#i'm so sick of the assumption that women are categorically weaker than men in every aspect

[treefey]

So against my better judgement because I'm being driven insane, I'm gonna talk about my experience being a female martial artist in coed spaces.

I spar whoever is there. Most of the time that's men. Who are bigger than me. I've still kicked some in the head. These are moving targets who are actively trying to not be hit at all. Who are also trying to hit me. Pictures from my black belt testing show a man basically fleeing from me. I've had men who compete in tournaments tell me it's exhausting to spar me because I don't let up.

I've been hurt by men and women. Sure, the one actual "get thee to a doctor" injury was from a man, but the one scar I have is from a woman. That scar will be there till my skin decomposes and returns to the earth.

(I also want to be very clear that we are not supposed to hurt each other. But we are supposed to hit each other. So we have all bruised each other. And we've all held targets for each other, so we know how hard we're capable of hitting) Everyone trains to maximize their advantages and minimize their disadvantages. You get good at what you train for. Like yes, very long humans have long limbs. Shorter people work to stay inside their range the entire spar.

But even aside that, people think an actor who lifts weights is going to win in a fight against a woman who served in the military because he looks manly and she looks cute. Which... exercising with the purpose of killing people is way different than exercising to look a certain way. (Also implies said actor wants to fight people, which is rude)

Also, you can be strongest person in the world and still die because a flowerpot fell on your head. You can be the "best" athlete and still lose a game. It's not video game stats or an RPG. A well aimed or badly controlled kick will break ribs. Life is an equation with infinite, dynamic variables.

I know this isn't the popular conversation right now. I know recreational martial arts isn't the same as sports. But there are parallels. And my two cents as someone who regularly gets hit by and also hits men is something, at least.