By Sanaa Asif

Nov/Dec 2023

Earlier this year, 12-year-old Aaminah Abdrabboh became the first hijabi to win gold at the PAN Kids IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) Championship, the largest international children’s Jiu-Jitsu tournament. In this competitive male-dominated sport, Aamina credits her family and faith in Islam as the primary reasons why she has achieved such success at such a young age — and while wearing the hijab.

Jiu-Jitsu is a ground-based martial art that focuses on grappling with an opponent to maintain control. Unlike karate, it doesn’t involve striking. Training, which takes place with partners, emphasizes live sparring or rolling — an excellent form of self-defense because it allows you to protect yourself without unnecessarily harming the opponent. 

Aaminah’s story is remarkable not only because of her age, but also because of the uncertain pathway to such a victory. Prior to 2014, the IBJJF banned hijabis from competing. However, after years of pushback the ban was lifted and they were allowed to compete in international competitions. 

The sport’s historical limitations impacted opportunities for women.

“As we have seen with my older daughters, who are fifteen and eighteen, there can be a challenge in having other females to roll against,” said Mohammad Abdrabboh, Aaminah’s coach and father. “Our sons also only roll against males, but they have double the amount of participants to choose from each day.” 

“In Jiu-Jitsu you need other people to practice against and compete with,” noted Aaminah. “It’s not like another sport where you have a ball or racket. You need other people, so we work as a team to make each other better.” This spirit of teamwork and collective success motivates her to work harder for a more inclusive Jiu-Jitsu community. 

Jiu-Jitsu is truly a family affair for the Abdrabbohs. Aaminah trains at Metro Jiu-Jitsu in Southgate, Mich., which is partly owned by her father, who holds a first-degree black belt. Aaminah’s brother Jibril is her head coach, and her elder sister Nuzmeya, also a hijabi, is a purple belt and head coach as well. These are the people Aaminah looks up to the most.

The Journey to Championship

Aaminah started her Jiu-Jitsu journey when she was just seven years old. “As a female who wears a hijab, my experience is different from other girls who train because I have to think about my hijab slipping,” she stated. “In competitions, not only am I contemplating my next move, but I also have to ensure my hijab doesn’t come off. If that happens, either I won’t be able to see or I will be distracted. In Jiu-Jitsu, one moment of distraction could give my opponent a huge advantage to overtake me.”

To keep her skills sharp, she trains four days each week for two hours after school, as well as on Sundays. “The biggest challenge is to continue to encourage her to do what she loves without compromising her faith,” her father explains. “Aaminah has been asked by many media outlets how she feels, and she always says she is so happy [that] she can practice the sport she loves while still practicing her faith.”

A Role Model

The new champion’s parents make sure that their daughter knows about the women who paved the way for her and other hijabis to compete internationally. One of them is Caroline De Lazzar. As the coach of the UAE women’s Jiu-Jitsu team, in 2011 she launched and led a campaign to lift the ban. Her efforts proved rewarding when the IBJJF abolished it three years later.

Aaminah’s tremendous accomplishment caused waves of encouragement throughout the Muslim community, especially for young girls. With this huge step, Aaminah is now a role model for many young hijabis aspiring to compete in their sport. “In our Muslim community she is showing others not to stop their daughters from sports like Jiu-Jitsu,” Mohamed Abdrabboh proclaimed. “She is showing that hijab can make them stronger in sports.”

Jiu-Jitsu and Faith

Jiu-Jitsu has both improved Aaminah’s physical strength and helped her become closer to her faith. “Jiu-jitsu is all about discipline. It teaches me to slow down and think,” she said. “For me, Islam is like that too. I have to slow my day down and offer my prayers on time.”

Her father emphasized that he and his wife encourage such training in their home so their children can always defend themselves. “Stats show that 85% of street fights end up on the ground. Jiu-Jitsu empowers them and gives them confidence and self-worth that they are strong mentally and physically,” he added. He hopes that Aaminah will continue to compete and earn her black belt so that one day she can also become a coach and inspire other young Muslimas. 

Sanaa Asif, a student at Hinsdale Central High School, is an avid reader and loves to learn about other people’s stories.

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