I realize that women wrestling is hard for many to accept, for reasons I won't dwell upon. Bottom line: If more women were considered physical threats by attackers, I'm confident that attempts to rape, rob and dominate women and girls would decrease dramatically. For women to be physically weak is a social construction, and it is limiting. If more women wrestled, there would be more same-sex opponents for Elissa Reinsma.

As the 1998 National Karate Women Over 40 brown-belt champ, I speak from experience. Encourage the girls in your lives to go into self-defense sports. It will not only help protect them from attacks, it will greatly improve their discipline and confidence.

Congratulations, Elissa, for paving the way for generations of girls.

Lynn Nelson, Minneapolis