Greece (Brussels Morning Newspaper ) In today’s era, women are tasked with navigating an array of roles and challenges that arise from society. Each, from her own perspective, chooses how she will develop her personality, lead, and become a role model for others to emulate.
However, the pursuit of self-improvement often receives criticism, and justifiably so. The quest to better oneself has given rise to an industry filled with ineffective shortcuts that can end up making you feel more discouraged than you were initially. Or, they might provide a temporary sense of satisfaction without actually contributing to real progress.
Brussels Morning asked three dynamic women to share how they improve themselves, and how they combine martial arts with other interests and life goals.
Another day at the office
My name is Zarkada Chrysanthi, and for over 20 years, I have been involved in martial arts. I am a black belt in Taekwondo and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Although my profession as a Speech Therapist is unrelated to these sports, practicing martial arts has always been my priority. At 40 years old, I believe that sports provide a unique satisfaction, especially for women, fueling them with the energy needed to fulfill all their obligations.
Surprisingly, the exhaustion from a training session transforms into a sense of joy and well-being. It’s simply wonderful to leave the gym sweating after a strenuous workout with a wide smile on your face—an invaluable experience that only someone passionate about sports can deeply appreciate.
In the training area (my school), I can feel both complete as an athlete and carefree as a child. Specifically, at the Black Belt Academy, which I consider the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school in Greece, there are many remarkable athletes of all ages with significant achievements. I feel fortunate to be part of this family! The person who organizes, supports, guides, and motivates all of us is Evangelos Moumtzis. His journey in the field speaks for itself.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) offers several benefits for women, including:
- Self-defense and confidence: BJJ trains women to face physical threats and react to attacks. This confidence can extend to other areas of their lives.
- Physical fitness: It’s an excellent workout for developing strength, flexibility, and endurance. This can help women feel strong and healthy.
- Teamwork and social interaction: Most BJJ schools foster friendly and supportive communities. Sharing such an environment can provide a sense of social connectivity.
- Fun: It can be incredibly fun and addictive. Developing new skills and a competitive approach can be motivating and interesting.
- Stress management: BJJ can help women learn to handle stress and pressure. The practice and persistence required to improve their skills in BJJ can develop their resilience to pressure.
These benefits can combine to offer women a powerful and balanced approach to their physical and mental health.
Building A Strong Character As A Leader
My name is Konstantina Kastriti, and I am 21 years old. I was born and raised in Greece, specifically in the city of Lamia. For the past 8 years, I have been involved in the sport of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I am a brown belt holder, and my academy is the Black Belt Academy, with Evangelos Moumtzis as my coach. The martial arts world is fascinating; you can start at any age as long as you decide to do it!
Beyond the knowledge and proper physical training, what’s most interesting is the proper character formation; you learn to have discipline, a schedule, teamwork, and best of all, for me, to turn anxiety into creative stress, allowing you to achieve the best possible outcome in all areas. Also, as odd as it may seem, training helps you escape the difficult reality and the stresses caused by external factors such as work, obligations, and responsibilities.
What I have singled out as special is the hierarchy existing in this space; it doesn’t matter what profession we have or anything else, everyone in martial arts starts from the same level, and we develop accordingly based on each person. Finally, I love the fact that you can engage professionally and pass on the knowledge you’ve gained over the years of involvement with your chosen field, helping others discover a different world they can’t understand unless they try it! It’s not just about fighting, as many might think; there’s a reason it’s called an art.
Personal Growth and Self-Development Empowering
My name is Konstantina Saxoni, and my martial arts journey began when I was 11 years old! After exploring various sports, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) captured my interest. Now, at 18, I am a purple belt at the Black Belt Academy in Lamia, under the guidance of Evangelos Moumtzis! Engaging in BJJ has opened many doors for me, such as university admission and various distinctions both in Greece and abroad.
However, my greatest achievement is being part of the coaching team for our school’s children’s divisions. This role, as a woman, has taught me to manage the intense emotions, queries, anxieties, and desires that a child may have, which are challenges I will likely face later as a mother.
More broadly, BJJ offers women confidence and the ease to face societal challenges. This confidence is accompanied by good physical condition since BJJ exercises all body parts simultaneously while also developing flexibility, speed, and strength.
All these benefits come from fun training that results in a sense of well-being and satisfaction. Most importantly, every martial arts school is a microcosm of society, composed of individuals of all ages sharing the same vision, creating a circle that goes beyond friendship and touches the realm of family. Thus, I would describe BJJ in my life and the life of every woman involved in it as a remedy that helps us manage and overcome mental and physical challenges.
