4 Best Martial Art for Women's Self Defence

In response to crime rates in modern society, self-defence for women is more important than ever for ensuring their personal safety. According to the ABS, it’s estimated that 1 out of every 3 women in Australia have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.Learning a martial art is one of the best ways for women to not only equip themselves with practical skills for protection but also to boost their self-confidence and peace of mind when travelling.

If you’re considering taking up a martial art for self-defence, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ve highlighted the 4 best martial arts for women and why they are great for those looking to improve their self-defence capability. 

The Value of Martial Arts and Self Defence for Women 

It’s a sad reality that women are disproportionately represented in martial arts due to the false traditional stigma of violence that’s associated with martial arts. Most martial arts have their roots in defence rather than being a tool for offence or aggression. Martial arts are also widely known for being a medium for enhancing one's self-discipline and self-control and promotes values such as respect and mastery of the self.

Women are often subject to unfair treatment due to archaic societal perceptions of masculinity. It’s no wonder that they also face higher risks of crime-related violence, and in some extreme cases, sexual assault.

In such cases, the value of martial arts cannot be understated in helping to deal with perpetrators or even prevent them from acting against you altogether.

4 Best Martial Art for Women's Self Defence

Krav Maga

Originally developed for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Krav Maga is an Israeli martial art that focuses on survivability rather than ‘winning’ over an opponent. It’s best known for having wide applications in real-world situations.

Because Krav Maga doesn’t require a lot of mastery over specific techniques, it’s one of the easiest martial arts to pick up for women. You can start learning Krav Maga today and immediately learn moves that are applicable in commonly encountered situations, such as snatch theft or against a knife-wielding assailant. 

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

As its name suggests, Jiu Jitsu originates from Brazil and is a martial art that features the use of grapples, ground fighting, and submission holds as part of its key set of techniques.

Being pinned to the ground by an assailant is one of the most difficult positions to defend yourself in, especially so for women, as a lot of physical strength is required to push another ~ 70kg person off you. In taking up Jiu Jitsu, women can learn how to defend themselves against attackers even while lying on the ground and drastically improve their chance of escape.

Muay Thai Kickboxing  

Muay Thai, or kickboxing, is an extremely popular combat sport that features the use of both legs and arms for both defence and offence.

Lots of women favour Muay Thai as it also happens to be great at burning calories and helping with weight loss. But aside from that, kickboxing also teaches self-defence skills for women like how to escape from wrist grabs, chokes, and hair grabs. 

Wing Chun – the style Bruce Lee trained in

Wing Chun was popularized around the world by Bruce Lee and also gained a lot more recognition after the movie “Ip Man” was released across the globe. It’s a martial art that is characterised by its focus on close-quarters hand-to-hand combat and straightforward techniques. Wing Chun was developed by woman it’s based on science and proper body mechanics.

With techniques that don’t require a lot of arm strength, Wing Chun is gaining popularity among women who want a reliable way to defend themselves without needing to apply a lot of force. It’s an accessible martial art that can be picked up quickly regardless of your fitness level. It’s formidability comes from its ability to transcend size, abilities, disabilities etc.

Tips for Choosing the Right Martial Arts Style for You  

When it comes to finding the best martial art for women, we like to recommend choosing one that you are most comfortable with. Watching demonstration videos is a good way to try and envision yourself performing these techniques, as well as seeing firsthand how they apply to self-defence. 

It may seem daunting to pick up a martial art for self-defence, but it’s simply a matter of practice to be able to reliably use it in dangerous situations. Once you’ve started attending regular classes, your trainers will be able to guide you and build your confidence in your abilities. Not to mention, your fitness, strength, and agility will improve dramatically. 

At UMF Academy, we offer all the above best martial arts for women in North Queensland and Townville. Our classes are conducted by experienced Instructors of each martial art to help you along your self-defence journey. Contact us today to find out more about our classes!