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.

The Men Who Stare at GOATS

The Kyle Maynard Conundrum

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."

Winners Are Simply Willing to Do What Losers Won't

"There's no such thing as a 'natural'. A 'natural' dancer has to practice hard. A 'natural' painter has to paint all the time, even a 'natural' fool has to work at it. I had the God-given equipment to be a professional fighter, but I had to train at it, and train damn hard."
-Joe Louis, "The Brown Bomber"

I will watch some of the sappiest and cheesiest movies (Center Stage, Blue Crush, Bend it like Beckham) just to get motivated by the training scenes. However, my all time favorite tough girl film is Academy Award winning Million Dollar Baby. (I'm also a huge fan of the book it's based on- "Rope Burns" by F.X. Toole). Check out these great training scenes from Million Dollar Baby.

Go get it ladies! Train hard!

Why We Fight

Women choose to participate in martial arts programs for a variety of reasons. Both men and women often join because it's a fun way to get into shape, it's an activity to share with their children or spouse, and it's an empowering confidence booster. Also, many women seek martial arts because they fear some form of an attack, or they have already had a negative experience. There are no stereotypical female martial artists. Like our male counterparts, we are all individuals, with personalized motivations, paths, and ambitions. Although no reason to train is better than another, one of my favorite justifications from a woman about her decision to fight was, "Because I wanted to! That's what it all comes down to, basically. I came up with the other reasons later on."

Below are just a few testimonials from the ladies at the Atlanta Martial Arts Center. Please feel free to share your own experiences.

Hannah Mitchell:
"I started in the martial arts world taking Tai Chi with my husband back when we were dating. College was crazy, and I was looking for something that would calm and center my mind. I loved it, but our Sensi retired and classed stopped. Around that time, my husband started taking courses at the Atlanta Martial Arts Center. He worked hard, but I was a teacher in training internships and had no time for extra-curricular activities. However, the dojo started teaching a new art called Keysi Fighting Method. The novelty of the art, the philosophy behind it, and my husband's encouragement really pushed me into trying it.

Having no experience in combative martial arts (Tai Chi is more meditative than defensive), Keysi was a system shock. This is a particularly vicious art, designed for real-world self-defense in the most brutal fashion. I was slightly out of shape, and did not even have a rudimentary knowledge of martial arts terminology. I didn't even know the difference between a jab and a cross. It took a lot of learning. Because I am usually the only girl in the class, it took a long time for me to convince my training partners that I wasn't made of glass. In some cases, they still don't quite know what to do with me.

As a teacher at an alternative school, my students know that I train martial arts. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a women, or if it's because I'm a teacher, but they treat it mostly as a joke. 'Oh yeah, watch out for that English teacher, she'll kick your butt. Ha ha.'"

Meghan Greer:

"I came to the Atlanta Martial Arts Center four, almost five, years ago, shy, awkward, and frail. Making through two classes a week was a challenge at first, but the environment at AMAC is so encouraging and uplifting, that I was motivated to keep coming back. The curriculum at AMAC is incredibly technical and practical, so I knew I was actually walking away with something I could use instead of just a belt. AMAC doesn't just teach you a bunch of moves, in every system from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Filipino Kali I learned how to condition my body, build mental strength, and ingrain new skill sets. I accredit the Atlanta Martial Arts Center for giving me the tools to become the confident and strong person I am today."

Why write about female fighters?

"A writer, like a boxer, must stand alone. Having your words published, like entering the ring, puts your talent on display. And there's nowhere to hide. The truth is revealed. And sometimes, the results can be disastrous."
-Resurrecting the Champ

Writing and fighting. Some might legitimately argue that this is an illogical pair. How could something so beautiful and artistic be coupled with something so painful and violent? Or is is the other way around?

Dr. Richard Heckler (In Search of the Warrior Spirit) points out that, "it is in the mythological marriage of Ares and Aphrodite that Harmonia is born," (223). The combination of opposites creates balance. Yet in America's highly individualistic society, there is a tendency to divide and pull apart. There are some more common divisions: race, class, gender, religion, sexuality, and nationality. Like goes with like, and any deviation from the norm makes us uncomfortable.

Many of us learned in the school-yard that there are jocks, and there are nerds, and they don't get along. The standard is that physical prowess and mental ability don't mix. To a great extent, our society has developed around the luxury of intellectually not having to address the realities of our bodies. The closest we come to the physically violent act of killing and preparing our meals is a drive-through window. Hospitals and funeral parlors prevent us from having to deal with the physical decay of death. We fancy ourselves as highly cerebral and spiritual beings, and scorn what might be seen as a connection to an animalistic and primordial nature. We don't like to study aggression, violence, and killing, because it makes us uncomfortable.

In her book, On Boxing, Joyce Carol Oates writes that, "raw aggression is thought to be the peculiar province of men, as nurturing is the peculiar province of women. The female boxer violates this stereotype and cannot be taken seriously - she is a parody, she is a cartoon, she is monstrous," (73). I wonder if a lioness hunting to feed her cubs is a form of aggression, an unprovoked offensive attack, or a nurturing province? Are female police and military personnel monstrous cartoons as well? Martha McCaughey (Real Knockouts) reminds us that, "women's aggression is treated as an unnatural and distasteful transgression because aggression is a marker of sexual difference, which is made meaningful in a hierarchy of social power," (57). An aggressive femininity challenges gender prescriptions and threatens patriarchal hierarchy. Do female fighters and their implication make you feel uncomfortable?

I like uncomfortable.

"To write about boxing is to write about oneself - however elliptically and unintentionally. And to write about boxing is to be forced to contemplate not only on boxing, but also on the perimeters of civilization - what it is, or should be, to be 'human.'"
-On Boxing, Joyce Carol Oates