Gi on, belt tied; beyond the kicks and strikes, martial arts impact high school girls’ lives by helping build confidence and security.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly one in three, or 30 percent, of women have been subjected to physical or sexual violence. Martial arts instructor Josh Moree has been teaching for over 25 years and said practicing the sport gives students the self-defense basis they need to defend themselves in unsafe situations.
“It’s not just the confidence side of things for teenagers, but also the knowledge of self-defense,” Moree said. “I try to teach enough skill that women don’t have to be a victim. I completely believe that in self-defense, people have autonomy over their bodies. People have the right to defend themselves and know that their self is valuable.”
Junior Lizzie Lyman has attended EVX martial arts studio for seven years and is currently a first-degree brown belt. Lyman is taught by Moree and feels that martial arts give her a defensive advantage and makes her feel more at ease.
“While I recognize that as both a woman and a small person I am at a defensive disadvantage, martial arts still make me feel more secure,” Lyman said. “As well as being trained to react and defend from attacks, I also seem more confident, which might stop someone from even trying anything.”
Senior and first-degree brown belt Arte Elliott also trains at EVX martial arts studio with Moree and is testing for her black belt in December. Elliott said she has grown stronger from the sport.
“At our dojo we train in a way that prepares us for countless scenarios, of course I can’t be prepared for EVERY attack coming towards me, but since I have trained for a wide variety I can feel a little bit safer in my everyday life,” Elliott said.
Martial arts not only teach students raw technique but also emphasize character building.
“When you start seeing and realizing what is capable, what you can do, it helps build confidence,” Moree said. “It’s doubly important for teenage women because in the world that we live in, there’s a lot of pressure on people to look a certain way, to present themselves a certain way. Doing martial arts is a sport that can allow you to build so much confidence in yourself that all of these other pressures that inevitably will be there in our culture won’t impact you as much as what you feel for yourself.”
Lyman said she has not only seen major growth in her skills through martial arts, but also her sense of self and mental state. Though many may perceive karate as a fast-paced or even violent hobby, much of it is actually focused on emotional regulation, self-awareness and building up others.
“I have learned so much from doing martial arts, but the main things are probably mindfulness, discipline and perseverance,” Lyman said. “Martial arts is something that, to me, means more than just the sport itself. I’ve gotten stronger and learned to protect myself, but I’ve also made lifelong friends and trained my brain just as much as my body.”
Sophomore and black belt Parker Koher has been practicing martial arts with Atlanta Kick for 10 years and said she has grown her confidence, which has helped her feel more grounded in male-dominated environments.
“I’m more confident and I feel like I can command a room,” Koher said. “I know how to respect others and I also know how to demand respect. I am treated as an equal with the men in my class.”
When martial arts students reach higher-level ranks, they are often given the chance to teach others. This not only helps those they teach, but also improves their own skills as they learn to articulate them in a deeper sense. Lyman teaches younger students and said sharing her knowledge is one of her favorite parts of the sport.
“I teach martial arts for a number of reasons, but mainly it’s because teaching has always seemed like my purpose,” Lyman said. “I feel so fulfilled every time I teach a class knowing that I have made a difference in someone’s life.”
Koher also teaches younger students and said that the things she’s learned have transferred over into general skills she can use in her everyday life. Teaching others in any field can be extremely beneficial, but karate helps develop unique skills that other opportunities may not impact.
“Karate changed my life,” Koher said. “I learned how to speak publicly, carry myself with confidence and gained insight into child development. Alongside developing leadership skills, I also assisted with children’s karate classes. Working closely with younger students taught me patience, empathy and adaptability across different age groups and skill levels.”
Martial arts provide high school girls and participants with security physically, confidence and general life skills.
“Martial Arts has not only boosted my confidence but I also have come to enjoy the discipline that comes with it,” Elliott said. “I have learned to fight in a way that gives me a chance with anyone I fight, I believe it is important for every girl to know the basics of defending yourself and if you’re like me you may eventually end up testing for your black belt.”