OK - due to some recent discussions I'd like to see in hearing some thoughts on a women's only forum.
A locker-room, if you will. Where only women can read & post.
I think the current forum serves an important function of mixed gender discussions on training together but it also seems like there may be a need to have a place just for the ladies.
I'm open to all thoughts on the matter.
Thanks,
Dana
A Women's Locker Room
Moderator: Available
A Women's Locker Room
I think the women should run this discussion, but I also wonder if it's necessary to hide the forum from guys such that they can't read it as well as can't post in it. Do the women think their discussions would be stifled if guys are just READING their posts, as opposed to reading and posting? Possible to have "female only posting" threads on this forum?
A Women's Locker Room
I suggest a women only at least for a time, this will hopefully attract a strong following, then let the guys in if you choose as a group. Man, could ya ever pick us guys off then 
I am certain the feeback you get will be encouraging and only serve to srenghten the forums in the future. My wife says "go for it girl!"
I am certain the feeback you get will be encouraging and only serve to srenghten the forums in the future. My wife says "go for it girl!"
A Women's Locker Room
The irony is only guys have responded so far.
A Women's Locker Room
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote
Here's my two pence on the subject: I'm of two minds on the gals only section. One part of me enjoys hearing what the guys have to say because it can be informative and adds a new dimension to your thinking. Plus, it gives males a little bit of insight into how we work and vice-a-versa.
However, I do think that the overwhelming number of males on the women's martial arts forum is a bit daunting. I had to think about posting for a bit before I first threw my hat into the ring.
At my last dojo, I was typcially the only woman there except for the occassional new gals who would come and go within a couple of months. I've learned how guys think by being around them so much (generally that is, I'm not claiming to be a know-it-all into the male psyche). I wanna learn how other women, who are serious about the martial arts, feel and how they cope with certain things. Some things the male perspective just can't give me.
Do they face the same challenges I did by usually being the only woman in class? Was it a problem? Did she even notice she was the only female there? How did they deal with some guy holding back because you're 'just' a girl? Did they even have that issue? What about when you have your period? Do you avoid class because of it? Does any part of your body become more sensitive to being hit during it? How about sports bras? You don't want to be jiggling all over the place when you're sparring. Do you wrap up in addition to your sports bra, wear protective gear? How do you cope any tips? What's your solution? What about the difference between upper and lower body strength? When it comes to upper most women I know are sadly lacking but lower body strength, plus hip action, they're much stronger at. Did you change your tactics to include these factors? Does your MA take this into account? A woman is more likely to be grabbed and attacked rather than getting into a punching fight. Do you think your martial arts prepare you for this? What about if another woman starts a fight with you doing 'cat fight' techniques (hair pulling, clawing), would you change your response? Would you be able to handle an opponent who starts a cat fight with you? Sparring, I love it, but as a female, do you think you'll ever need it? Do you think it will help you in other ways? Where the self defense techniques you learned, were they really applicable to your build? I'm 5' 4" (when I don't slouch) and a lot of the techniques I learned wouldn't work for me, I'm too short. I remember being hooked up with some guy trying certain techniques and he'd have to bend down so I could try them out. And so many other topics.
Some guys might have answers for these questions, and I'd love to hear their answers, but I don't want the answers to be leading the original topic into the 'males who have issues with women' topics (as Dana referred to it as).
Men who love the Martial Arts are easy to find. Women who love them, they're much more rare. It would be nice to cultivate a group of them.
[This message has been edited by Colleen (edited April 30, 2002).]
When Dana posted at 8:15 PM EST, it was (hang on, I need to count on my fingers here....) 1:15 AM my time. Wayyyyy past my bedtime.The irony is only guys have responded so far.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote
'No' if all they do is read. 'Yes' if the reading leads to other things. If a male takes exception to something they've read on the women's only board and can't respond to it, then they might start up a posting elsewhere slagging off the original posts or start sending private emails to the person they don't agree with slamming them that way. I'm not saying that anyone on this board would do that, I don't know the on-line personalities yet, but I've seen it happen on other forums.stifled if guys are just READING their posts
Here's my two pence on the subject: I'm of two minds on the gals only section. One part of me enjoys hearing what the guys have to say because it can be informative and adds a new dimension to your thinking. Plus, it gives males a little bit of insight into how we work and vice-a-versa.
However, I do think that the overwhelming number of males on the women's martial arts forum is a bit daunting. I had to think about posting for a bit before I first threw my hat into the ring.
At my last dojo, I was typcially the only woman there except for the occassional new gals who would come and go within a couple of months. I've learned how guys think by being around them so much (generally that is, I'm not claiming to be a know-it-all into the male psyche). I wanna learn how other women, who are serious about the martial arts, feel and how they cope with certain things. Some things the male perspective just can't give me.
Do they face the same challenges I did by usually being the only woman in class? Was it a problem? Did she even notice she was the only female there? How did they deal with some guy holding back because you're 'just' a girl? Did they even have that issue? What about when you have your period? Do you avoid class because of it? Does any part of your body become more sensitive to being hit during it? How about sports bras? You don't want to be jiggling all over the place when you're sparring. Do you wrap up in addition to your sports bra, wear protective gear? How do you cope any tips? What's your solution? What about the difference between upper and lower body strength? When it comes to upper most women I know are sadly lacking but lower body strength, plus hip action, they're much stronger at. Did you change your tactics to include these factors? Does your MA take this into account? A woman is more likely to be grabbed and attacked rather than getting into a punching fight. Do you think your martial arts prepare you for this? What about if another woman starts a fight with you doing 'cat fight' techniques (hair pulling, clawing), would you change your response? Would you be able to handle an opponent who starts a cat fight with you? Sparring, I love it, but as a female, do you think you'll ever need it? Do you think it will help you in other ways? Where the self defense techniques you learned, were they really applicable to your build? I'm 5' 4" (when I don't slouch) and a lot of the techniques I learned wouldn't work for me, I'm too short. I remember being hooked up with some guy trying certain techniques and he'd have to bend down so I could try them out. And so many other topics.
Some guys might have answers for these questions, and I'd love to hear their answers, but I don't want the answers to be leading the original topic into the 'males who have issues with women' topics (as Dana referred to it as).
Men who love the Martial Arts are easy to find. Women who love them, they're much more rare. It would be nice to cultivate a group of them.
[This message has been edited by Colleen (edited April 30, 2002).]
A Women's Locker Room
I'm a guy.
I occasionally post here, when I believe I have something to add.
I have been loath to post precisely because the guys have been making the majority of the responses.
I would also not like not being able to post; that's just my opinion and preference. Unfortunately, I see all too well the logic in a female-only forum. It may be something that works better, and I can't object to that. T'would be nice if it were not needed that way, but....
student
[This message has been edited by student (edited April 30, 2002).]
I occasionally post here, when I believe I have something to add.
I have been loath to post precisely because the guys have been making the majority of the responses.
I would also not like not being able to post; that's just my opinion and preference. Unfortunately, I see all too well the logic in a female-only forum. It may be something that works better, and I can't object to that. T'would be nice if it were not needed that way, but....
student
[This message has been edited by student (edited April 30, 2002).]
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uechiwoman
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2000 6:01 am
- Location: Silver Spring, MD
A Women's Locker Room
I like the idea of the women's locker room. I have spent lots of time after class in a real women's locker room talking to other women students who have lots of questions about training that they would never think of bringing up in the middle of class. Colleen mentioned many good topics of conversation. I appreciate the comments of the men on the women's forum and the perspective they give. I would also like a place where women could share their experience of the martial arts with other women.
-Heather
-Heather
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gmattson
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6073
- Joined: Wed Sep 16, 1998 6:01 am
- Location: Lake Mary, Florida
- Contact:
A Women's Locker Room
OK. Lets give it a try.
I'll set up "The Women's Locker Room", which will be password protected. This means that unless you have the password, you can't read or post.
Dana will be the moderator on this new forum.
Women who wish to be given the password will have to get it from Dana. I'll post her email address in the forum header. I suggest that women must use their real names when registering for this forum.
If the women wish to get a male point of view of something, Dana (and hopefully others) will do so on this forum.
Good luck...
------------------
GEM
I'll set up "The Women's Locker Room", which will be password protected. This means that unless you have the password, you can't read or post.
Dana will be the moderator on this new forum.
Women who wish to be given the password will have to get it from Dana. I'll post her email address in the forum header. I suggest that women must use their real names when registering for this forum.
If the women wish to get a male point of view of something, Dana (and hopefully others) will do so on this forum.
Good luck...
------------------
GEM
A Women's Locker Room
Am I the only one who thinks the idea is creepy and retrograde? How are we going to make any progress on gender issues if the genders don't talk to each other?
A Women's Locker Room
This isn't a socio-political forum for specifically discussing gender issues. It's for women in the martial arts, as the title suggests. Women are not going to be encouraged into the forum if men are the ones dominating the discussions. Why would it be considered wrong for women to have a forum for themselves?
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Dana Sheets
- Posts: 2715
- Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2002 6:01 am
A Women's Locker Room
The forum is up and ready to go.
Please email me at:
dmsdc@yahoo.com to get a password.
The current forum isn't going anywhere. It is still an important resource for men and women to be able to talk about training together.
As Colleen said, women in the Martial Arts can often be isolated, training by themselves in an all-male school. A resource like the locker room could be a welcome safe haven.
Dana
Please email me at:
dmsdc@yahoo.com to get a password.
The current forum isn't going anywhere. It is still an important resource for men and women to be able to talk about training together.
As Colleen said, women in the Martial Arts can often be isolated, training by themselves in an all-male school. A resource like the locker room could be a welcome safe haven.
Dana
A Women's Locker Room
Dana,
Good luck with "The Women's Locker Room".
nick
------------------
"We forge our bodies in
the fire of our will." Han
from 'Enter the Dragon'
Good luck with "The Women's Locker Room".
nick
------------------
"We forge our bodies in
the fire of our will." Han
from 'Enter the Dragon'
A Women's Locker Room
Dana
As with anything worth while give it time.
Best wishes for your new Forum
As with anything worth while give it time.
Best wishes for your new Forum
A Women's Locker Room
Cecil, I agree with you that there needs to be communication between the genders, and that's the important function the WITMA forum will continue to provide. The locker room on the other hand I expect will be, for some, a welcome shelter from testosterone poisoning, but we will see if the women think its needed by whether the women sign up.
-
Tony-San
A Women's Locker Room
What's to stop someone from pretending to be a woman? When I was an administrator on this forum I was aware of individuals who had aliases (myself included). I can remember one occasion where I saw a person have a brief dialog with themself.
strange....
strange....
