In late January, Hattan Alsaif turned the primary feminine fighter from Saudi Arabia to enroll with a serious world blended martial arts (MMA) promotion, the Skilled Fighters League (PFL).
Alsaif, 22, received gold on the 2023 Worldwide Federation of Muaythai Associations World Championships, the place she was awarded Breakthrough Feminine Athlete. Final yr she additionally took first place on the World Fight Video games and the Saudi Video games.
Nevertheless, her journey outdoors the ring has additionally grabbed headlines.
Alsaif’s mother and father divorced proper after she was born and she or he grew up at her grandmother’s home. When she was aged simply 10, each of Alsaif’s mother and father died within the area of 10 months. She spent years dwelling with despair and tried suicide on a number of events.
In a dialog with Al Jazeera – has been edited for readability and size – Alsaif shares her struggles, her harm and ache whereas rising up, the lack of her mother and father, and the way she discovered her calling in MMA.
Al Jazeera: You’re the primary Saudi feminine fighter to signal with a serious MMA promotion. Inform us simply how large that is.
Hattan Alsaif: This is without doubt one of the best issues to have occurred in my life. It’s additionally a really large accountability and I’ve to take it significantly and punctiliously. I’ll be representing my nation, my household, my workforce and likewise each different Saudi feminine. It’s large and I’m certain I’m the fitting individual to do it.
Al Jazeera: What makes you say you’re the fitting individual?
Alsaif: It’s due to the talents. I at all times inform myself I used to be born to combat, it’s my path, my profession, my future, my pastime, my life, my every little thing. I’m at all times attempting my finest and killing myself to do the very best.
🚀 Historical past within the making! 🌟 Hattan Alsaif turns into the first-ever Saudi Arabian-born ladies’s fighter to signal with a serious MMA promotion. 🥊 A real honor for her and a step ahead for aspiring feminine fighters. Let’s pave the way in which for extra alternatives! 👊 #PFL #MMA pic.twitter.com/QuzLxXqj3T
— Do not Seize The Cage ! (@dontgrabthecage) January 31, 2024
Al Jazeera: You’ve stated you had been born to do that. How a lot does it imply to you?
Alsaif: It actually means every little thing to me. In contrast to different fighters, I discovered martial arts fairly late. Whereas others have been combating for 5 to seven years, it has not even been three years for me. I’m so happy with all that I’ve achieved in that point.
Because the first day of my coaching, I felt at dwelling within the fitness center. I felt so linked with the coaching, the gloves, the coach. I knew this was my calling and the fitting place for me.
Al Jazeera: You’ve had losses within the ring however greater losses outdoors of it. How have these formed the individual you might be right this moment?
Alsaif: After I misplaced my mother and father, I advised myself I’ve nothing extra to lose. Dad and mom information you to heaven, provide help to in your life to change into a very good individual and shedding them is like shedding your whole life. There’s no one to information you or pray for you. So I made a decision to take my probabilities in life. I used to be attempting to be accountable for myself.
My mother and father divorced after I used to be born. They then had their very own households. I used to be alone. After I acquired sick, I needed to handle myself. After I was going to highschool, I used to be doing my very own hair. It’s issues like that. I feel it’s that life that [helped me] to take this accountability for myself.
Al Jazeera: You endured a lot at such an early age: Lack of mother and father and despair amongst different issues. How have sport and martial arts helped you?
Alsaif: After shedding my mother and father, I used to be taking revenge on life. I used to be at all times offended, selecting fights with everybody and taking my anger out in all places due to what occurred.
I attempted plenty of different avenues: writing, drawing, skating, working, dancing, cooking and different issues. However I by no means discovered myself. I simply didn’t really feel I used to be in the fitting place or may present how good I’m.
However since I stepped into the world of martial arts, I realised that’s the place I can put my despair, anger, revenge, every little thing. And find yourself respiratory usually.
Al Jazeera: You spoke quite a bit about harm and ache. How a lot harm and ache do you could change into a fighter and did you think about giving up at any level?
Alsaif: We don’t have plenty of women taking over martial arts simply but in Saudi Arabia, so I’ve been coaching with guys within the fitness center. They not solely have extra expertise than me however are additionally extra highly effective.
My coach would at all times inform them to not go straightforward on me and to punch me and harm me. In the event that they punch me laborious, I’ll strive my finest to punch them tougher. I’ve been crying twice every week from the ache. It’s immense.
There’s psychological in addition to bodily injury. I cry however then I wipe my tears with the gloves and I full my coaching. There isn’t any stopping. I’ll cry and I’ll hold coaching. I’ll get harm, my eyes will go blue, my physique can have plenty of scars however I’ll hold going. This makes me really feel who I’m.
Historical past within the making! ✍️👏
Welcome the latest Newbie signee to the Skilled Fighters League @hattanalsaif24 pic.twitter.com/W2NMMBXlfm
— PFL (@PFLMMA) January 30, 2024
Al Jazeera: What then would you say to individuals who’ve been via quite a bit and are near giving up?
Alsaif: I’ve been via despair for almost three years. I used to be drowning in it. On my physique, there are plenty of scars from self-hurt. I attempted suicide. Simply something that may take me away from despair. It was controlling me manner an excessive amount of. I used to be giving up. I needed to cease and for it to finish. I assumed there was no level being alive when you haven’t any mother and father and nothing goes your manner.
That second, after I was so scared, I took a leap of religion and jumped to the opposite aspect. The second you are feeling such as you’re at your lowest, while you’re giving up, that is the second it’s important to soar. That’s after I took up martial arts regardless of the concern.
The considered going to the fitness center for coaching helped. I knew it might assist me sleep properly. I’m going to coaching, I put every little thing else in my thoughts and life apart. I knew that if I didn’t try this and soar, I’d be caught at the hours of darkness with my despair and demons till I died.
Al Jazeera: So what then is the dream now? The place do you see your self going from right here?
Alsaif: I wish to be the very best. Anybody can say that however, for me, it’s a deep, deep phrase. I’m obsessive. I like perfection. I wish to attain the highest in every little thing. I don’t wish to have 15 p.c of something. I would like one hundred pc.
I do know the journey received’t be straightforward from right here and I’ll cry and get harm alongside the way in which however that’s the trail I wish to take.
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