Wednesday, 22 November 2023

Female Martial Artists in 'Panic Mode' Over Unexpected Transgender Opponents, Leads to Rule Changes in Martial Arts Competitions

The panic among female martial artists facing much stronger transgender fighters has forced some to withdraw from recent competitions to avoid what they consider unfair competition, calling the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) to amend its rules that have been forcing non-trans females to compete against trans females.

Significant Rule Changes

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Following concerns about transgender female athletes competing in recent events, the NAGA has undertaken a significant revision of its rules.

Transgender Fighter Wins

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In a jiu-jitsu competition held in Georgia, Corissa Griffith, a transgender grappler, secured four gold medals in women's competitions, while Cordelia Gregory placed second, as reported by the feminist outlet Reduxx.

The 'Female' Category Includes Transgenders

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According to NAGA, transgender grapplers could be participating in competitions by checking the "female" category on registration forms, potentially slipping under the radar.

Safety Concerns Arise

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Several women have voiced their concerns about safety due to uneven matchups, although not all of them occurred at NAGA events. In fact, some were so troubled by these situations that they chose to withdraw from major tournaments to steer clear of possible similar confrontations.

Female Martial Artists ‘Devastated’ 

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Professional martial artist Jayden Alexander recently shared on social media that she has been refraining from participating in Jiu-Jitsu events to prevent facing transgender athletes in competition.

Tearful Encounter

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Alexander recounted a tearful experience after facing a transgender woman at an unspecified event in July. She felt so "devastated" and fearful that she withdrew from future competitions, including one organized by NAGA.

‘Unacceptable’ Competition 

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Objecting to what she believes to be unfair competition, Alexander stated, “The simple fact of the matter is that men, signing up in a combat sport to fight women, is absolutely unacceptable.”

'Horrible and Scary' Experience

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“The experience was horrible and scary,” Alexander expressed. “I was absolutely in fight or flight mode and as a seasoned competitor, I can honestly say I've never been there mentally before in a match.”

Safety and Inclusivity? 

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“We don’t deserve to self-exclude from competitions to avoid fighting men,” Alexander continued, adding, “We deserve for there to be rules and regulations put into place that keep us safe and that protect us from these situations happening in the first place.”

Transgender vs Female Matches Stir Discussions

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Throughout the year, videos showcasing female competitors competing against transgender opponents gained widespread attention and sparked debates regarding fairness and safety. Many pointed out that some transgender participants had a substantial weight advantage over their female counterparts.

A Significant Weight Difference 

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Just last month, Taelor Moore, a 135-pound woman, shared a video of herself competing against a 200-pound transgender athlete, accompanied by the caption: “My biggest opponent yet.”

Despite Moore's victory in the fight, her coach, Jimmy Witt, said that she “could have been severely injured.”

‘Panic’ Over Facing a Transgender Opponent

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Fighter Ansleigh Wilk shared that she had not been given prior notice that she would be fighting a transgender woman at a competition on July 8, and this revelation threw her into a state of "panic."

NAGA Responds to Controversy

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Following the controversy, the NAGA has reconsidered its approach to transgender fighters. The initial policy had assured that women wouldn't be obligated to compete against transgender fighters, but several women objected to this and subsequently initiated a boycott of a tournament held in Georgia in late October.

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source https://www.womenio.com/48626/female-martial-artists-in-panic-mode-over-unexpected-transgender-opponents-leads-to-rule-changes-in-martial-arts-competitions

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