Most martial arts schools have more men than women. That’s just the reality across the board — and Systema is no exception. But here’s what I’ve seen after decades of teaching: when women do find Systema, they often take to it faster and more naturally than anyone expects.
So why aren’t more women training? Let’s be honest about it.
1. The Pool Is Smaller to Begin With
Fewer women train in martial arts generally — so every school, every style, is competing for a smaller group of potential students. That’s not a Systema problem. It’s an industry-wide reality that’s slowly shifting as more women seek practical self-defense and fitness on their own terms.
2. Systema Is Still Relatively New in America
There simply aren’t as many Systema schools or qualified instructors as there are Karate or BJJ gyms. Less availability means less exposure — and less exposure means fewer women have even had the chance to try it. As the art grows, that changes.
3. Most People Don’t Know What Systema Is
If you’ve never heard of it, you won’t seek it out. Women who stumble into a Systema class are often surprised — it’s nothing like they expected, usually in the best way. The challenge is just getting more women through the door.
4. The “Military” Image Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story
Yes, Systema has deep roots in Russian military and law enforcement training. That history gets marketed in a way that reads as aggressive and male-dominated — which isn’t exactly a welcoming first impression. But the actual practice is something else entirely. Systema emphasizes awareness, breathing, relaxed movement, and adaptability. That’s not a macho art. That’s a smart art.
5. The Falling and Rolling Learning Curve Is Real — and Worth Pushing Through
I’ll be honest: I’ve seen more women than men hesitate at the groundwork in Systema. Rolling and falling feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable at first for a lot of people. But here’s what I’ve also seen — women who push past that initial discomfort often develop exceptional body awareness and fluid movement. The groundwork isn’t the hard part forever. It just feels that way at the start.
6. The Contact Level Surprises People
Systema involves real striking and close-range work. That puts some people off — men and women alike. But contact training done right, in a structured and supportive environment, is exactly what builds genuine confidence. There’s a big difference between a class that throws you into the deep end and one that builds you up progressively. The right school makes all the difference.
7. The Culture of the School Matters More Than the Art Itself
This one I feel most strongly about. I’ve watched it happen too many times — a woman walks into a class and the men either treat her like she’s fragile or try to prove something. Neither is acceptable. Condescension is the number one complaint I hear from women who try martial arts and don’t come back. A good Systema school has none of that. Women are trained seriously, expected to perform seriously, and respected for it.
Here’s the part that matters most: Systema may be the single best martial art available to women — not because it makes women fight like men, but because it doesn’t. It works with your natural movement, your intuition, and your awareness. Next to ground-based arts like BJJ, I haven’t seen anything that gives women more practical tools for real-world situations.
The obstacles above aren’t really about Systema. They’re about access, perception, and culture. All of them are fixable. And if you’re a woman who’s been on the fence — this is your invitation to find out what Systema is actually about.
Systema Colorado — Longmont, CO
Ready to Find Out What You’re Already Capable Of?
Your first class at Systema Colorado is free — no experience needed, no commitment required. Come see why Systema for women is unlike anything you’ve tried before.
Systema Colorado · 1830 Boston Ave, Suite F, Longmont, CO · (303) 485-5425