There’s been all sorts of chuckling and clucking about video and photos out of Iran, showing this army of female ninjas.
First, I thought this was story from The Onion. Nope.
My second thought was, the Revolutionary Guards are so afraid of Israel or America attacking that they’re hoping we don’t expect women to be, I don’t know, ninjas? Do they plan on parachuting a bunch of women into New York City or whatever, with the only thing standing between Manhattan and ninja armageddon being Chuck Norris, who is only 934 years old?
Here’s a photo:
Is there a female ninja army in Iran? Yes there is. But it's not what you think.
However: We don’t need Chuck to save us. In fact, the Ayatollah’s might want to see if Chuck is for hire.
Because the truth is, the Iranian government and army is probably afraid of this army of female ninjas.
These women aren’t training because they’re members of the Revolutionary Guard – no, they’re practicing the deadly arts because society there is so repressive that sports is one of the few avenues women have outside the home. Unemployment among women is crazy high. Their testimony in court is only worth half that of a man.
It’s like the 1850s there. Not cool.
Sports is their outlet. This is why the first Muslim women to climb Mt. Everest were Iranian, why they rock at Tae Kwon Do once it became an Olympic sport — and why so many women there are training in ninjutsu.
Female ninjas training in Iran
So this story isn’t about a rogue country doing something a little weird. It’s really about women refusing to take accept being pushed down.
I salute the female ninjas of Iran, and I hope you keep on training your sisters and daughters.
Because maybe the people in charge will see what happened in Libya and Tunisia, and what’s happening in Syria — and if the Green Revolution rises up again in the streets of Tehran, maybe the Revolutionary Guard won’t be so quick to let the streets flow with blood when they know thousands upon thousands of female ninjas are watching.
Bonus content: a video report. Love it.
Good on them for having the freedom to do that, I used to train in Tae Kwon-Do it is fantastic! of course with all that scary black regalia and the fact they are in Iran one has scarier assumptions about the use of a supposedly peaceful sport. I never got to run up a wall like that, that is really cool!
I absolutely love this!
I admire these women. I hope things become much better for them in the future.
I have seen this photo and love what they are doing. I count my blessings every day….
At one time in my life I could do the splits…Dang!
These pics coupled with all the headlines about Iran’s nuclear aspirations gave me an idea for a new short story:
“Nuclear Ninjas: Chopping the Atom”
Any interest in a collaboration?