As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, Athena Bashar’s journey shows how combat sports can unlock confidence, strength, and equality for all women. She challenges societal norms, breaks stereotypes, and is inspiring the next generation of young women.
This year, on March 8th, 2025, TogetherintheUK (TGIUK) is joining the United Nations in celebrating International Women’s Day under the theme “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
As we witness a growing backlash towards diversity, equity and inclusion from some parts of the world, there has never been a better time to call for action that can unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all and a future where no one is left behind. TGIUK continues to support refugees and migrants living in the UK, working to share their stories not only to generate a better understanding of different communities but to encourage a blending of communities across beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race, and all other factors that are considered ‘differences’.
Athena Bashar, a young woman based in East London, exemplifies the UN’s vision of empowering the next generation—particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change. Athena founded Modest Moves, a boxing and gym for women of all ages, cultures, and fitness levels. What differentiates Modest Moves from any other gym is that Athena has established it to be a safe place for women to get fit and feel better about themselves physically and mentally, as well as to feel comfortable by training in a women’s only space.
Athena acknowledges that combat sports, such as boxing and kickboxing, once perceived as exclusive to men, are still male-dominated. As a result, she feels that many women do not even consider training for these sports, but she believes that once you create a safe place where women can train without comparing their strength to men, they can see how strong they are – physically and mentally. Athena also points out that a male-free zone gives comfort and confidence to women who are subjected to domestic abuse. Given that current statistics reveal that one in four women from the age of 16 have or will have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime, it is understandable that combat training in a mixed gym could be triggering.
Athena’s interest in boxing and Muay Thai came about when she came across Fight For Peace, an organisation that supports young people by developing their potential through integrated programmes of encouragement and inclusion in a safe space while promoting peace. She started off, in her words, as a “scared young girl” of fourteen, but with the focus on combat sports from Fight for Peace as a means for young people to build strength and discipline and a sense of belonging, her boxing skills emerged, and her confidence grew. By the age of 16, she competed in boxing and Muay Thai competitions. By the age of 20, she was an England boxing coach and a Muay Thai coach.
She started her passion for coaching when competing. She found herself advising her competitors on minor technique and style points, making them more successful rather than focusing solely on her training. Recognising how effective her advice was and the sense of empowerment this gave her, she started to think how she could help more people by becoming a full-time coach. And so, with the support of Fight for Peace, she became a combat sports coach and personal trainer at a very young age.
She sees that same sense of empowerment and achievement when her members succeed in doing something they previously thought they were incapable of. Athena explains it as seeing a “spark” in their eyes—a recognition of their own strength and ability. Seeing those moments is satisfying for the women and for Athena; it reconfirms her belief that training women is her “life’s purpose.”
Combat sports are not just about technical skills and ability; practising martial arts promotes physical and mental well-being. Many of the young women who come to her club initially lack self-belief, a feeling that can affect women of all ages, particularly young girls. This lack of self-belief may be due to gender conditioning, societal expectations, and peer pressure, especially via social media, where girls, in particular, compare themselves to the so-called perfect images presented online. Athena challenges these negative attitudes and beliefs through her martial arts training, showing that everyone is capable and empowering women and girls to believe in themselves.
Athena wears her hijab as part of her religious beliefs, yet at the same time, she is acting as a role model for young Muslim girls and their parents, demonstrating that women and girls can still maintain respect for their religion and culture while participating in sports. As reported in an article on LinkedIn, after a long battle with female competitors fighting for their right to participate in competitions while still respecting their religious and cultural beliefs, the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) now allow the wearing of the hijab and body coverings. A step that made the sport more inclusive for ALL women.
Athena may not see herself as a trailblazer, but she is breaking down barriers. Through her efforts and her athletes’ hard work and sweat, she is countering many old and ridiculous stereotypes. She is normalising what being a Muslim female athlete looks like. She is dispelling the notion that women (Muslim and non-Muslim) are weak. She is developing the next generation of female athletes in a traditionally male-dominated sport, signifying a quantum step towards gender equality. She is encouraging and enabling women to challenge societal norms, defy limitations, and pursue their passions fearlessly. She is championing the rise of women in combat sports, allowing a shift to towards inclusivity, empowerment, and gender equality and paving the way for the next generation of young girls.
Her advice to ALL women is not to doubt yourself. Everyone is on their own journey. Push through the mindset that you are not strong enough or good enough—just enter that gym.
Read TGIUK’s International Women’s Day article from 2024: Empowering Icons: Women’s Voices on the Women Who #InspireInclusion
Muay Thai is a stand-up striking sport, with two competitors in the ring throwing punches, elbows, knees and kicks at each other. To read more about the history of Muay Thai go to the IFMA website
To read more about the lives and impacts of migrants on UK society, go to TogetherintheUK.
