tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315716024590366780.post7644742974832433362..comments2023-07-10T00:18:22.786-07:00Comments on The Pugilistic Academic: Women-Only Training: Separating the boys from the girlsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315716024590366780.post-8233981084890390932011-12-14T07:26:50.316-08:002011-12-14T07:26:50.316-08:00Hi! Just found your blog! I'm a little late to...Hi! Just found your blog! I'm a little late to comment on this, but I can relate to this post a lot. First off, I work at a women's only personal training studio, so all of my clients are women and all of our classes are women..also, next month I'll be working at an MMA gym (and they do have separate women's only classes there, but overall it's got a very close-knit feel to it!). I personally wouldn't workout at a women's only studio, but I think it's great for our clients who feel intimidated in a normal gym and they all love the atmosphere/comfort level. I've heard mentioned a few times that they don't feel the need to dress a certain way or look a certain way since there are no guys there. <br />Working there helps me to empower more women to lift heavy and go hard and like you said, from a business point of view it's a great idea to get women in the door. I am excited to start at the MMA gym and have a wider client base though..Erikahttp://sweatanddirt.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315716024590366780.post-18223722162212346042011-12-11T10:30:49.163-08:002011-12-11T10:30:49.163-08:00i will surely pass the info along to her! and your...i will surely pass the info along to her! and your stuff isn't random, I totally enjoyed the piece on how to tie your hair back for training. it seems silly but it's practical info for women in combat sports, lol.ScarletGunnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315716024590366780.post-56453849181705446442011-12-08T20:00:08.224-08:002011-12-08T20:00:08.224-08:00ScarletGunn- That is really cool! I want to star...ScarletGunn- That is really cool! I want to start doing write-ups of women-only gyms, so shoot me an email if you think this is something your instructor may be interested in doing. It sounds like a wonderful environment!<br /><br />It is funny; out of all the interviews I've done with current female fighters of all type, only two had any female training partners. Heather Bassett commented that it wasn't really an advantage to only spar against guys because all other female fighters she met had only male training partners. As these sports continue to grow, more fighters will have the opportunity to train with other women, as you have, but I am not sure if all female fighters at an amateur level have that luxury. <br /><br />Thanks for checking out the blog! It is nice to know people are enjoying my random crap.The Pugilistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02000638749835639835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315716024590366780.post-56664922997805475852011-12-08T15:31:54.195-08:002011-12-08T15:31:54.195-08:00oh, and PS. the girls that compete now are doing p...oh, and PS. the girls that compete now are doing pretty good considering they for the most part are sparring and training with other other females. i've been in co ed classes that the guys take it easy on you, and that doesn't happen at all in this school. quite the opposite- since we are so close, we tend to hit harder and forgive faster, lol. anyway, just my 2 cents. :) and again, love this blog, it's awesome :)ScarletGunnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315716024590366780.post-77589583768019276992011-12-08T12:04:49.122-08:002011-12-08T12:04:49.122-08:00hey, great blog! I train at a women's only Mua...hey, great blog! I train at a women's only Muay Thai school. I do believe that not only does it attract more women to the sport by offering a comfortable environment, it also complements women's natural appreciation and need for family and community. It's been an amazing experience for me-we've bonded like family. anyone who's been whiny or bitchy have just self selected out, and there's plenty of us in different sizes and skill levels to insure fresh training partners. I love it there.ScarletGunnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315716024590366780.post-52757985705701757942011-12-07T06:03:38.875-08:002011-12-07T06:03:38.875-08:00I find women-only classes problematic for the reas...I find women-only classes problematic for the reasons that you outline, and have very mixed feelings about them too. I do think that they are great for getting women through the door and I started martial arts in a 'Women's Empowerment Class'; doubt I would have started if I didn't join this 6 week course with gal pals. Equally, training with as many training different kinds of partners as possible is beneficial to all concerned and segregation hampers that (and can reinforce negative attitudes about gender equality among women and men). I suppose if pressed I'd go for an ends justifies the means perspective as it is an effective means of getting women to participate and I'm very interested in women's empowerment through health and fitness.Meg Smitleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00841469633117177559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315716024590366780.post-1476501084892124822011-12-06T14:38:20.650-08:002011-12-06T14:38:20.650-08:00I think a lot of women looking to get into martial...I think a lot of women looking to get into martial arts of any kind want to enter a community rather than come into a gym as the only girl. I've had several occasions where two or three girls will come in together because they don't want to be 'by themselves.' I think you are right, Slidey, that having a female instructor or senior student definitely helps in creating an atmosphere where women can learn. It also helps when the environment of the gym is conducive to mixed training and not dismissive of female fighters. <br />I've trained at gyms where the guys constantly hit on me or made gross comments while I trained. As the striking coach at my gym, I don't put up with that shit. My husband, who is a pretty big guy with a high skill level, sets a great example by being respectful to all our clients and never making crude or sexists comments. If we do ever get someone who starts down that line, Mike shuts is down very quickly. It helps keep the place positive and creates a familial setting. You wouldn't want to hear a guy talking shit about your sister, so all the guys do their part to keep things respectful.The Pugilistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02000638749835639835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315716024590366780.post-42075996786140027862011-12-06T04:10:16.344-08:002011-12-06T04:10:16.344-08:00An interesting topic. Personally, my general persp...An interesting topic. Personally, my general perspective is that if women-only classes help to bring more women into BJJ, then that's great. Everything else is less important: the biggest thing is getting them to step onto the mats and try out the sport.<br /><br />Still, my preference is to have mixed classes, as I don't like to emphasise separation between men and women where it isn't necessary (unlike, say, toilet facilities, where it makes perfect sense). <br /><br />The place I train doesn't currently offer women's classes, but it only has two women regularly training at present (though a third has recently joined, so I'm hopeful she'll stick with with it).<br /><br />The previous place I trained didn't have women's classes either, but has now built up a healthy number of women in class. I am convinced that is because there is a purple belt woman at the club, who now also teaches regularly. <br /><br />Having a senior female student seems to be the most important factor in attracting more women: it demonstrates "yes, women can excel at this sport, it is not just for men."<br /><br />I'll finish by linking to a series of articles Chrissy Linzy wrote on my site, about the women only classes she ran, <a href="http://www.slideyfoot.com/2010/07/womens-bjj-class.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.slideyfoothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05374174757753962274noreply@blogger.com