Women Seek Empowerment Through Martial Arts Amid Rising Safety Concerns
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A growing number of women are turning to self-defense training, like martial arts, as a response to increasing reports of violence and attacks. The desire for greater personal safety and resilience is driving a surge in interest, offering a proactive approach to navigating a world where feeling secure is, for many, a daily challenge.
The Normalization of Unease
Recent headlines detailing incidents of domestic violence and femicide have underscored a pervasive sense of vulnerability. One young woman, a 19-year-old named Bente Mertens, has been practicing Hapkido since the age of 10, and her experience reflects a broader trend. “Fortunately, I have never been attacked as regularly in the news,” Mertens stated after a weekly training session. “While going out, there is regularly undesirable physical contact, that is unfortunately normalized.” This normalization of unwanted advances and potential threats is a key factor motivating women to seek self-defense skills.
Beyond Physical Force: The Principles of Hapkido
Hapkido, practiced at the Jin Jung Kwan school in Merkelbeek, emphasizes more than just physical confrontation. Trainer Henny Beurskens explained that the art focuses on avoiding threatening situations whenever possible. “Our movements are so unnatural that few attackers can defend themselves against this,” Beurskens said. “And otherwise we concentrate, for example, on knees or larynx to eliminate the robber and walk away.” This approach prioritizes de-escalation and incapacitation, allowing individuals to escape potentially dangerous encounters.
Building Confidence and Challenging Fear
The benefits of martial arts extend beyond the purely physical. Mertens believes that empowering women with self-defense skills can have a profound impact on their confidence and willingness to navigate public spaces without fear. “They could see if such a sport like mine is for them,” she said. “Hopefully that girls and women will give more self-confidence and they dare more easily without fear on the street. And if an impending situation arises, they can defend themselves.”
Steady, Not Surging, Demand
Despite the heightened awareness surrounding violence against women, the Jin Jung Kwan school has not yet seen a significant increase in registrations following recent high-profile incidents. The female members of the school have, fortunately, not yet had to utilize their training in serious real-world situations. However, the ongoing need for self-defense education remains clear, as women continue to seek ways to proactively protect themselves and reclaim their sense of security.
