It's Not Just For Boys by Lillyan

It's Not Just For Boys by Lillyan - January 2023 Scholarship Essay

Can respect be taught? Can someone learn self-control, anatomy, and self-defense at the same time? I would argue, as I’m sure many others would as well, that the answer to both of these questions would be a resounding yes. The key lies in a sport many overlook: the martial arts.
For ten years now, I’ve studied kempo karate at a dojo in my town. Over that span of time I’ve come to appreciate just how much karate can teach a person. The obvious (and correct) answer would be self-defense, but this is not a pick-the-best-fitting-answer type of question. This is a pick-all-answers-that-apply question. Said answers would be the following: self-defense, self-respect, respect for others, bodily anatomy, and physical fitness. All of which can greatly enhance a person's life. Therefore, having martial arts as a required class could enhance entire populations.
Self-defense is valuable for obvious reasons. Whether you’re a woman afraid of walking alone at night or a boy being harassed and bullied, everyone can benefit from knowing how to defend themselves. Knowledge of self-defense has the potential to save lives just as much as knowledge of CPR does. This does not give anybody the thumbs up to attack people unprovoked, but being able to distinguish when action is necessary and when it is not is another thing learned in the martial arts. Self-defense should be seen as a life skill the same way cooking and cleaning are. Everyone should know how to do it.
This world of possible danger partially stems from a world lacking respect. Having respect for other people is essential to good communication and understanding in work and everyday life. People who are not taught respect turn into people that start arguments and fights. Thankfully, learning to respect those around you is a key part of the martial arts. If you do not respect others, they will not respect you. Then you face the threat of being hit a little too hard. Self-respect is also fundamental, because without it you will hurt your body. You must take care of your body if you want it to take care of you in return. Teaching kids both forms of respect would make them better students and classmates. It would set them up for success and put them above peers who do not understand the importance of such a quality. In a truly respectful world, there would be no wars and senseless death. Wouldn’t that be lovely?
Lastly, bodily anatomy and physical fitness are important pieces of the martial arts. There is no denying the obesity crisis facing much of our country, so promoting physical fitness is necessary. Sure, other sports can do the job, but other sports don’t offer as practical of knowledge as self-defense. They also don’t offer a complex understanding of the body. This knowledge might only be a fun party trick for some, but martial arts is certainly more entertaining than an anatomy class.
In the end, the value of learning martial arts rests fully on the person teaching it. The great thing about that is the same applies for any class or extracurricular activity. Studying the martial arts has a practical use and, if desired, can be studied throughout one’s life. I probably won’t be able to jump hurdles in thirty years, but I’ll still be able to throw a punch and get out of a chokehold. And the cherry on top for making this a required class? The stigma about it being only for boys would finally be broken. The martial arts can be the answer to many questions, people just have to be willing to give it a try.