20-year-old Saudi woman teaches Filipino martial arts for empowerment

A Saudi woman is teaching Filipino Martial Arts at a sports club in the city of Dhahran, in Kingdom's eastern province, with an aim to empower women.

Reem al-Ouda, 20, learnt a form of martial arts while studying computer science in Tacoma, in Washington, in 2013, and spent two years to become a certified trainer.

She felt it was important that she learns self defense to protect herself in case she is vulnerable to any attack, during a time when hate crimes against Muslims were believed to be repetitive.

After searching for martial arts classes, Ouda decided to join the Dojo Martial arts School, a school teaching one of the traditional forms of martial arts practiced by some of Filipino ethnic groups.

Image: Al Arabiya

An American trainer of Filipino origin together with her husband are teaching a group of youth this art, which is based on five combat patterns: Eskrima, modern Arnis, pekiti tirsia, Bo staff and hand-to-hand combat.

She now aims to work with international bodies to empower women in conflicts to learn combat skills to protect themselves. "My goal is to empower women, make them confident and able to defend themselves in case they are subjected to any form of harassment. And to apply what they learn when necessary, at the right time and place," Ouda was quoted as saying in Al Arabiya.

The dojo art is known for its rapidness, and attack and defense strategies, Ouda days, as she describes the art as a type of combat fencing, where two individuals confront one another, with each armed with some combat tools and a huge stick.

Image: Al Arabiya

One learns how to attack their opponent and at the same time defend themself from counter attacks.

After spending two years of learning combat, Ouda became a certified martial arts trainer. She now teaches the art in a sports club in Saudi Arabia, and aims to work with international bodies to empower women in conflicts to learn combat skills to protect themselves.