The Movers List: Khadijah Safari is helping women smash through the barriers by bringing religion and MMA together

After converting to Islam 10 years ago, Khadijah Safari embarked on a mission to create a safe haven for women to train mixed martial arts, no matter what the boundaries were that stood in their way

Khadijah Safari’s path to becoming the founder of a thriving martial arts organisation was born more out of necessity than ambition. “I converted to Islam in 2009 and didn’t want to train in a mixed-sex gym anymore,” says Khadijah, a 5'4" black belt in Muay Thai boxing. “I decided to set up my own females-only class in west London, so created flyers and just went up to women asking them if they would be interested.

“That first session was amazing - it brought so many women from different walks of life together, all united in one place. I think they felt more safe and less inhibited when training as a result.”

Although the training was open to anyone, part of Khadijah’s mission was to show that Muslim women are capable of being powerful and athletic without being held back by stereotypes. “The hijab is removed during training, meaning that there were no barriers and we were all equal,” she explains. “My plan was to create my own martial arts organisation for all women, but where there was space for religious women to train and be respectful of their religion and their sport at the same time,” says Khadijah. “Anyone of any age and any background is welcome.”

Today Khadijah’s company Safari MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) has reached more than 3,000 people and currently has nine locations in the south east, with two more opening this year and plans to go nationwide. As well as Muay Thai, she and her instructors teach Thai boxing, cardio classes, workshops and kids boxing.

"My mission is to reach as many people as possible,” says Khadijah. “We recently launched an instructor training course for women because I want women to know it’s a career option. There’s been huge demand for it. We trained one lady who is deaf who will be able to teach martial arts using sign language.

“We’ve also partnered with a mental health charity to set up classes for people with mental health issues. I’d love to partner with prisons and work with ex offenders too.”

Lucozade Sport’s Movers List has included Khadijah as one of 50 people who are using sport to encourage more active lives, and her work has empowered many people to embrace a new sport, thus boost their confidence both physically and emotionally.

“The end goal is always self improvement,” says Khadijah, 37. “I like teaching people to have self belief, to break through goals. To have that mentality that you can achieve anything you want if you put the work in.

“Most people come to lose weight and get fit. I teach one woman who has lost 57kg through training, it’s been a major turnaround as she struggled with her weight for so long.

Khadijah Safari has helped to break down the barriers for women in sport (Lucozade Sport)

"But training can give people so much more than just better fitness. I had a victim of domestic violence who credits learning Muay Thai with giving her the confidence to come out of that situation. I also had a woman come who wanted a promotion at work. She came purely to help boost her confidence. A month or so after she started training she got what she wanted.

“I could never have predicted what women would get from learning martial arts, but now I feel like it’s my duty to pass that knowledge on. I enjoy it so much because I see the end results, how it’s often a life changing experience and not just a sport. It’s a space where people don’t have to worry about others watching them or what others think. You instantly become part of a community. There’s no way I would be able to stop doing martial arts now. I’m only just getting started.”

For more information about the Movers List and to find local facilities and classes to move more, visit www.lucozadesport.com/the-movers-list

www.safarikickboxing.co.uk