I was just wondering...a lot of Hollywood has women in major MA roles these days; actually the last four or five years have produced a lot of MA female stars.
Has this produced a kind of female "Bruce Lee" phenomenon in women who come in to start training?
Has it affected the number of women who sign up?
Has it affected their expectations?
Overall, has it had a beneficial effect upon MA as far as women are concerned, or does it set a phoney example which causes disappointment in the real Dojo?
NM
Women IN the Martial Arts
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Jackie Olsen
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I haven't seen this at our dojo, yet. The most recent white belts are there because their boyfriend or husband is training. I asked one young woman why she started training and she replied... "gives us something to do together."
Also, in our region, I've noticed a lot of people either doing "Curves" for exercise or Yoga or TaiChi ... for training. Perhaps the movies lend a "fantasy" feel and women realize that what the women do in Matrix or Charlie's Angels isn't real?
Perhaps someone who trains at a larger dojo can shed light on this.
Jackie
Also, in our region, I've noticed a lot of people either doing "Curves" for exercise or Yoga or TaiChi ... for training. Perhaps the movies lend a "fantasy" feel and women realize that what the women do in Matrix or Charlie's Angels isn't real?
Perhaps someone who trains at a larger dojo can shed light on this.
Jackie
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Mary Chant
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2002 6:01 am
- Location: Boise, ID, USA
You mean I won't be able to do what they do in the Matrix? Wow, I'll have to rethink this whole thing. 
There is no Uechi in Boise, but the Shorin style I am studying is fairly traditional, and I don't think those who are looking for Charlie's Angels/Matrix style martial arts are attracted to our type of dojo.
There is no Uechi in Boise, but the Shorin style I am studying is fairly traditional, and I don't think those who are looking for Charlie's Angels/Matrix style martial arts are attracted to our type of dojo.-
Jackie Olsen
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Hi Mary ... I'm working on perfecting that pointing the finger thing & flying from Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon, myself! 
Would be interesting to note if children would be more apt to be attracted? I remember my son liking the Mutant Ninja Turtle thing and wearing a head band during training just like one of the Turtles when he was smaller. Heck, I even had a "Middle-Aged Mutant Ninja Mother" T-shirt!
Jackie
Would be interesting to note if children would be more apt to be attracted? I remember my son liking the Mutant Ninja Turtle thing and wearing a head band during training just like one of the Turtles when he was smaller. Heck, I even had a "Middle-Aged Mutant Ninja Mother" T-shirt!
Jackie
Around here, I haven't noticed any new women coming into the dojo looking for Matrix-style butt-kicking ability. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that most women are more into the fitness/self defense aspects rather than the aforementioned stylish kicking of butts.
However, in the paper today, there was a suggestion that we may have a serial killer about who preys on women. I'm wondering what's going to happen to enrollment because of that (i.e. if there's going to be a surge of new women who don't manage to stay, etc). Any experience of this out there? Does enrollment peak when there's a deemed threat existant?[/i]
However, in the paper today, there was a suggestion that we may have a serial killer about who preys on women. I'm wondering what's going to happen to enrollment because of that (i.e. if there's going to be a surge of new women who don't manage to stay, etc). Any experience of this out there? Does enrollment peak when there's a deemed threat existant?[/i]
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Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
I've been awaiting the effect. In general, I saw swings in interest in the college (U.Va.) dojo after good martial arts flicks. Fall semester is coming up...
We've had quite a few ask about our suburban club lately. LOTS of nibbles. Don't know what to make of it yet.
Mary has a point. Most of the fighting seen in the "female flick" movies (Crouching Tiger, Charlie's Angels, Matrix) is clearly fantasy. There's a big difference between that and the stuff seen in most martial arts films of past (Karate Kid, Bruce Lee, Steven Segal, etc.) that at least had the illusion of being real. You're mostly going to attract kids with these "Power Rangers" mentality films.
- Bill
We've had quite a few ask about our suburban club lately. LOTS of nibbles. Don't know what to make of it yet.
Mary has a point. Most of the fighting seen in the "female flick" movies (Crouching Tiger, Charlie's Angels, Matrix) is clearly fantasy. There's a big difference between that and the stuff seen in most martial arts films of past (Karate Kid, Bruce Lee, Steven Segal, etc.) that at least had the illusion of being real. You're mostly going to attract kids with these "Power Rangers" mentality films.
- Bill
Blessings!
We haven't noticed any kind of influx either. I watch those movies all the time, and al-though it does create a desire to get up and want to "do-my-stuff" LOL- It also quite obviously that many of those moves are assisted- might be why it hasn't happened yet.
I started because I was physicaly abused by a spouse. My current spouse is the Sensei of our dojo
Kerry
I can tell you this
As Executive Editor of FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS MAGAZINE, I have found more women wiling to be interviewed for articles,etc. than most men! I also have seen little difference between women who really become good and great in martial arts and men who do so,except that the opportunity to do so was sometimes lacking in what many perceived as a man's world at one time. Yes, there is definitely a trend for more actresses,models, would-bes wanting to take up and doing the martial arts. Lots of course related to self-defense are springing up all around. Anyway, I personally think there is an influx but ;whether or not they are getting beyond the bare bones type of instruction and so forth is another matter. More women are taking to stunt work inthe belief such is a substitute for more traditional/classical martial arts also. Some course, in self-defense, may also give some false confidence but some martial arts are better than no martial arts...... 
