To this day, martial arts remain a male-dominated space. As women, however, it’s important not to let that deter us. There is a big, supportive community waiting, and for decades now, there have always been female fighters fighting for equality in the industry. As opportunities become more accessible, the space for women gets bigger.
Boxing pioneer Christy “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” Martin competed across three weight divisions from 1989 to 2012 and is credited with “legitimizing” women’s participation in the sport. She was the first female boxer inducted to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
In the 2010s, women’s mixed martial arts gained widespread recognition, largely due to Ronda Rousey. She was a driving force in establishing a women’s division in the UFC. Alongside Liz Carmouche, Rousey made history as the first woman to fight in the octagon, headlining UFC 157. After defeating Carmouche by submission in the first round, Rousey was officially crowned the promotion’s first-ever women’s world champion.
More recently, Thai national Aida Looksaikongdin and Iranian fighter Zahra Shokouhi made history as the first women to step under the ropes and into the ring at Rajadamnern Stadium in 2022. Considered the mecca of Muay Thai, Rajadamnern is the world’s oldest Muay Thai stadium and has been open since 1945. Located in Bangkok’s historic Old Town, the stadium previously banned women from not only competing but even forbade them from touching the ring. Since their electrifying clash, the stadium has regularly promoted female Muay Thai and now allows women to compete for stadium titles.
Despite the tremendous efforts of female fighters and practitioners around the globe, martial arts remains a male-dominated space. But don’t let the numbers intimidate you. Just because fewer women participate doesn’t mean they haven’t carved out a respected place for themselves. So, take your spot, overcome adversity, thrive—and have fun!
Finding the right gym will be key to your success. It’s also important to establish goals for yourself and acknowledge what your expectations are, if any. Many women start martial arts simply to get in shape. From there, a few will become fighters, but almost all will find acceptance and empowerment.
If you are feeling a bit unsure, overwhelmed, or even intimidated, look for gyms that offer introductory women’s classes to help you get started. Combat Collective, a martial arts initiative founded to create a safe and fun space for women to feel empowered and capable, hosts women-only Muay Thai retreats here at Bangtao. After multiple successful retreats, the UK-based community is adding its first-ever introductory MMA retreat for women to the mix this April.
Another tip is to find a gym with an established roster of female fighters. Don’t be shy—reach out, strike up a conversation, and, if you can, go watch them fight! Let go of any preconceived ideas of what you think it’s going to be like, and embrace what is there. Be confident and know that you are welcome. Remember: it’s okay to ask a training partner to slow down or go lighter, and if for whatever reason they don’t, remember that they are the problem, not you.
Jada Ketley, Bangtao’s resident female powerhouse who fights MMA and Muay Thai professionally, provides her thoughts and advice for women in the sport:
“My advice to women would be, no matter what, you have every right to be in the space of martial arts, and you should train with your head held high regardless of what anyone thinks or says. If you get new women in the gym, instead of seeing them as a threat, embrace them and welcome them. We need to support and encourage each other. Having other women to train with as a woman yourself is the best experience you can get. As someone who has been the only girl in the gym many times, I get excited when I can train with other girls. It should be a sisterhood, not a competition.”
Remind yourself: you’ve got this and you deserve to be here! Look to your coaches for support and encouragement, be part of the community, and stay open-minded.
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Check out some of the top knockouts from the women’s bantamweight division in UFC history, including finishes from Ronda Rousey, Amanda Nunes, Holly Holm and more.