First of all, I never said anything about looks, but feel free to point me in the direction of some good looking kickboxers you know. Especially if you can point me in the direction of Desni Boisvert, who, although too young for me, is visually stunning and a fabulously composed fighter.

2nd, I never said it was impossible, and have already written at length on this topic.

3rd, I'm not interested in being sewn, by a boy or a girl.

4th, I don't know, can they? My personal experience is that girls do better at paying attention and following the rules, but not so good at thinking outside the box. Don't go getting all goofy on me, boys are good at some things, girls are good at others. So what?

5th, I don't know, can a woman be president? She could, but I'm not sure if she can carry any Red states, at least not in my lifetime.

__________________
It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up.

Is there a chance, Ms. Bytes, that there was some humor in my post about women, or are you really going to take your pants off the next time you are in my presence?

__________________
It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up.

There is humor in all of your posts, Mr. Pogue.

So...umm...well...uh...I guess that means the pants are staying on. Well, it was worth a try.

__________________
It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up.

For talent, looks & brains in a female one needs to look no further than Bridgett Riley. 5 kickboxing titles, 1 boxing title & her share of photo shoots & film roles. Randy, I think you've talked yourself into a corner.

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Tom Jensen "Being a good fighter is ONE thing. Being a good person is EVERYTHING." -Kevin "Superkick" McClinton

I thought this post was about the private messages, all I am reading is about My sister and Randy talking about How Randy hates women. Steph, I am sorry I let you down last night, it seems I am doing that to others as well.

Right! And I'm not sure how the latecomers managed to twist some playful banter into thinking we are really having a conversation about me 'hating' women, but you need to try to have fun, or at least go back and read every post on about six threads of this board, if you wanna keep up.

Tom, I haven't talked myself into a corner at all. Are we pretending that I'm new to kickboxing? Or that I haven't trained women or watched them fight? Or that I haven't watched pro women on tv for what, 10 or 15 years? Am I not qualified to have an opinion, as a fighter and trainer?
My opinion is well thought out. Here is the original
http://www.ikfkickboxing.com/wwwboa...hread.php?t=292

It's fine if you want to disagree. I never said there weren't any good female kickboxers. As a matter of fact, I've said that Kathy Long was one of few fighters I looked up to in my youth. But no, as it says in that other thread, I don't think that women's opportunities make it easy to gain the neccessary experience, and I really don't like watching the subar fighting that is usually the result.

For your benefit, I'll be incendiary. Another thing I don't like in women's kickboxing is something that Pam alluded to earlier.
http://www.ikfkickboxing.com/wwwboa...hread.php?t=300

She mentioned having a chance to do what "good girls" don't do. "Pop someone in the face!" Well, I don't fight because I need to pop someone in the face, or have anger issues. I'm testing my skills as a martial artist.

I'm allowed to not like fighters who just want to hurt people. I'm allowed to not like them if they are girls. I'm allowed to not appreciate women who have those urges, just like I don't like it in men. And, truth be told, I don't like most men.

Also, I'm allowed to not like it if a woman wants kickboxing to be her little part-time fantasy. You know, women who have been "good" their whole lives, and now want to try out the "wild" side. Have a kickbowing fight, dance one night at a strip club, have an affair, take a drug, whatever. Someone who is never going to take the time to be good, but I have to sit and watch them get all bloody so they can feel "alive." Whatever. They are certainly able to do it, but I don't have to enjoy it. And I don't. Not because I don't like women. Because I don't like bad fighting. Because I LIKE women, as a group, better than men, and I don't like them standing in front of 500 people, showing the rage that I don't respect, but not showing the skill that I do respect. It makes fighters look like A-holes, and I expect more from women.

I respect female martial artists who respect themselves and their art to the point that they fight a skilled fight, and I respect them no more or less than men who do the same. The point is and was, with less sparring partners and less fight opportunities, it is very difficult for a woman to become skilled and composed, and I personally don't think it's worth it for most women, and don't like watching people, men or women, who get into the ring without having their chops together.

There is no corner. This room is round.

__________________
It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up.

oh Mr. Pogue...... LOL

First of all, I did not think that you truly "hate" women. I have been reading your posts with a tone of humor and have been replying as such, for the most part. Unfortunately, without sitting face to face with someone while during a conversation, either party or onlooker can take a post in a totally different tone. I've said that many times and will probably say it several more if I continue to post.

When I said "good girls arent suppose to pop someone in the face", you took that wrong. I do not get into the ring just to punch someone in the face and relieve years of built up anger and resentments towards being told to be a "good girl". I enjoy trying to develop my skill and technique as a martial artist. You truly cannot develop the timing or other traits necessary without some type of full contact encounters. Sparring or competeing is the only way to develop your skills to their full level.

What I was trying to say is that up until recently, girls were suppose to play with Barbies, boys were suppose to roughhouse. Girls were not suppose to get into fist fights or "defend" themselves. Even now, we will see girls in Karate class, but not Thai Boxing because it's seen as a more "barbaric" sport to some parents. Every child should be given the chance to learn how to defend themselves, it should not be a requirement to be male in order to step into the ring.

Apparently the women kickboxers of PA are a different breed then what I have witnessed in the midwest because I have yet to see a woman in the ring "standing in front of 500 people showing rage". The women I have witnessed competeing have been awesome and, several times, have been alot more fun to watch then the men. Why?? Because women learn the sport from the ground up! Many times a girl's technique is more polished then a guys because they go into it "knowing" they know nothing about fighting and want to learn every little thing. Men already think they do. Training a man fighter means getting him to drop bad fighting habits he picked up through his years as a male. Women are usually a clean slate. And I am not saying ALL men and ALL women, I said "usually", which means there are ones that don't fall into those categories.

I have not seen any woman in the ring yet that is in there just to "hurt people". They want to test their skill, challenge themselves and LEARN and IMPROVE. I CAN say I have seen MANY men step into the ring with the cockiest of attitudes, glaring at their opponent, trying to undermine their confidence and scare them. They go in wanting to hurt someone and they could care less how they look in the ring.

I respect myself as a female and as a martial artist. My biggest regret is the chance to learn a martial art has come so late in my life. I am going to be 41. I KNOW I will never compete professionally, I KNOW if I do step into the ring for an actual bout, that it may only be one or two times. I am too old. I started too late. I don't have the foundation on which to pull from, but I do know, there is something inside of me that feels the need to do it. Maybe it's to just see how I have developed my skills and to see what really needs to be worked on and improved. I cannot even say, at this time, if I will ever feel I am ready to actually step into that ring. But I want that option to decide for myself.

I know by encouraging the younger girls to follow their dreams, if they really want to be a Kathy Long, if they have the heart, and the determination that will make them put in those long hours of training, they shouldn't be discouraged and told to go do something "girly" and leave fighting to the boys.

Round rooms are good!

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God makes things possible, not easy!
"If you think Muay Thai comes with fried rice, you're in deep sh*t!"

Craig, snap out of it. You did not let me down.

Oh, Miss Panda. WE, are fine. I'm just worried about people who come on halfway through and keep seeing "Randy, why do you hate women?" It messes with my mojo, dig?

It's nice the way you are backpedaling off of the "wanna pop someone in the face" line, but i ain't buyin' it. And it's ok if you feel that way. Part of the reason why I'm less likely, as a boy, to feel that way, is because I have more socially acceptable outlets for anger than women. But it still doesn't mean I have to like it, or think that it makes for entertaining fights.

I don't really know where to begin with your "good girl" thing. It seems like either A) that was pushed on you more than the average young girl, or B) you were hardcore tomboy and wanted to do what the boys did, or C) a combo. Anyway, I honestly think that, on average, boys don't play with Barbie because they don't WANT to, and girls don't play war games with GI JOE because they don't WANT to. Not because that's what society dictates. Yes, of course, there is crossover, but many, many, studies have been done on very young children to observe what they are naturally drawn to, and there are definite, statistically significant differences between the sexes. It doesn't mean that something is wrong if there is crossover, but don't act like all girls would secretly rather be punching each other, but are relegated by society to playing with Barbie.

As far as students, we agree totally. Women, on average, are much better students than men. Men always think they know everything, and that issue is exacerbated if they are in front of female students.

I'm not going to get into it with you about the bloodthirsty look. Obviously, we need to agree to disagree.

I think discouraging girls is the way to go. If a girl is REALLY wants it, she'll go and get it. But I want to discourage those who "kinda want to give it a try." I know there is more of that than you will admit to, so don't bother telling me there isn't. Because there is a lot of that going on, and the level of competition isn't that great, they can even win a fight or two. But I think it looks sloppy, and I'd rather there be less girls fighting, but talent from the ones who do. Y'know. The real fighters.

Speaking of which, I guess I'd better rattle off my favorite female fighters. I'll stick with the IKF, which has some good females.
Jenna Droluk, of course.
Terrie Hicks
Desni Boisvert
Jenny Foster
Shelly Evans
Nicole Hess
There's two or three others in the competent category, but most of the rest are just filling the air with punches and kicks, hoping something lands. I don't like it from boys, and I expect more from my better students, the girls.

__________________
It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up.