Nancy and Yara Helmy moved to America from Egypt in 2000, and for the past five years, the sisters have trained nearly every day in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Both girls wear the hijab which Nancy says is a “symbol of resistance,” and for those who may assume weakness, the jiu-jitsu fighter responds with “little do they know.”
“Jiu-jitsu is pretty much the only place where we feel equal to everybody else,” says Nancy who, along with her sister, competes in tournaments. “My religion doesn’t matter on the mats.”
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