Fight(her)
Thesis project: 2020-2021
Taekwondo is the national sport of Korea, it is a martial art, meaning the art of hand and foot fighting. Taekwondo utilizes all of the body, in co-ordination with inner self, to produce a totally aware and capable person.
In Martial Arts the number of males greatly outweighs the number of females, therefore there is a lack of women and girls within combat sports. There is an opportunity to change the perception of martial arts for parents and girls.
“An app for women and girls who have a desire to feel stronger, safer and more confident. Giving females of all ages a space to prove their capabilities, they are powerful and gender does not define strength. An art form that sets the standard, girls can and will do whatever they set their mind too.”
User research:
FINDING ONE:
Women perceive Martial Art’s as male dominated sport.
FINDING TWO:
The media predominately shows men in relation to martial arts.
FINIDING THREE:
Women do not picture themselves within martial arts.
FINDING FOUR:
Lack of female role models within martial arts, attributes to un-interest for women and girls.
FINDING FIVE:
Women are fearful to enter Taekwondo schools for fear of getting hurt.
FINDING SIX:
Women do have a desire to do combat sports.
Solutions
Basic Taekwondo training
Women and girls are struggling with the confidence to step foot into a Taekwondo school out of fear they will get hurt or be the only women in the school. By introducing a feature that teaches women and girls the basic’s of Taekwondo it will give them the confidence to attend their first class. Knowledge is confidence.
Creating a community
Currently there is no online platform for women and girls interested in the martial arts community. A community feature such as groups allows women to feel like they belong within the sport through finding like minded people and role models.
Highlighting role models
When conducting user interview’s we discovered that women do not picture themselves within martial arts. The media predominately shows men in relation to martial arts as well as the lack of female role models attributes to the un-interest from women and girls. The solution is to showcase women/girls within the visuals on app.