Jiu-jitsu Fights to Throw Off Gender Barrier

Is There a Gender Barrier in Jiu Jitsu?

ABU DHABI // Some parents have banned their daughters from taking part in compulsory martial arts lessons in one of the emirate’s middle schools.

They say the jiu-jitsu lessons, designed to find future international champions, are “not for girls” and have made their daughters return the uniforms, a teacher at the school said.

The programme is being run under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who is an admirer of jiu-jitsu, along with his brothers Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed.

Sixteen coaches, including four women, have been brought in from Brazil to teach the sport at the 12 boys’ schools and two girls’ schools in Abu Dhabi chosen for the pilot scheme, which is still in its first year.

In one class this week, nine girls sat on the sidelines as 12 of their classmates took part in the lesson. It was not clear how many sat out because of their parents’ objections and how many merely lacked interest.

One trainer, Luciana Nader, said that in a typical class there were about five girls refusing to take part, claiming they preferred other sports.

“I am sad when some students decide they don’t want to participate,” said Ms Nader. “I tell them in my country if the government paid for jiu-jitsu, the kids would be so happy because many children now pay a lot of money to learn jiu-jitsu on their own.”

Read More: Jiu Jitsu Gender Barrier

Re-Published by: Dave Heuthe, American Kobe Jiu Jitsu Federation Black Belt & Certified Instructor. Dave provides group personal defense classes where lessons are taught in various locations, privately, at Bob Malvagno’s School of Self Defense, and through in-house work programs (e.g. -Fire Department, employer, churches & synagogues, community centers, etc.) in the Nassau County and Sufflok County, Long Island (LI), NY area. Dave’s business is to provide programs that help his students (adults, seniors, teens & children) master self defense. BECOME A CLASS MEMBER TODAY!

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