 A traditional martial art, like Kuk Sool Won™, is about more than the development of physical skills. The learning and personal development opportunities it provides go much deeper. This is particularly clear when working with our female students. Many people believe that a martial art is great for girls and women because it teaches self-defence. This is based on the premise that women need to learn how to defend themselves against a physical attack. It sees girls and women as potential victims of violence based on their gender.
While there are undoubted benefits to learning self-defence skills, participation in a martial art provides girls and women with so much more than protection from violence. A starting point to understanding these benefits can be found in the research into the types of benefits sport provides to girls and women. In 2015, an international consultancy (EY), published research on women in senior leadership positions in large corporations in the United States. It identified that 94% of women in the executive team (or C-suite) had played sport and 74% believed that a background in sport can help accelerate a woman’s career. Girls who play sports have “greater social and economic mobility, are less likely to use drugs, have greater personal safety, and perform better at school”. Other research focusing specifically on women who participate in martial arts has found that it is empowering for those women, builds confidence, and can help change gender stereotypes. In martial arts, girls and boys, and women and men train together. In some martial arts, such as Kuk Sool Won™, they even compete against each other in many categories of competition. This creates an environment where men and women learn to work together, promoting equality and challenging traditional views on gender. Almost half of our students are girls and women. Based on our experiences working with them, as well as our own experiences as women martial artists and instructors, we are well aware of the benefits martial arts training provides.
I am passionate about encouraging girls and women to explore their physicality through martial arts. If this is done in a respectful, inclusive environment, the benefits can be truly lifechanging. JKN Jane Hurst First degree black belt and school owner Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero Copyright © 2018. Kuk Sool Won™ of Pukekohe and Onewhero. All Rights Reserved.
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 DBN Margaret from Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero At our martial arts school we are privileged to teach students from aged 5 to 75. It’s extremely rewarding to see the development and growth our youngest students as they learn the fundamentals of our martial art. It is exciting to know that they have decades of life ahead of them and that the guidance and training they receive while at our school may positively influence their lives in some way.
It is equally rewarding though to work with older students. Our oldest student, Dahn Boh Nim Margaret, joined our school three years ago with her granddaughter. She was 72 when she started her martial arts training. Both are now well on their way to achieving their black belt. Working with DBN Margaret constantly reminds me of the importance of embracing and celebrating the experience and contribution older people bring to all aspects of society. There is an uncomfortable reality in our society. Older people can face discrimination because of their age, although it is often subtle. The elderly can be seen as a burden on younger taxpayers, due to the health and pension costs that old age and retirement bring. Their views and experience can be dismissed as lacking in relevance to the younger population. Social isolation and elder abuse are all too frequent realities. Current research indicates that about half of older New Zealanders experience some level of loneliness, and 8-9% feel lonely all or most of the time. Elder abuse is also prevalent. Around 10% of people aged over 65 will experience some form of elder abuse. These statistics are not unique to New Zealand. They represent a global phenomenon. In the martial arts world, we often focus on physical prowess and athletic ability, which are associated with youth. However, it is important to also embrace and celebrate our older martial artists. There are many reasons for this.
JKN Jane Hurst First degree black belt and school owner Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero Note: Dahn Boh Nim or DBN is black-brown belt rank in Kuk Sool Won™. Copyright © 2018. Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero. All Rights Reserved. 
Martial arts training is great for women, both physically and psychologically. However, we often talk to women who would like to try martial arts, but never actually give it a go. Our experience has shown us that there are generally five reasons or “buts” holding women back.
1. But I am not fit, strong or co-ordinated enough. Very few people are when they start training in martial arts and no one expects you to be. Martial arts requires a specific type of physical conditioning which you only gain by doing it. You get fitter, stronger, and more co-ordinated as you train. 2. But I need to lose weight first. If you go into most martial arts schools, you will find people of all different physical shapes and sizes, including instructors. We are not all young and skinny. You don’t need to be lean and toned to train and benefit from martial arts. Over time, your body will get stronger and better conditioned, and you may even lose some weight as a natural part of your training. 3. But I’m not confident enough. It can be intimidating walking into a martial arts school for the first time. There are schools around like ours that try to make this process much friendlier for new people from the moment you first make contact. Take a friend or family member with you for company and support. If you persist through this initial phase of feeling uncomfortable, you will find your confidence dramatically improves. It is part of the many benefits of martial arts training. 4. But I don’t want to fight. Many women are put off by the thought of fighting as part of martial arts training. I know I was. There are though, many martial arts like ours (Kuk Sool Won™), that are self-defence focused and do not involve fighting for belt gradings or as a regular part of training. You don’t need to fight or get hit to learn martial arts. 5. But it’s too blokey. Martial arts is one of the few sports where men and women actively train together. This can be a little intimidating for some women at first. However, there are plenty of schools, like ours, with women instructors and women students. These are a good option for women who feel uncomfortable in a male-dominated environment. Are one of these “buts” unnecessarily holding you back from something you have always wanted to try? JKN Jane Hurst First degree black belt and school owner Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero
Perhaps you've thought about taking up a martial art, but feel you’re not fit, young or healthy enough to fight others? You may not want to go head to head with a large, muscly young man to win your belts. However, not all martial arts are about fighting, especially those that base their principles on self-defence. Some welcome all ages, whatever your ability, as long as you have no serious health issues.
The benefit of taking up a martial art later in life, is that you can slow the ageing process, some even say you can even reverse aspects of it. You also get to have lots of fun and do things you never thought possible. I started Kuk Sool Won™ in my 30's and still enjoy teaching and training now I'm in my 50’s. Yes, there are some things I cannot do, but there are many more things I can do I’m also now a 4th degree black belt, something I never thought I would ever achieve. It is said that martial art training slows the ageing process, I think there are a few extra benefits some of which I have described below: • Emotional Well-being: There is a fair amount of research outlining the benefits of endorphins on the body and mind. People who have fun, challenge themselves and keep active, always feel better. They lead healthier lives and have a greater sense of achievement. When you find a friendly martial art school, you may find yourself having lots of fun and the benefits can be long lasting. • Physical Strength: In Kuk Sool we focus on body posture or stances, practice self-defence techniques and body conditioning movements know as hyung or forms and learn how to fall safely. This activates a variety of muscle groups around the body, even some you never thought you had, making everyone stronger over time. Muscle burns more fat, and can help to lower cholesterol levels. Everyone benefits from the strength and cardio training for better health and fitness and women can reduce the risks of osteoporosis in older age. • Mental Growth: Taking up any new hobby stimulates the mind. We know doing crosswords and Sudoku slows memory loss in older age. Challenging yourself by taking up a new sport can help maintain or even build mental agility. A martial art with an extensive amount of material to learn, can be the best thing for improving that fading memory that happens as we get older. • Spiritual Healing: Through the practice of meditation and body conditioning movements, known in Kuk Sool as hyung, the mind can be calmed and stilled. The stilling of the mind is difficult in our very busy lives. By practicing martial arts, we can focus on being present whilst meditating and still our minds in the movements we learn. Self-defence martial arts are really good at creating a life that is much calmer, less stressed and freer to make those important decisions. |
Caroline and Jane Hurst
Caroline is a 5th degree black belt and Jane is a 2nd degree black belt in the traditional Korean martial art of Kuk Sool Won™ . They run 2 Kuk Sool Won™ martial arts schools in New Zealand. Archives
March 2019
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