Got Sexy?

I do not train mixed martial arts to get laid. In fact many women who train martial arts started for self-defense purposes. We're looking to thwart off sexual advances, not invite them. I take precaution to dress reasonably and modestly, both on and off the mat, because it's hard enough to be taken seriously as it is. (Especially as a skinny blonde.)

So I was looking around online for some no-gi training shorts that A: couldn't be mistaken for underwear, and B: don't have an extra 5 inches in the inseam, when I read that "Fight Chix is as important to women's MMA as Affliction or TapouT is to men's." I was instantly skeptical because the clothing line's logo is the outline of a stripper (7 inch heels, plastic tits, nominal waist, and all) with her hands up like Notre Dame's fighting Irish. But the tag line reads "Empowering Women Worldwide," so I decided to check out their site. Silly me, I thought a women's MMA clothing company would specialize in fight gear, but apparently empowering women means empowering their sex appeal. While Fight Chix's line does list ONE pair of grappling shorts and ONE rashguard, it focuses mainly on lingerie, swimsuits, and enticing t-shirts that read "Wanna get it on?"


I read Elizabeth Nuesser's, founder and CEO of Fight Chix, testimonial and history. She talks about being a driven career woman in a man's professional world, and being a fan of the mixed martial arts. She writes about her desire to empower women to be strong and sexy. She says, "I quickly engulfed myself in research and discovered there are many female fighters struggling harder than the men and a woman fanbase that is as large as the male fanbase. I also realized the woman’s voice was not being heard or if it was we weren’t being represented like we should be." Which confuses me. Fighters and fight fans (of any gender) do not have the same voice, nor should they be represented the same way.

While I share her passion for empowering women to be strong and beautiful, I disagree with her methods. The fact that a woman can land a hard cross or execute a double-leg takedown is sexy in and of itself, regardless of how much her ass hangs out.. "Wanna get it on?" is not the voice of women's MMA that needs to be heard, nor is "The Sexy Side of MMA" the way female fighters or martial artists should be represented.

Shameless Plug

I've got to show my support to my training partner Joseph Burtner. Not only are his takedowns exceptional, but his sports writing is as well. Give it a gander.

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Iron Maiden

Krista Scott Dixon is a fitness guru who specializes in women's health. And she happens to be a grappler. Needless to say, I approve this message. Check out her stuff.

Stumptuous.com for your athletic female needs

tips for female grapplers

I love you man.

There's this saying around jiu-jitsu gyms that "It's only gay if you make eye contact." Now I won't get into the sexualization of grappling (for more on that subject, ask the Greeks and Romans). But I think the joke is interesting because it points out, albeit it in a homophobic manner, something crucial about the martial arts- love. Calm down. Breathe. Yes, I'm talking about love and jiu-jitsu in the same sentence without resorting to adolescent gay jokes. You can make fun of it all you want, but the truth is that martial arts pulls together a myriad of people from vastly different backgrounds and builds them into a community, a family. Like many families it's strange, rather sadistic, and yes there's that one uncle we don't talk about, but in the end, loving in it's own way.

Still, it's probably a good idea to remember what Sensei Erik Paulsen says about the North-South grappling position: "Some people call this position the sixty-nine. We, do not."

Here are some of my martial arts family photos.

Do not hug the Judoka.

Why? Because they have this instinctive reaction to grab onto your arm, hurl you over their hip, and slam you onto the floor. Then your ass is harai goshied and sore and you look up at them whimpering "I only wanted a hug!" They will yell, "Liar!" and they will be mostly right.

Make sure that the mace really does have the training canister in before you practice spraying it into your friend's face.

If you train with and carry weapons, you must be mindful of where and when you have them on you. No knives in bed is a good policy.

When given the choice to grapple with the sturdy sixteen year-old girl, or the skinny college guy, opt for the college guy. The college guy will take it easier on you, and let you retain some of your dignity. Tess "the Terminator" will not.

Do not give the physical training instructor ideas. It is never appropriate to ask, How much does that weigh? How far? or How long?

Friends share. They share techniques, books, notes, water, stories, laughs, beer. They do not share ringworm. Put medical tape over it before coming into contact with anything or anyone at your gym. Wash your gear frequently and bathe as soon after training as you can. You do not want to be That Guy.

Be very, very cautious when you hear the phrase, "Come here I want to show you something."

Inspiration from the Blogosphere

Interested in female fighters who take their fight off the mats and onto the battlefield? Browse through the blog and website The Semi-Normal Day to Day Life of a Female Marine for a collection of articles concerning military women, as well an account of the author's own experiences in the Corps.



Terri Schauer is an amatuer Muay-Thai figher with a passion for writing. Check out her blog The Way of the Warrior Queen for musings on warrior philosophy, women's kickboxing, and mental training.



Since the ladies aren't filling up the UFC main event spots yet, it can be difficult to keep up with female bouts. The blog, Female MMA, is dedicated strictly to female MMA fighters, and it makes following the ladies fight scene a lot easier.

Running with the Big Dogs

I've been training a variety of martial arts since 2005. About a year and a half ago, I mentioned to my then boyfriend and fellow training partner that I was interested in competing in a mixed martial arts fight. Without hesitation, his response to me was, "I don't want to see my baby get beat up by some big hairy legged lesbian." I was shocked, and to this day still am. At 5'7'' and 120lbs, I look more like a ballerina than a mixed martial artist. The other female instructor at our school is a petite 5'2'' 120lbs, and has an obsession with Tinkerbell. None of our female students could be described as butch or mistaken for men. My ex lived with, trained with, and was friends with female martial artists, and yet somehow managed to maintain this unjustified (and homophobic) she-male image of female fighters.

Not all men are like this. Just as female fighters cannot be stereotyped, neither can the men. Guys have a lot of different reactions to women on the mats. Some are uncomfortable being agressive with women, and handle us like porcelian dolls. Often, novice male students will use their strength and power to dominate women half their size in order to inflate their own egos. Some guys, whether they train or not, will see a woman's training as a threat, and others will find it a turn-on. While a woman may expect to run into a few negative personalities, if she ever finds herself being harassed or mistreated regularly, she should find another school. Ideally, women should feel like they're training with a room full of big brothers.

Personally, I understand that women mixing in a predominately male envrionment can be a complicated issue. It raises questions of gender roles, and can stir up strong emotions. While I believe that women belong wherever they choose to be, I feel that women should also try to work with their male counterparts to make everyone feel comfortable. Ladies need to communicate with their partners, and let them know what kind of resistance or power they want to work with. Any good partner will listen and be respectful.

I finally decided after five years of training to prepare myself for the ring/cage. Before Jiu-Jitsu class yesterday, I plopped down on the mats, glanced over at my ex, and told him, "Meet the newest fight team member." He looked at one of the new guys sitting next to me, and gave him a thumbs up. I rolled my eyes. "No, I was talking about myself," I said. Some guys will never get it, but you just have to keep fighting. Remember what Laila Ali says,"Rumble young girl, rumble."