[suffolkwrestling]

I was wondering if ladies who actively participate in IRL matches of any type have found that there are a larger percentage of younger ladies (say 18 to 30) who are IRL fighters?  As a middle aged man, and a caveman from the pre internet times, it was so difficult to get a feel for the number of ladies who fought.  It seems now that you can't swing a cat without hitting a younger lady who IRL fights (no pun intended with the cat thing).  I would be interested in hearing your views on if it more an issue of sites like this where all interested people can come together? Or is it a case where in the present, less rigid world ladies find it more acceptable, and are uninhibited in giving it a shot.

I appreciate any and all who would take time to share her view on this topic.

[Kateintense]

Ok, I did a fair amount t of RL fighting up into my mid 30's but not active now, so maybe shouldn't be offering a view. However:

It is both that the women who do this are and has always been a tiny fraction of 1% of the women under 40 in the USA, and also changing social climate has increased the opportunities greatly.  Clarressa Shields won gold at the 2012 Olympics, the very first time women could box as an Olympic event; but the sport, along with some MA is now there in the Olympics. Also women even earning a pro living in MMA fights at the highest levels in greatly increasing: Gina Carano, Rhonda Rousey, Miesha Tate and many more. But this is, of course, not the bite n scratch type of fight most wanted here and, it seems, by guys in general. 

Yes, this site is a self-selected concentration of people interested in women fighting,and not at all a reliable indication of actual women who actually fight. Age imposes its limits, but not as much a matter of under 30 as you seem to think.

[blilly2]

As as a couple that has fought with alll types of opponents from many different age groups i can say that networking is everything. These days people are too wired into computers to network. I find that online you have more young girls in search of fights and are willing to take the risk associated with seeking opponents and venues online in order to fulfill their desire to mix it up with another woman. The more mature fighters that i've encountered over the past several years since i began training and fighting along side my husband dont use the internet to network with opponents, instead they use word of mouth and references. When they find  a good opponent which has usually gone against some one they know, theyll connect the opponent too some of the other women theyve fought in the past and keep a cicle going in that manner. Many private session fighters that are over 40 like to go hard in private fights especially against younger opponents who they worry have speed, stamina, and often strength advantages over them, coincidentally this often can attract unwanted attention and risks for experienced fighters which is why they dont frequently take the risks associated with meeting opponents over the internet but instead meet people in local circles dedicated to private session fighters. Trust me there is no shortage of well experienced mature brawling ladies out there, but finding them through the internet can be troublesome, as its more of a younger generations thing to broadcast that they have a thing for fighting; the mature ladies like to keep that fetish more secretive and closed circuit.

[femfitefan]

If a male fan can weigh in on this one... I think there is an increase in girls and women interested in all of this and there are two main reasons that come to mind.

First is that more and more girls and women are participating in sports than used to be.  High schools and colleges have more sports options for girls so they're getting more opportunities to compete against other girls in physical competition, so the idea of competing against someone in a another physical competition such as wrestling or fighting doesn't seem so daunting.  I call it the unintended consequence of Title IX.

Second is the internet.  Not necessarily for meeting opponents there (though I know some do), but for seeing pictures and videos of other girls and women having these types of matches.  If they can see that others are already doing what they're interested in, then that gives the added confidence to go out and find someone to match up with.  And lets be honest, it also gives boyfriends and husbands the world over things they can show their wives or girlfriends example as they talk them into giving it a try.

Just my two cents.  Happy New Year to all.