I just saw a fight on youtube.com from the Dutch TV program, ” Try Before You Die,” where this average guy (not a fighter but a fan I think) got to fight a female Muy Tai (I’m guessing) fighter! This fight went as I thought but it would have been better if the guy had some fighting skills. He moved around a bit but could not really put an attack together. Trained fighters of either sex are a force to be reckoned with for anyone. By the way this video is in Dutch (I think) but you can get the gist of it. You can wait until the buffer loads and then just move the video about half way to see the fight.

Ilonka Elmont vs Philemon

I had a female student that came up though the ranks and was having martial difficulties (I surmised) because her husband took me aside and tood me that when thay had fights… he had to pick up a baseball bat to defend himself. I guess that sounds kind of weird but my money was on my student even though her husband towered over her.

I think the woman in this video was taking it real easy on the guy. Any woman can learn to fight like this, as any man can, but it takes lots dedication and training. Now the idea to take away from this video I think is that martial arts can help equalize oppoentents in the ring or on the street!

Self defense is not like karate. Self defense for women has different goals such as doing whatever is necessary to break off an attack and then get away. Most people if attacked should not have the mind set of beating the guy to a pulp, rather they should try to stay safe by using one’s wits.

I think the more examples of women excelling in fights - the better for the rest of women that just want enough knowledge to be confident in their daily lives.

1. John, January 23, 2008:

   Thank you for the kind comments on my blog. I wish I spoke Dutch so I could understand more of what was being said Like you said, I tend to agree that the woman was taking it easy on the guy as well and it is beneficial for other women seeing that physical size does not always determine the outcome of a fight or a dangerous scenario; skill does.