLICABLE FOR THOSE PRACTICING: 

Muay Thai, MMA, Capoeira, Combat and Self Defense etc.

Famous beginner question... "As a beginner who Does Not have a Martial Arts Uniform, what should I wear for Tai Chi Chuan, Karate / Aikido / Kung Fu / Tae Kwon Do / Judo) Class?"

In many Modern Dojos there are no real restrictions and one can wear anything, 

But there are some Dojos like Ours, where we believe a Dojo/Wushuguan/Dojang/Kwoon/(any other martial art training place) is a # "Place of Enlightenment" and thus it is, as pure and sacred as a place of worship(MUST READ). It is not a gym or a place for Fashion or the likes of it... So dress appropriately and modestly like you would, when you visit a sacred place...

Some Do's and Don't's...

1. Wear Reasonably loose fitting clothes like a Track Suit or a combination of Full Sleeve T-Shirt and a Baggy Track Pant /Pajama.
2. Clothes should be made preferably of cotton so as to aid absorption of sweat and proper circulation of air.
3. Martial Art training involves a lot of Partner Training because of which a lot of Fungal/Bacterial/Viral Skin Infections/Diseases could spread through grime, sweat etc. upon skin contact thus, Full Sleeve Tops and Full Length Lowers are a must, preferably with elastics at the openings. 
4. Since practicing Martial Arts involves postures that could compromise on your privacy and modesty (Especially if you are a in a Mixed Batch) and Since a Martial Arts Dojo is not a place to Show Off your Fashion Sense, Body or Wealth Nor is it a Place for Attention Seeking/Attracting/Flirting/Dating/Seducing etc. So...
   (This is Applicable for both Men and Women...)
1. 'No' Unwanted skin show.
1. 'No' Sleeveless - Vests, Spaghetti, Tank/tube tops etc 
2. 'No' Short Tops
3. 'No' Shorts, Bermudas
4. 'No' Nets/Transparent Clothes 
2. 'No' Flaunting of Muscles or Curves.
1. 'No' Skin Tights or Figure Hugging Clothes (Tight T-Shirts/Tops, Slacks, Leggings, Jeggings, Yoga Pants etc)
2. 'No' Shiny/satin clothes
3. 'No' Cleavages, Butt Cracks, Camel Toes, Camel Butt etc.
1. 'No' Deep Necks,
2. 'No' Low Waist - Saggy Pants / Pajamas
4. "No' Attention Seeking
1. No no Bright Flashy colors.
5. Make sure your pants/pajamas stay pulled up so as to prevent any tear/damage to it, when you perform Deep Stances, Stretches or even Kicks.
6. Don't wear Jewellery, Finger Rings, Khada / Bangles, Long Ear Rings, Piercings etc. cause they may get pulled or hit on during training sessions which could cause immense pain and unwanted injury to both yourself and your partner (When Training with Partner).
7. Don't wear watches during practice (many beginners have been seeing doing this).
8. Keep your nails well trimmed to prevent any injury to yourself and your partner (When Training with Partner).
9. If you have long hair, its good to keep it well tied/pleated, to prevent hair pull or hair from obstructing your vision.
10. In case you have to practice
• Without Footwear (Indoors On a Mat) as in Aikido & Karate Dojo:
• Keep your feet clean, wash and dry them if necessary
• Use foot powder in shoes worn on the way to the dojo, to prevent bad odour when they are taken off
• Without Footwear (Outdoor) in parks etc
• Make sure to wash your feet well after training, to prevent any skin disease.
• With Footwear (Indoor or Outdoor): make sure you wear a pair of shoes:
• With a flat flexible sole, Wide mouth, Low lining around Ankle.
• That suits the floor on which you practice. It should have good gripping rubber(without studs or projections) if you practice on smooth/shiny surfaces, and one with smooth base if you practice on grass or rough floor.

Considering all the above we can conclude that the prefered/recommended Attire is

  

Images for Reference Only no Copyright Infringement Intended

  [*] For Indian women who want to wear 'Salwar-Kameez' (Suits), its best to wear the 'Dupatta/Chunni', the way Traditional 'Kathak Dancers' wear them and not hanging from the necks as there is a risk of entanglement.

(Image credit https://www.vadaamalar.com/indian-dance-wear/dance-costumes/kathak-costume/kathak-indian-costume.html)

(Image credit https://www.vadaamalar.com/indian-dance-wear/dance-costumes/kathak-costume/kathak-indian-costume.html)

Special Notes: - (NOT APPLICABLE FOR THOSE TRAININIG IN INTERNAL MARTIAL ART SYSTEMS LIKE TAICHI CHUAN)
For Men (17 and Above or As applicable):
  You should wear an athletic groin supporter (it is different from a groin guard used in tournaments as it does not have any protective plastic cups.)
Warning: Poor choice of groin supporter may result in serious injury especially to the Testicles.
Some informative articles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jockstrap
http://ihealthbulletin.com/blog/2008/07/25/avoiding-groin-injury-in-boys-in-sports/
http://www.hisroom.com/athletic-supporters,304,30.html
http://skincare.lovetoknow.com/Skin_Disease_of_the_Groin

For Women (As applicable):
   You should wear a proper Sports Support Bra, make sure it is of proper fitting, neither too small/tight to restrict proper Breathing nor too big/loose to make you uncomfortable.
Warning: Poor choice of Support Bra may result in pain, stretch marks and sagging of breasts.
Some informative articles:
http://www.mamashealth.com/apparel/sportsbra.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_bra
http://www.herroom.com/sport-underwear.aspx