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It’s no thriller why Jordanian Lina Fayyad has been nicknamed “Fierce Savage” — watching as she lands successive blows within the cage, it’s clear she is poised to take blended martial arts by storm. Together with her lengthy maroon hair and small body, she cuts an uncommon determine on this planet of MMA, and even perhaps extra so inside the nation and area from which she hails, the place ladies are digital strangers to the game.
“At first, I heard quite a lot of criticism that continues till at present,” the 33-year-old instructed AFP from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, the place she is present process and overseeing coaching boot camps.”When somebody units their sights on a objective, nothing will cease them from reaching it.”
In a area the place social and cultural restrictions usually bar ladies from pursuing sports activities professionally, Fayyad’s journey has not been simple.
“There have been quite a lot of obstacles that stood in my approach: accidents, criticism — I’d get kicked out of sports activities golf equipment as a result of I’m a woman and males refused to take part in coaching with me,” she mentioned. “It used to hassle me at first however now I don’t care.”
Jordan’s solely feminine fighter
Inspired by her father, a boxer, Fayyad entered the world of martial arts on the tender age of 10, then practised taekwondo beginning at 12, earlier than shifting on to a roster of different sports activities. “I earned three gold medals in kickboxing within the Arab championships and a gold medal in Muay Thai world championships,” she mentioned. She shifted to MMA in 2017, and has since received two of the three fights she has taken half in.
However apart from her drive for competitors — which is excessive — Fayyad is compelled by the necessity to ship a message to her fellow countrywomen. “I’m the one lady who practises MMA in Jordan,” she mentioned. “I get quite a lot of good feedback from ladies and they’re actually inspired once they see me. “I really feel like I’m someway accountable as a result of I need to show that Arab ladies can attain their targets,” she continued.
“If I had listened to criticism and turn out to be a housewife, I’d not be joyful. I need to make use of the benefits God gave me to realize extra.”
In a coaching corridor within the Cypriot capital Nicosia, Fayyad prepares for her subsequent struggle in June — offered she recovers from current fractures in each her ft.
However as with different obstacles, she doesn’t let her accidents get in the best way.
“I’ll cease once I get previous,” she mentioned — however by “cease”, she means she’s going to merely shift to a extra age-appropriate sport, like jiujitsu. “I usually hear that I’m a ‘fierce savage’ within the cage, and it’s true, I’m not afraid. The nickname represents me.” — AFP
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