Those who have still yet to experience the effectiveness of women competing in mixed martial arts (aka “WMMA”), one just needs to watch the Women’s Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion, Ronda Rousey, in action.
Rousey has undoubtedly shown the beauty, grace and power of judo since she stepped foot into the MMA arena.
A bronze medalist in judo at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Rousey became the first American to win an Olympic medal in women’s judo since its inception as an Olympic sport in 1992. This is in of itself a true honor.
Rousey is undefeated in her MMA career, having had every opponent tap out within in the first round, all via her signature move—the arm-bar. If you turned away for more than one minute, you would have missed the intricacies of Rousey‘s superb judo techniques.
Ask any martial artist and they will most likely tell you that watching Ronda Rousey fight is a sight of martial arts mastery.
Many ponder who can step up and truly pose a challenge for the judo Olympian. In my opinion, Ronda Rousey may do for WMMA what Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, has done in the Olympics for swimming.
Unlike the Olympics, MMA does not have a four year time period between competitions. Whether it is the UFC, Strikeforce or even K-1, professional fighters often compete as frequently as every few months to maintain their status, skills and of course, to please fans who buy tickets to see their favorite fighter duke it out inside the cage or ring.
Thus, Rousey has many opportunities to continue competing if she chooses to. Rousey is looked upon not only as a role model for judo, but also empowering women to hone their mind, body and soul with the martial arts.
You can bet that more women, especially young girls, will begin to sign up at their local judo academies and want to do what Ronda Rousey does.
Does this mean every girl who steps into a judo school is planning to fight or compete in the Olympics? Of course not. But if Rousey can inspire the younger generation to stay off the streets and learn self confidence and discipline with judo, then by all means I am supporting her as a fan and fellow martial artist.
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