Remember that letter the NCFM sent to the city of Glendale saying that women's only self defense classes were sexist? The one that feminist columnists lambasted? Well, it looks like the city responded, and is now offering a self defense class for men, as well.

kizzan · 2014-06-07T06:30:04+00:00

Yeah cuz it's a joke to treat men equally.

scsimodem · 2014-06-07T14:59:28+00:00

All seriousness aside, this immediately reminded me of when Bobby Hill (King of the Hill) took a women's self defense class and then started running around school kicking everybody in the testes.

This particularly issue is a bit touchy, though. Women's self defense classes are meant to teach women, who are, in general, physically weaker than their attackers, how to fight dirty. Nut shots. Eye gouges. Whatever induces the most amount of pain in as little time as possible. They also teach women to be more assertive, since they tend to be more timid. In contrast, men may be equally matched in strength and are culturally conditioned to fight fair. Teaching men how to shout and kick people in the nuts isn't going to be very productive.

I have no problem with there being women's only self-defense classes, due to physical and psychological differences, but there should be an option for men's self-defense, too. Men are more likely to be physically assaulted than women, and one of the most important things I learned in high school is that when somebody jumps you from out of left field, you no longer have to fight fair. Learning how to inflict pain on another human being is a useful skill, but the two genders face different obstacles to that.

anonlymouse · 2014-06-07T17:47:24+00:00

[permanently deleted]

2014-06-07T06:31:41+00:00

I see.

bobbage · 2014-06-07T07:01:50+00:00

Downvote me to shit! :)

Glendale neighbors my neighborhood in LA, I'm in the area fairly often. I have mixed feelings. Maybe I'm biased? I practice mixed martial arts, and it's one of the few places where I haven't been harassed or felt endangered. How many guys are even going to show up, sign up - whatever? I feel like this is SJW warrior bullshit/childish shit/equality for the sake of quality. I just don't understand why it's not an open/any-gender class. WTF.

I used to grapple at a gym with women, it's really not a big deal. As a self defense class ... there won't even be rolling on a mat. The real issue is why isn't there a single class type: of mixed genders?

Think on that. I didn't hear all of the story, and maybe the letter asked for that versus allowing men in that class / mixing.