Dr. Wendy Rouse: The History of Women's Self Defense Jiu-Jitsu - a podcast by Jeff Shaw

Dr. Wendy Rouse is a historian who has studied the origin of the women's self defense movement, as well as early jiu-jitsu in America -- including how President Theodore Roosevelt played a role in changing perceptions of this new-to-Americans art as an "unmanly" art. She's a professor of history at San Jose State University and the author of a book and many articles on these subjects.

Check out some of the materials we reference in the conversation, including Dr. Rouse's article "Jiujitsuing Uncle Sam: The Unmanly Art of Jiujitsu." https://online.ucpress.edu/phr/article/84/4/448/81155/JiuJitsuing-Uncle-SamThe-Unmanly-Art-of-JiuJitsu

Dr. Rouse's book, "Her Own Hero: The Origins of the Women's Self Defense Movement." https://nyupress.org/9781479828531/her-own-hero/

Dr. Rouse's Presentation at the California State Historical Society. https://youtu.be/Nu0FjzlXPXg?t=2373

And this presentation by May Whitley, whose video we reference in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLIE1GKfluk

Further episodes of Dirty White Belt Radio

Further podcasts by Jeff Shaw

Website of Jeff Shaw