The Woman Warrior: What Does That Even MEAN?

Featured ~ Stephanie Dunham ~ Leave a comment

Tachibanna-hime ukiyo-e — Tachibanna-hime fighting a dragon under a bridge

As you might’ve guessed, I’m a woman (10 Awesome Points for you if I didn’t need to tell you that). And, I’m a martial artist which puts in the category of warrior (if you’re someone who believes that the term warrior is only reserved for people who have experienced actual combat, that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m interested in discussing mindsets. So, put your diatribe a side and just listen), because I’m training very closely to the ways ancient people did to fight each other in battles and wars. Also, I’m philosophical so I like to think about things and find answers to my questions. Questions like, I represent a minority in the martial arts, why is that so? Why are many women not-so-inclined to become martial artists? Is it too male? Too violent? Too… something? I’ve spent many hours researching the warrior mentality, what it means to be a martial artist as a woman, and etc.

Continue reading →

The Greatest Irony of Martial Arts (and Life): Failure, pain and loss as accurate measures of success.

Featured ~ Stephanie Dunham ~ Leave a comment

This week in the dojo, both nights were what I call hard training. I was thrown harder than normal (for me) to the mats, my limbs were twisted into painful pretzels, I acquired a few bruises, bumps, went through a round of sparring with five separate attacks I had to avoid or fend off. I got hit in the face. I was put in chokehold. Another person had my face and body smashed into the mats. By Thursday morning I was pretty sore and tired (My chiropractor had a field day with all of the loud CRACKS! my body was making).

Continue reading →

Taking the Road Less Traveled (Part 2): Fear, Panic, Anxiety, and the Calming Effect of the Martial Arts

Featured ~ Stephanie Dunham ~ Leave a comment

I remember sitting on my knees on the mats to the far left, Mark Sensei was beside me asking me what was stopping me from successfully executing ukemi (safely falling). I had been at it for weeks by that point. Fear stiffened my body, either preventing a decent roll, or stopping me altogether. I had to keep going no matter what, but man oh man, was it difficult to push myself into this art.

Continue reading →

Taking the Road Less Traveled (Part 1): From Victim to Victor, Within the Context of the Martial Arts.

Featured ~ Stephanie Dunham ~ 2 Comments

As I sit here on my couch, I find myself reflecting on my past. A lot of things people normally experience in their youth were lost to me: happiness, security, a sense of purpose, and so on. It wasn’t until I became acquainted with Jesus that I got on the true path to recovery. He usually sends me on an unusual path, unusual even in Christian circles, to find healing and wholeness. Like a surprise laid out long ago for me to find at the right time and place.

Continue reading →

How to Find Your Fighting Spirit

Featured ~ Stephanie Dunham ~ Leave a comment

I’ve learned a lot about myself in the past 2 years as a martial artist, and as a woman I don’t think I could have learned in just any environment. Learning a martial art takes a lot of perseverance and grit, it’s not easy, and it shouldn’t be. I’ve been downright frightened at times and had to grit my teeth and force myself to keep going. Because of this, the greatest lessons I’ve learned through ninpo have to do with my internal life, how I think, how I behave, what I allow to bother me, or not, and what I think about myself and others. My sense of value changed through several intense experiences in class and private lessons. I went from only valuing my usefulness, to valuing my existence. Learning one’s true value is something I desire to transmit to other women.

Continue reading →