Today is international women’s day and in my feed I have this post ‘Where are all the women in Karate‘ from Karate Jesse. He also gives a nice piece of history
…the wife of legendary master Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura was also a famous martial artist! … Legends also says she absolutely refused to marry a man who a) wasn’t a martial artist and b) couldn’t defeat her in a fair fight. Many men supposedly tried and failed. Although we don’t know if master Matsumura actually fought her, we do know the two were married in 1818 according to records.
A woman after my own heart, although I prefer it that my partner isn’t a martial artist. Makes it mine and mine alone. I think there is a film that had this trial for marriage in it.
Women have been in martial arts far further back than I realised. Just recently a fellow black belt pointed me toward a recent BBC documentary about the history of British martial arts. It included these ladies. All of whom could have been covered in more detail.
Sarah Mayer
Sarah Mayer who was the first non-japanese woman to receive a black belt in Judo.
Edith Garrud
The suffragettes who learnt Ju Jitsu to protect Emmeline (also called Emily) Pankhurst from the police arresting her again. They were led and trained by Edith Garrud.
On a side note a book written by Mrs Roger Watts is going for £175 or more on amazon.
Pauline Laville-Bindra
Britain’s first karate woman was Pauline Laville-Bindra (nee Fuller) not only a student and black belt but also the founder of Blitz UK’s leading Martial Arts Supplier. Half the uk wear her Gis. Not to mention her role in expanding UK karate and being a founder member of several governing bodies.
I love this photo, she looks like she is really enjoying herself.
So we come back to the question of why aren’t there more women in martial arts. We have these great role models to follow. None of whom are particularly macho looking or acting.
As the sole adult female black belt in our club, I don’t want to be noticed just because I am female. I’d much rather be noticed for an outstanding technique.
Tigerlily 
Hi Jon here. Looking at your blog again.
You may like a Video on you tube called
‘Be strong , be gentle, be beautiful’. It is a about Judoka ‘ Keiko Fukuda’. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. …..regards. Jon
Thanks, I have seen it before, and she is an inspiration. However I find the message of ‘be beautiful’ tacked on the end a little irritating, as I don’t feel being beautiful is important for a woman doing martial arts. It’s also hard to relate when the footage is more of her not being able to move very much, rather than where she was at the height of her physical health. I’ll probably feel different when I get to 88 though!! 🙂
Hi Rachel.. For me the beautiful refers to her nature and has no bearing on appearance. That she does not engage in the physical aspect of her art anymore is kind of missing the point to how the art has moulded her as a person over her life time.
Regards ..jon
I realise that, and like I said she is an inspiration. I just find the word ‘beautiful’ when related to women, is always first and foremost considered to be about their appearance and attractiveness. Whether it means to be or not.
Thanks so much for this wonderful post! This kind of history makes such interesting reading, and it’s inspirational for women to read. I’ve read in the book “5,000 Years of Korean Martial Arts” that there was a period of history in ancient Korea where women martial artists were highly regarded.
I think, with the popularity of Ronda Roussey, in the UFC, more girls/women are going to explore the martial arts.