Trained by a woman

[Kitsune]

Any of you have ever been trained by a woman? How's it like? Are they more strict than men?
I'm asking you this cos I don't know what's it like.

[ne0r]

One of my sensei is a woman.
The training is awesome. She will go really hard on you, but if you're tired, she'll let you rest. I don't know if there is a general difference between the strictness of women and men, my sensei (a man and a woman) both are only as strict as necessary, I think. But they'll let you know (more or less directly) if you do something wrong.
And her kendo is very beautiful.

[Kapplow]

My Naginata sensei is a woman. She's not very strict at all, mostly because theres no need be. Shes one is my biggest role models. She has infinite patience with me, I really suck at Naginata. She helped me build my own uchikomi so I can practice more than once a week. Not to mention on practice days she travels over 30min sometimes just to teach me. Sometimes I have trouble understanding what she wants me to do in terms of technique, but thats do to her having a very scientific, bio-mechanical approach. Not because of being a woman. I'm a moron, I need things to be hammered into my brain using small words written in crayon. She truely is a testament to how Budo builds character and cultivates the human spirit.

[ScottUK]

My iai teacher is female. She gets the point across a lot different to how guys do, but it seems to be effective...

[Kirinhale]

I have two female sensei, I think the only difference is that they get along better with children

[Lloromannic]

My beginners course was taught bya woman, and she is by far the strictest teacher i've ever had, i thank her a lot for it.

[Bennosuke]

I think it depends on the woman, just like it depends on the man. Chan sensei of SF dojo is very strict, but she is one of my favorite teachers.

[Aries]

haven't had much expereince but appreantly my dojo has a higher than average ratio of women. half the time i'm being taught by women, since i'm a n00b everyone has a part is teaching me the basics. I don't see much of a differnce in strictness, though i'm picking up on the differnt personalities and styles of teaching for each induvidual.
Chan sensei does something different with her explainations of things that really click in my head, hard to get the body to follow everytime but i can understand better wahts supposed to happen.
on the other hand, forever in my mind, when i think "big step" or "relax" it will be in Mr.k's korean accent.

[David]

Every kata that I've been tought, with the exception of Gohhon-Me, was tought to me by a woman, but they were all sempai, not sensei. My sensei is a man, but the class sempai is a woman. Also, most of the women in our club are all at least shodan. Since it's a club, we have everyone, both beginers and vetterans, training at the same time. It's not uncommon to have the highest ranking person under sensei (who's usually a woman) going over basics with a beginer, while sensei is keeping an eye out on everyone else.

[Dervish]

I never really made the distinction between man and woman. I just treat them all like people. I like diversity, though.

[ScottUK]

I never really made the distinction between man and woman.

There are differences, fella...

[rfoxmich]

Why would you think that there would be one type of woman instructor any more than there would be a single type of male trainer. Focus on what each instructor has to offer you and give your best to them in turn. Don't get distracted by minor things like the gender of the instructor.

[Hisham]

There are differences, fella...

Can you elaborate? j/k

Back to the subject, i've had a woman as a sempai, nothing different but the kiai and the less physical more finess kendo that set her appart from the men sempai in the dojo.

[Dervish]

There are differences, fella...

Kendowise! Grrr :P

[Shikkari]

At my dojo, the majority of the most regular sensei are women. I would attribute my love of kendo to them- like some have said, the points come across differently and I love having a match for strength and weight. Of course I enjoy playing and training with the guys too and similarly value their advice, but in terms of pure physical satisfaction, as a women, having good female sensei is very helpful. Women play kendo differently, thats obvious isnt it?
In terms of strictness, its my female senseis who have pushed me further and always set out to teach not just correct. One other thing Ive noticed is that my female teachers are good at seeing things even when you dont know they are watching!! funny its that same uncanny eyes in the back of their head like mothers/ us women have!!