We’re sparring a bit more now in kung fu, and we have quite a few new guys. In fact, I’m the only woman, and I have 20 brothers.
We’ve been practicing applications and there are, of course, groin strikes–kicks, punches, grabs, etc.
Now, I can tell that none of them are making contact with the groin as they practice these techniques on each other.
They are making contact with me. No grabs, but punches, kicks and knees. Admittedly, I need to move faster to block, and I’m learning to do so.
But, does this give me the right to hit/kick their groin? I go near, but I fall short, and they know that.
Would it be acceptable for a woman to hit you in the groin if you hit her there, or would you guys think that’s foul play?
If you decide to make your answer a joke, please be sure to tell me it’s a joke. I’m a bit sensitive about this topic. Use the smiley faces to indicate a joke.
honestly, when I spar with a woman, there is no way int he world I would attack her in the breasts.
I would hope that the same is done in return. I am sure all the guys here would agree with me, a good smack square int he groin (even if its just a tap) would send hours of drilling pain rising up their stomach and eventually causing pain the chest.
maybe its just me… not sure. Having said that, mistakes are mistakes, and if you smack him there, if he is okay, then just apologise and give him room to breathe. I think that is the most polite thing to do.
You don’t want to hit there, but during sparring, they should be wearing a cup, and should be actively reminded if they aren’t covering their jujubes. Meaning, if they’ve got a cup on, kick 'em there. If you’ve got the cojones to do it.<------
I have to ask why they are making contact with you (a femail) and not each other (males).
Is it because they think it doesnt hurt u?..Does it hurt you? Have you asked them not to hit you there?
The way I see it is that if they are hitting you in an area (any area) then you should feel free to also hit in that area, but you might like to point out what you are going to do and why to them.
Generaly in any sparring I like to let the other guy decide how much contact and how hard we are gouing to play. He knees me…I knee him, he carrys on fighting on the ground…I carry on fighting n the ground etc.
How about hitting women in the groin?
While not usually referred to or taken into account,how about that?
Besides,varying considerable medical issues may occur.
(Not a troll)
Are there not established rules for sparring and contact??
Are they universal in that they don’t pertain to gender??
Or do they say “not here on men” and ''not here on women"
I think the most sensative and dangerous place to strike a woman would be ovaries. I never strike anywhere in that general area when sparring women.
Robin, what do you think about the various protective devices for women? I am debating whether to require them for sparring just like I require cups for men.(and mouthguards for all and headgear for under 18) But most women I know say they are really uncomfortable and would rather not wear them.
I don’t know why they’re hitting me there and not hitting each other. That was part of why I posted this here.
The guys aren’t hitting hard, though after a while I did end up with a bruise–but I’m learning to block faster.
Is it a lack of respect for me? Or is it just being a bonehead? Or is there more to it than lack of respect? They appear to respect each other enough to not go there. It’s just unnerving that they do it to me exclusively, not each other.
But, in that respect, I do tend to hit them in the chest, but I hit women there as well and they hit each other there. They have refrained from punching me in the chest, though kicks do go there, which is just fine. I don’t know if there were other women if we’d hit each other there.
The groin is just a hang up for me. Any other thougts?
i would say in a sport oriented class when sparring all out, play by the rules (which I assume disallow groing contact.)
In a self-defence oriented class when sparring all out, gear up good, and be careful when striking at tender areas (not just groin, but throat, eyes, kidneys, etc.) because you are all there to learn. Learning includes learning to strike tender areas. It also doesn’t include seriously injuring your classmates if you can help it.
Groin shots would be out of the game in sparring but as when it comes to hitting the chest I must mention that in terms of threat it is much more worse to be hit in the breastBONE than breasts,regardless of sex that would be “nasty”.
There are rules, but they haven’t been announced in a while. I’ll talk to my sifu about it and see what we come up with.
I wear one of the female guards every TKD class–we spar in there a lot. I haven’t been wearing it in kung fu because we haven’t sparred in there in a long time and it is fairly uncomfortable. However, the guard does help a bit.
I was just taken aback, is all, that they kept going there with me. Maybe I’m just overreacting.
I am having a lot of fun sparring these guys, because I’m getting great practice. These guys are finally not afraid to hit or throw me (as has been the case in the past). Just this one point bothered me.
While a groin strike to a woman doesn’t necessarily cause the level of pain it does a guy, nevertheless it can still hurt (I’ve been hit, too). As Oso points out, there’s still ovaries and other “equipment” in the area and you can still sustain damage. A downward/frontal strike to the groin/pelvic area could damage the bladder in both men & women, for example.
The main thing here, however, is that it makes you uncomfortable. So just say “OK, no contact on a groin strike, it makes me uncomfortable. But hitting & throwing is OK.” How the guys respond to your request will decide whether they’re being disrespectful or if they just didn’t know.
It’s not that it hurts, because we’re not going full out or anything, so I get sore, but nothing major.
My point is, it’s disconcerting to me to get hit in the groin, particularly by the hand. Getting kicked there doesn’t phase me. It’s the hand going there that has me disturbed.
Is it a lack of respect for me? Or is it just being a bonehead? Or is there more to it than lack of respect? They appear to respect each other enough to not go there. It’s just unnerving that they do it to me exclusively, not each other.
I imagine it’s less a lack of respect and more a lack of awareness. As guys, we know getting kicked in the jumblies hurts (though it’s not always incapacitating). But we have no such knowledge of the experience of being women. So we assume that ‘no jumblies = no pain = game on.’
To clarify, I don’t assume that personally. I can’t really imagine kicking a women in the groin deliberately. But if they are opting to do so, that’s my guess at their reasoning.
If it really bothers you, though, ask. Ask someone there you trust. “What gives? Why me?” When they say, “you don’t have any jumblies”, you say, “Have you ever asked me whether that makes the difference?”
Only female? Might be their chance to cop a feel-ish
They might not understand. They think you don’t have their equipment, there’s not anything to be hurt.
They don’t know where your stuff is and want to get close but accidentally too close.
SaMantis said some good stuff. You might should announce off limit things to your partner before you start the activity…No contact to the groin (perhaps even, mark, my groin starts here).
If you are letting them strike to feel what a complete range strike is like cup that area with your hand. Move the hand down and out some stiffen. Let them hit your hand lightly. Or drop your gloved hand so they can hit with more force and still have the right height and placement (with your groin moved back or side or out of the way, with your upper body as much in place as you can.
There are sacred things. We are trained to do or not do. Women’s breasts are more sacred/sensitive then male breast. ~
Dont touch a woman’s privates. A male hurts when hit in the groin…almost superstitions perhaps.
On your technique Robinf, the target is below the pelvis (within an inc below). Of the triplets of that area of a male the Pain comes from getting the identical twins.
Robin, this is just my opinion and the environment I try to create in my school. What I said before still applies and this situation should probably be taken up with your teacher if you are that uncomfortable with it and let her/him correct anything he feels is wrong.
Having said that, I try to create a somewhat genderless atmosphere. I pay attention to specific areas of both anatomies that go on the list of ‘don’t hit hard’. Eyes, Throat, Ear(drums), spine, sides of knee, bladder, spleen, kidneys, groin(both genders), lower abdominal area on women. I talk to women about the fact that it is going to be very difficult to not get hit in the chest and recommend a women’s chest protector. Every woman I know who has tried one on has said they would rather occasionally get hit in the chest than wear one to spar. If they are over 18 that is their choice. I’ve never met a woman who has tried on one of the women’s groin protectors.
I tell all my students that we are here to explore the martial arts and that there will be a lot of physical contact to personal areas of the body but that I expect everyone to be adults and very matter of fact about it. I let them know that I am going to be very matter of fact but not crude in talking about the body. If I am working with a new female student I let her know when I am about to touch or grab her waist or hips but after she as been there awhile I don’t feel a need to if she gotten comfortable with me. I am just adjusting her the same way I adjust any of the male students. My limited experience is that it is very hard to get male students to forget that they are working with a female and do what they are training to do and not worry about it. My girlfriend is training with me and she and a male student started about the same time and have been steady training partners and she told me he kept freaking out and apologizing profusely everytime he came in contact with her chest. She had to keep telling him that it was ok and they would not be able to train the way they were supposed to be if he kept wigging out ever time he touched her ‘teat’ (her words) I think he freaked out when she said that too:D. But, he’s gotten over it.
It sounds like you maybe suspect that there is some other intent from your fellow students. If so, talk to your teacher. If something else is going on he neads to have a discussion with his boys. If nothing else is going on besides training then you might need to figure out why you feel wierd about it.
She had to keep telling him that it was ok and they would not be able to train the way they were supposed to be if he kept wigging out ever time he touched her ‘teat’ (her words) I think he freaked out when she said that too:D. But, he’s gotten over it.