"This is the first book to explore women's judo in all aspects, from the history and governance of the sport to cutting-edge sport science perspectives. The book examines the story of judo for women, and how the history of the sport has paralleled the cultural and social challenges faced by women in both the East and the West. It considers the issues of leadership and governance in contemporary women's judo, and the obstacles to stronger involvement for women in the sport as a whole, as well as the rules and competition structures that shape the sport today. The book also looks at the tactical and technical considerations of coaching women in judo, and the significance of the coach-athlete relationship, as well the physiology of the athlete - including the female athlete triad - and how that relates to training, performance, technique and skill acquisition. A concluding chapter presents short biographies of the pioneering female judoka Rusty Kanokogi, Ingrid Bergmanns, Kaori Yamaguchi, Karen Briggs and Ryoko Tani. This is essential reading for anyone with an interest in martial arts or women's sport and a useful resource for those studying sport history, sociology of sport, gender studies and sport development and coaching"--

Essays discuss various types of martial arts, and looks at how the martial arts help women to develop positive self-images and break free of the role of victim.

Global Release Paperback

The Martial Arts Woman shares the stories and insights of more than twenty-five women in the martial arts, and how they apply martial arts to their lives. Unlike most other martial art books, the reader will catch a glimpse into the brave and empowered woman who dares to be all that she can be. Many of these women had to overcome great societal or personal challenges to break into the men's world of martial arts. This book will motivate and inspire you to go after your goals in life and to fight through every challenge and defeat every obstacle. The Martial Arts Woman will open your eyes to the power of the human spirit and the martial art mindset that dwells in each of us!

Rena Glickman, known professionally as Rusty Kanokogi, was a Jewish girl who grew up to become the preeminent female judo master of her time, overcoming many odds. At a time when judo was a sport strictly for boys and men, Rusty was determined to practice the sport she loved.

The surprising roots of the self-defense movement and the history of women’s empowerment. At the turn of the twentieth century, women famously organized to demand greater social and political freedoms like gaining the right to vote. However, few realize that the Progressive Era also witnessed the birth of the women’s self-defense movement. It is nearly impossible in today’s day and age to imagine a world without the concept of women’s self defense. Some women were inspired to take up boxing and jiu-jitsu for very personal reasons that ranged from protecting themselves from attacks by strangers on the street to rejecting gendered notions about feminine weakness and empowering themselves as their own protectors. Women’s training in self defense was both a reflection of and a response to the broader cultural issues of the time, including the women’s rights movement and the campaign for the vote. Perhaps more importantly, the discussion surrounding women’s self-defense revealed powerful myths about the source of violence against women and opened up conversations about the less visible violence that many women faced in their own homes. Through self-defense training, women debunked patriarchal myths about inherent feminine weakness, creating a new image of women as powerful and self-reliant. Whether or not women consciously pursued self-defense for these reasons, their actions embodied feminist politics. Although their individual motivations may have varied, their collective action echoed through the twentieth century, demanding emancipation from the constrictions that prevented women from exercising their full rights as citizens and human beings. This book is a fascinating and comprehensive introduction to one of the most important women’s issues of all time. This book will provoke good debate and offer distinct responses and solutions.

Little Judo Girl is an action-comedy about a nine-year-old girl named Courtney who has a yellow belt in judo. For the summer, she visits her older cousin Annie. The two hatch a plan to trick boys into play wrestling with Courtney. The kids bet chores on the winner. The local kids have no idea of her judo skills, so she pins and submits many of them including a run-in with the local bully. Then the girls create the "Cabana boy cleaning service" and start renting out the boys to many of the neighborhood girls who kick back a piece of their allowance to Annie and Courtney. The humor is pervasive as some kids go through great lengths to earn their freedom. The story includes coming of age, having respect for others, and some exploring of emotions, but the book is not preachy about these background themes.