Fouzia Nahawa Recognized as Martial Arts “Champion Maker”
Fouzia Nahawa, an Algerian figure in martial arts, has been recognized with the title "champion maker," a distinction earned through over three decades in combat sports. Her journey, beginning in 1994, saw her transition from an athlete navigating societal skepticism in boxing and kickboxing to a national referee, sports coach, and Vice President of the Sétif league for Full Contact, Muay Thai, and similar disciplines. Nahawa also heads the arbitration committee for the league, having consistently worked to establish her expertise in a field traditionally viewed as outside women's domain.
Early in her career in Sétif, Nahawa encountered traditional perspectives that questioned women's involvement in combat sports. Rather than viewing these as obstacles, she used them as motivation, believing that sustained effort was the best response to doubt. For Nahawa, martial arts is a comprehensive philosophy that teaches self-control, patience, discipline, respect, and timely decision-making, emphasizing that true strength lies beyond physical strikes. Her influence extends to her family, with her son Isaac following in her footsteps as a kickboxing coach, and her daughters actively participating in the sport, holding blue belts.
Nahawa's path to becoming a referee also presented significant hurdles, including a lack of local support in her city, which led her to pursue refereeing studies for over a year in Skikda to secure her state-level certification before achieving national recognition. A key area of her focus is teaching self-defense skills to girls, driven by the conviction that empowering women includes equipping them with the ability to protect themselves, fostering confidence and awareness rather than promoting violence. Over her career, Nahawa has observed a notable shift in Algerian families' attitudes towards their daughters practicing martial arts, with increasing acceptance attributed to the achievements of female athletes and a growing understanding of the sport's positive developmental impact.
