@elmas.oe.28 is 21 years old, lives in Hannover, and studies Psychology. She has always been interested in combat sports, even as a child, but her parents—immigrants from Turkey—did not consider it appropriate for their daughter to pursue.
One day, she tagged along to a boxing gym with her brother and his friends, immediately fell in love with the sport, and started training almost every day.
Kickboxing became her entry point, and through determination and talent, she improved quickly. She went on to win several kickboxing championships in Germany.
When Elmas first started, there were hardly any other women training in the gym. But she has noticed a general increase in female fighters recently, which she strongly welcomes. She credits greater visibility on social media for this shift.
At the same time, she believes many women are still hesitant due to judgmental looks or patronizing behavior from men in the gym. It is even harder to stay consistent, turn professional, and make a living from the sport.
Despite the recent rise in female athletes in combat sports, Elmas still trains only with men in her weight class—who, according to her, treat her no differently.
She says that 80% of success in a fight comes down to mindset, with the remaining 20% being fitness. She trains six days a week, often completing two to three sessions a day.
Recently, she has started transitioning into MMA, which she finds more interesting than boxing because of its variety of techniques, including ground work.
Boxing have taught her to focus more on herself, as she naturally tends to prioritize others.
Growing up, she took on responsibility early for her older disabled brother, and the strong work ethic of her immigrant parents shaped her into the determined, resilient, and disciplined person she is today.
Images:
@michaelphilippbader
Copy:
@enaaichinger
#mma #contactsports #combatsports #boxing womenboxing
