“First of all, Taekwondo helps girls and women test themselves. We often ask ourselves: “What am I really made of?”. Heading into the training hall is a way to find out, and the answer is almost always “I am more than I thought I was.” Perseverance, determination, and toughness are skills that are not only developed through Taekwondo training, but very often are qualities that were there all along – we just need ways to discover them within ourselves.

Taekwondo teaches us to realize how strong we are, and that’s especially important for girls and women. Another reason for girls and women to take up martial arts is self-defence. Women are simply at a higher risk of attack than men, from both strangers and from within close relationships. Developing self-awareness, self-esteem and self-defence skills can be the difference in positive outcome and a negative one.

Finally, Taekwondo is fun. Hitting a bag feels great. Learning to kick feels great. Sparring in the training hall with an opponent feels great. The whole experience is empowering for girls and women, with the feeling of getting stronger and feeling good about yourself being part of that positive path that is Taekwondo.

Through taekwondo, I have learned that my strength and determination are not limited by my gender. As a female competitor, I hope to inspire other women to break down barriers and excel in whatever field they choose, even if it's a traditionally male-dominated one." - Andjela Berišaj