From Madinah gyms to Asian competition: Nojoud Alayoubi builds a career in Saudi kickboxing

ALKHOBAR: Long before women’s kickboxing classes became widely available in Saudi Arabia, Nojoud Alayoubi was learning martial arts movements at home from her father, and watching her brothers train in karate and aikido.

The 34-year-old Saudi kickboxing coach and athletic physical rehabilitation specialist began experimenting with martial arts at around the age of 11, when opportunities for girls and women to train formally were still limited.

“My father used to teach us some karate movements, and my brothers were training in karate and aikido,” Alayoubi, a resident of Madinah, told Arab News. “I felt very passionate when I practiced what they were learning, even though sport and martial arts were not available for women at that time in the way they are today.”

Her sporting interests continued to develop. By 2009, walking and physical activity had become a regular part of her life, while in 2017 she began exploring cardio, choreography, Zumba and African dance.

The turning point came in 2019, when Alayoubi came across an advertisement for a women-only kickboxing course.

She enrolled and began training consistently, combining daily practice and repetition with independent research to improve her technique. She later completed further courses, progressed through advanced kickboxing belts and incorporated calisthenics into her routine.

Eventually, she earned a black belt and moved from practicing the sport to coaching other women.

Her progress coincided with the development of organized kickboxing in Saudi Arabia. Alayoubi participated in a survey linked to the establishment of a kickboxing federation and, following the launch of the Saudi Boxing and Kickboxing Federation, attended workshops for coaches and referees