Fight for Peace is proud to introduce a new addition to our programme: women-only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) taster sessions, launching on 11 May 2026. Led by Martina Zola – a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, experienced coach, and accomplished competitor, these sessions offer young women and girls a dedicated space to step onto the mats, build confidence, and discover their strength, both mentally and physically.

Martina brings an impressive competition record, including a gold medal at the London Open and bronze medals at the European Championships, as well as at both the European and World Championships in the brown belt division. We caught up with her to discuss her journey, what drives her as an athlete, and why spaces like this are so important.

How did your journey into martial arts begin?

“I’ve always been into sports. I did gymnastics when I was young and I’ve always loved martial arts. I actually grew up watching anime because it was very popular in Italy, so I love martial arts and I always wanted to start. I do feel that nowadays it’s more accessible to women, but at the time, it just wasn’t as available.

I started doing jujitsu when I was in my early 20s, which is kind of late, but because I’ve always been a sporty person I picked it up pretty quickly and it’s turned into this journey – which I’m very, very grateful for, and I’m going to keep doing it for as long as I can.”

What first drew you to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

“I think BJJ has a reputation that I think can stop people, particularly young people from trying it, and I can see how that would be really hard [for young women and girls]. The first time I actually saw jujitsu, I thought it looked really weird because I saw a man inside another man’s closed guard, so the guy in the bottom had his legs open and wrapped around his opponent.

It just didn’t look like a martial art to me, because my idea of a martial art at the time was just kicks and punches and stuff. After I started watching MMA and I started seeing how cool submission positions were, I got absolutely hooked.”

Why are women-only spaces in BJJ so important?

“Having to grapple with somebody who’s resisting you can be really overwhelming, so for a lot of women, it’s really important to have a safe space where they learn technique, where they spar with somebody their own size and their own strength, because sometimes, even for me who is a black belt – if I roll with a man that’s really strong, it’s still really hard.”

Did you face any challenges early on?

“It’s a sport that takes quite a bit of time to pick up, which is why a lot of people quit. For me, the first year and a half I was just focusing on improving, actually developing a game, being able to actually submit anybody in my gym because I was only training with men at the time.

At the time, there weren’t that many competitions, but after training for just over a year, the London Open was taking place and my coach suggested I participate. I didn’t feel ready at the time, but you never really do. That’s something I figured out – you never really do, no matter how much preparation you’ve done, there’s always going to be an element of you that’s not going to feel ready. He convinced me to do the competition, and I won.

I’ve had some ups and downs. Some moments of hiatus, but everybody’s journey looks different. I stuck with it, and here I am.”

What can participants expect from your sessions?

“I want to keep my sessions very fun, but also tiring in the sense that I do believe that it’s still a martial art and it’s a great way to get fit. So definitely come into my session expecting to sweat a little bit, have a lot of fun, and learn the technique because you don’t have to compete in jujitsu if you don’t want to. 

I think one of the best things about jujitsu is that it’s very, very, very rewarding because you end up building a skill. I want women to be able to build a skill, and develop themselves physically, and just enjoy it, because there’s a lot of fun in being able to tumble. You can also set goals for yourself that if you achieve, it gives you a big sense of reward.”

What would you say to someone thinking of trying it for the first time?

“I would say that jujitsu is the kind of discipline where anybody from any background, any size, shape, any level of strength, anybody can develop a game based on what your own attributes are. So, no matter who you are, no matter what background you are, no matter what size you are, I guarantee you can always get good at this discipline. It’s just about having an open mind, giving it a go and not putting expectations on yourself. This is something that I really wish somebody told me when I was starting out.

You can just come in with the idea that you want to experience something new, try it out, just put all those expectations away and just give it a go, and if you don’t like it, that’s fine, you can find something else, but just the fact that you had the open-mindedness to try something different, something that is out of your norm is something beautiful in itself.”

What has martial arts given you?

“Martial arts is something that has given so much to me, and it’s a dedication that can last for a lifetime, and it goes beyond what happens on the mats. I’ve actually grown so much as a person. And actually, a lot of the issues that I have, when I train, when I compete, are issues that kind of stem from bigger things in my life.

It can be something that can give you so much, and if anybody’s willing to join me in this journey, I would be very grateful for them, and I will make sure to make it a great experience for everyone. Hopefully it’s going to be something that’s going to give you something that you can carry on for the rest of your life.”

With years of training and competition experience behind her, Martina brings not only expertise but a real understanding of the challenges of starting out, especially in a male-dominated sport. Her coaching focuses on creating a safe, welcoming space where women can build confidence, develop skills, and grow at their own pace. We’re excited to welcome her to the team!

Women-only BJJ taster sessions will run every Monday, 7pm–8.30pm from 11th May in the Fight for Peace dojo.