Woman and aerobic self-defense

[Uechij]

There is a very disturbing trend happening at a health club near you, including the one I work at. Woman flock by the room full to take a Tae Bo, Power Kick, etc. aerobic class that is being marketed as a useful self defense course as well. What may be more disturbing then this deceptive ploy to attract more members is that they actually believe punching and kicking air and focus pads will somehow transform them into arse kicking martial artist who are impervious to any attack. Having trained in the martial arts nearly all my life(and had my fair share of street altercations as well), I have been temtped on more than one occasion to expose these charlatans for what they are. How do you feel when you see or hear these poor sheep speak of such ignorance? Ignoring a comment or two is one thing but after awhile your tounge can get mighty sore from the clinching bite.

[This message has been edited by Uechij (edited March 01, 2002).]

[Allen M.]

Who knows! If the ladies learn to kick high enough and fast enough, maybe they can put a pointy-toed shoe through someone's temple.

From the ads I've seen on TV it looks "cool" and inviting to the uninitiated -- real good marketing strategies to learn from, but as a martial art that we identify with, it is not. As a supplement to a martial art, maybe, depending how it fits in with a standard program..

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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera

[This message has been edited by Allen M. (edited March 01, 2002).]

[TSDguy]

I wonder if people actually believe that Tae Bo turns them into a Navy SEAL, or if they see through the ridiculous infommercials. I think they sign up entirely for the exercise, social reasons, etc. Surely even "civilians" know the difference. (?)

And certainly we all know people that have joined a "real" school after starting out in Tae Bo and deciding they want some SD training, so it's gotta be worth something.

[Allen M.]

I don't think so, TSDGuy. There are a lot of awful stupid people out there who just beg to be taken for a ride and gullibly eat sales pitches up!

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Allen Moulton from Uechi-ryu Etcetera

[turbotort2000]

There is also a very positive thing coming out of that trend. There was very few woman in the martial arts when I started in 1985 and from what my seniors told me there was even less in the decade before. Self-defense class were very rare in the late 80,s and early 90's-at least in central Texas and even when they were offered attendence was low. I studied under an aikido istructor who was a woman for three years in college and she offered one every month for most of the time I was there. We were lucky if 5 people showed-up and sometimes zero people showed-up. That was in the early 90's. What aerobic kickboxing has given to the martial arts communtiy is the interest and attention of woman. I would bet it is safe to say that some woman have joined regular martial arts program, gone to self defense class and taken an interest in their own self protection through martial because of aerobic kickboxing.
In addition, really the first things any student of any art is going to need to work on in the beginning, is coordination, flexablity and stamina. Unless they came in with those assets already. Aerobic kickboxing provides those three things so that if they do choose a more self defense oriented regiment they have already started to develop the basic skills neccessary to do that.
One last comment, Billy Blanks kickboxing training before he switched gears was full contact with boxing gloves and foot gear, mouthpiece and cup. I am confident that he has bled and sweated for what he knows. He was clever enough to find a way to present it to woman and for that I, at least am grateful.