NORFOLK, Va. - When Kimberly Swan and her husband brought their 11-year-old daughter into the UFC Gym in Norfolk, they were not quite sure what to expect. A couple months later, their daughter Navaeh has transformed into a star athlete.
"She's really really small and it gives her a smile when she takes on someone twice her size," said Devin Small, the assistant general manager at UFC Gym Norfolk.
Navaeh has a certain style and confidence when it comes to jiu-jitsu and boxing.
"There's some days I watch her and I can't stop smiling," said Kimberly.
Kimberly said Navaeh was being bullied at school and after previously showing some interest in mixed martial arts, she wanted her daughter to take a couple classes.'She did experience bullying in her school. She didn`t really pursue it because she was afraid of the outcome.
"She did experience bullying in her school. She didn't really pursue it because she was afraid of the outcome," said Kimberly.
More than seven months of training later, Navaeh's parents and instructors say she's a different person. The skills she's learned on the mat go beyond the gym.It`s helped in every area. From school from how she does things at home, how she handles herself. There`s thing she still has to work on of course.'
Kimberly said, "It's helped in every area. From school from how she does things at home, how she handles herself. There's thing she still has to work on of course."
Plus, Navaeh is enjoying herself. "I'm really doing what I really love, doing this."And she's winning matches, such as this one this past weekend. Against boys too.
And she's winning matches, such as this one this past weekend. Against boys too.
"I feel really good cause this boy kept on putting me in a guillotine and I finally got him and that's how I won first place."
Proving learning how to grapple really can transform a young girl.
