Hometown
Beirut, Lebanon
Current Rank
3 stripe blue belt in BJJ, orange shirt in Muay Thai
What year did you start training?
2016
How did you get started?
When I was in high school I wanted to get in shape. I tried all the supports that my school offered and nothing ever stuck for very long.I always thought kickboxing was for MMA guys and I never thought it could be something for me. I started noticing that a ton of supermodels were kickboxing as their workout for runway. I figured if they could do it, so could I. That’s what initially got me through the door at Easton Castle Rock. Since then I live and breath Easton’s and
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your training, and how did you overcome it?
I am very small and I used to use that as an excuse when people beating me up or out maneuvering me. My professors have taught me how to refocus my jiu jitsu game to fit my size. Jiu Jitsu has also taught me that size and strength doesn’t matter and to be confident in my jiu jitsu game.
What’s your favorite thing about training or teaching, and why?
I love how in jiu jitsu is all about the journey rather than the destination. Every roll or sparring round with a new opponent sheds light on challenges and strengths that you have, I never feel like I plateau. That was my biggest struggle in other sports or with any kind of weight training. I would get bored and stop pushing myself. On the other hand, jiu jitsu feels like one big game of chess while your body is under extreme distress, you can’t give up or stop moving because the moment you do you’re succumbing to defeat. You’re constantly trying to out maneuver your opponent, before they out maneuver you, whilst keeping your body safe and planning out your next move. It’s very thrilling
What are your personal goals on and off the mat?
Achievement and being a good person. I have always been very goal oriented and wanted to “level up”. Bjj has helped me a lot in school. I am a preMed student and being in a very rigorous and prestigious program I find myself meeting failure a lot and comparing myself to the students around me. Bjj has taught me to show up, be present, and not compare my own trajectory to those around me. I know that if I am as diligent and excited in my schoolwork as I am in my jiu jitsu journey that I will grow and be better than if I hadn’t shown up.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I can speak five languages and I moved to the US when I was eight years old.