Just sayin.
I was doing an actual, legit search for lesbian friendly schools. I found aikido porn. Not like food porn porn, but like porn porn porn. Dunno whether I should piss, run, or go blind.
That whole zenra thing is interesting, but, really, aikido? Wow, just wow. My eyeballs might want some misogi. Or, maybe not. |
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On a side note, did you ever find a school that had and official "lebian friendly" policy? That I thought was even more humourous than the porn discovery.
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What's a lebian?
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Marc Abrams |
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Hi Krystal,
Were you searching for lesbian friendly aikido schools or schools in general? Are there schools out there unfriendly to lesbians? I don't know why sexuality has to be a factor in aikido (or any other form of learning for that matter). One puts on a kit and practices. I wouldn't know or care whether the person I practice with is gay or not. Why would a lesbian/gay person even announce their 'status' when looking to train in anything? I'm curious. regards, Mark |
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I realize that when it comes to things like sexuality, our identities are tied so closely to it, that sometimes we may be compelled to draw attention to that fact in situations which do not require us to do so. |
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If the Aikifolks don't mind a question from a sincerely interested fellow MAist, just exactly how does one go about ascertaining whether or not a dojo is 'bigoted'? Announcement, as previously indicated? Subvertly looking for 'signs'? What would those be?
Whatever happened to the idea of blending, harmonizing, fitting-in? Is that not a two-way process? Thank you. Quote:
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To the original post...
As others have stated, if there is a subject, there is the porn version as well. What can I say? Human beings are sexual creatures and besides, sex is fun... Shouldn't be a surprise... On the topic of Lesbian friendly dojo, don't know of any that are overtly billed in that fashion. I do, however, know of many dojo who couldn't possibly care less about each member's sexual orientation. When I first started at Seidokan the guy I worked out with on a regular basis was openly gay. Great guy to train with because he was strong and had a background in collegiate wrestling as well, so he pushed my limits each and every time we trained. I was quite sorry when he moved out of state -- I learned a lot training with him when he didn't just fall down... But.. I digress. The point is that I'm sure there are bigots out there here and there. I'm sure there are places where whispers might be heard. But I also know of quite a few places where all people with a sincere intent to learn are welcomed with open arms. If you're old enough and can get get your butt on the mat safely you're welcome to train. At most of those places sexual orientation is totally irrelevant. Excluding someone because they are a lesbian would be like excluding blondes or left-handed Eskimos. Totally irrelevant and nonsensical. But I suppose it might depend on where you are, etc. Don't know. Just haven't seen anything negative in the dojo I attend. Shrug. Just fwiw. |
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Anyway, to the OP, hopefully you'll find a place where it is at least a non-issue. Most in my experience are quite open and don't give a rat's behind about your orientation. So best of luck in your search. |
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Thank you, and of course.
But...how does one go about ascertaining if a dojo is 'XXX friendly'. As a female, having worked in some hot, cramped male dominated kitchens, I understand the different strategies women may use to survive, or even thrive in that environment. The enlightened, and the bigoted, it seems to work as long as everyone there is committed to an overarching common goal. Putting out food in that instance, but in a dojo, learning MA. There is a reason why we bow in to the dojo, and ritually don kikogi. And there is the sensei, who should be watching everything. Quote:
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I agree, it does lend itself to the absurd doesn't it. Maybe we should just have a sign saying either 'friendly' or 'un-friendly', that might do it. My door is open to all (well maybe not all, Scientologists, now they are just weird :freaky: ) regards Mark |
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I think the point has been made clear now, which is that it's completely unnecessary and irrelevant to bring up your sexuality in a dojo setting. Granted, I wouldn't want to belong to a dojo which had racist members, but I doubt I'd ask the Sensei before joining: "What is your opinion of blacks?"
I think the policy SHOULD be: "Don't ask, don't dwell." There's no need to out people by asking if they are gay or not, but if someone wants to make it known they are gay, then that's fine. However, once people find out that you are gay, don't DWELL on it. Just accept it and move on. It has no relevance in the dojo setting, nor does it effect anyone else aside from the person in question. |
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Here's something to keep in mind: people who are not targeted by a particular type of bigotry are often unaware of its presence. Partly this is because hostile remarks and behaviors aren't directed at them, and so they may simply not see the bigotry expressed...but also, sad to say, even when it happens right in front of them. Unless the behavior is blatantly hostile, people tend to see many bigoted remarks, behaviors, caricatures etc. as "harmless fun" or "just kidding around" or as insignificant. There are an awful lot of straight people who start acting strange when they have to touch a gay person, or share a changing room with one...a lot of straight people who find an excuse to work with another partner, who make sure they carry hand sanitizer, who suddenly start changing in the bathroom. And as long as they don't say, "Oh, so-and-so is gay, EW," most other straight people are not going to get it. They're not even going to see what's happening. And then they turn around and look at the gay person and say, "Wow, why are you like that, why do you have to make such a big issue out of being gay, why do you have to have a place be 'gay-friendly', do you really want us to put that on our sign (ew), and what about all the other categories of people, do we need to say we're 'friendly' to them too, and another thing, why do you people always need some kind of special accommodation when we're totally accepting???" Et cetera, blah de blah, lather rinse repeat. |
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I suppose it's not fair for me to judge that person for trying to see if dojo's are lesbian friendly, because in their life that is very important to them, and they possibly may have had some serious problems with discrimination the past, and maybe they want to avoid problems in the future. I can't fault someone for that. |
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Just an errant thought for what it's worth... I fully understand looking for a place that is (fill in the blank) friendly. Understandable especially if you've had some experience with various forms of discrimination. Had some odd experiences myself having been in interracial relationships and now being in an interracial marriage. That said I would think you'll find that most places that are (fill in the blank) friendly won't have any signs or flashing lights indicating they are friendly. So I wouldn't pass up places that don't have the "(fill in the blank) welcome here" signs. Many will find such things totally irrelevant. And hopefully those who are in charge will make sure that those who come will also abide by that point of view.
A few years ago I had some words with someone who had a habit of saying "that's so gay" about most anything he didn't like. He said it was just slang for "wimpy" but I told him it wasn't appropriate in a dojo setting regardless. Best of luck to the OP. Hope you find a good place to train. |
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On the other hand, my own teacher told me, 'There is a place for sensitivity in the dojo, but if it gets in the way of training, you have no business learning a martial art.'
Hypothetical bigoted 'what ifs' aren't going to be a productive base to understand exactly what someone means when they are looking for an environment that is 'XXX friendly'. I disagree, that unless something is blatant, that it won't be of a concern to others training. And if it's sly, and not picked up, work it out privately. If it can't be worked out privately, engage the sensei. Might be a valid complaint for an integrated dojo...might not. Quote:
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My dojo's policy is that everybody is welcome. Does that make it a swinging kind of dojo? :eek:
Marc Abrams ps- on the serious side. Last time I checked, a dojo was a place to study martial arts and any interpersonal stuff was secondary to the main focus of being at the dojo. If a dojo has some official policy regarding what type of consensual adult relationships people engage in, then my first question is: Are the studying the martial art of love? |
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Let's say the Sensei tells you the dojo is lesbian friendly. Do you think that means that the Sensei has at any point spoken to the class about being tolerant towards gays? Maybe he has, but I doubt it. The reality is that if you ask the Sensei that question, he'll simply tell you that they are gay tolerant. But that doesn't mean there is any official policy on that inside the dojo. It may not have EVER have even come up before!
That being said, who's to say that there are closet bigots in the dojo? Even if the Sensei is accepting, you might encounter some rogue students who are a-holes about it. So eventhough you asked ahead of time, you still can't prevent people from discriminating against you. |
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Isn't that precisely the attitude that would potentially make a dojo non-[fill in the blank] friendly towards others who are different or hold different viewpoints? I don't have to agree, like, or even respect a person's political views, religious convictions, or lifestyle choices in order to train with them. All of that should be totally irrelevant on the mat. |
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