Founded by Faeznur ‘Benny’ Farok, SheFights Gym is equipping women with the mental and physical skills to protect themselves through mixed martial arts
Faeznur ‘Benny’ Farok was inspired to start SheFights Gym after noticing a gap in the market for accessible, practical self-defence training for women. By filling the gap, Faeznur also hoped to help women to feel more confident about themselves.
“Through martial arts, I learned that I could overcome life’s challenges and wanted to encourage other women to have the skills to handle themselves whenever things get rough,” she says.
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Faeznur has a deep appreciation for sports. In her youth, she played basketball and her coach gave her the nickname Benny, which has stuck with her since. She also tried her hand at other sports, including horseback riding, sailing and swimming, but truly fell in love with martial arts as she found it to be the best way to stay physically and mentally fit.
“I love teaching martial arts because it's not just about physical strength. Self-defence is about preparing yourself mentally for any situation,” Faeznur says. She stresses that being aware and focused on your surroundings is just as crucial as knowing what to do.
At SheFights, women are taught techniques based on situations that they may actually encounter in their daily lives. “A lot of martial arts training focuses on fighting techniques suited for structured competitions or demonstrations. In contrast, SheFight's techniques are specifically designed for real-world situations, such as how to escape from an attacker's grasp and how to use everyday objects as weapons.”
The gym also aims to provide a supportive and inclusive environment, where women of all ages, backgrounds and fitness levels feel comfortable learning and training.
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“Running a self-defence gym has its challenges, but it is also very rewarding,” says Faeznur. The most rewarding part of the job, she adds, is witnessing how much her students progress and grow over time.
For International Women's Day this year, Faeznur hopes that everyone can play a role in promoting gender equality. “It can be as simple as supporting women-led businesses, advocating for policies that promote gender equity, or simply being an ally to the women in our lives.
“Let's all work together to create a more just and equitable world where women can thrive and reach their full potential.”
See more honourees from the Wellness category of the Gen.T List 2022.