I'm afraid our women's Jiu-Jitsu class is in danger of becoming extinct. The reason we started it was to provide a friendly atmosphere for women who were thinking of trying Jiu-Jitsu, but who were uncomfortable jumping right in with the men. We wanted the women's class to be a place they could gain an understanding of the basics, with the goal being to then assimilate into the regular class. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out that way. Although we have definitely had more women come through the women's class than the regular class over the past three years, and a few of them even stayed for awhile, we are now back down to Amy just teaching my daughter and I.
Skyler moved back into the dorm today, and although she will still be coming home on weekends, her tuition was raised, and she will most likely be working during our class time, to have enough money to stay in school. That leaves just me, alpha and omega, the first and last women's Jiu-Jitsu student. Amy doesn't really like teaching only one student, because it's a lot better with at least two.
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| Skyler, Karin, me, Erica |
I would still like to continue the women's class, because I really enjoy Amy's teaching, and that is the only class she currently attends. I think I've found a temporary solution to the dilemma; I have convinced my husband to be declared an honorary woman, and come to class with me. That way I'll have a partner, and if any actual women show up, I guess he can go practice kata or something. It won't be as much fun as having Skyler there, especially since Joe will really start learning some Jiu-Jitsu, and then he will be even
harder to submit!
Perhaps the class would be more successful if we opened it up to youth students, because I've noticed that many of the women's classes in other schools around the world seem to have a high percentage of girls. Shihan doesn't really want younger children training Jiu-Jitsu, but in the past he
has given permission for a couple of preteens to train it. There is one 11 year-old karateka in particular who I would love to have as a student in our class. I even have an old gi that will fit her, and I think she would have a lot of fun with us.
