Bosnia and Herzegovina, like the rest of the world, has been celebrating every 25th day of the month as Orange Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness, preventing violence against women and girls, and sending messages of support to victims. For over a decade, the Institute for Youth Development KULT has been contributing to the fight against violence and sending messages of support to victims. Building on the success of two previous campaigns highlighting women who are driving change, this month the Institute is launching a new initiative: #YouthMakingDifference. The Institute’s goal with this campaign was to encourage youth to follow the lead of others and find the motivation to take part in ending violence against women and girls. The campaign also emphasized the importance of fighting for gender equality.
One of those changemakers is Emina Heganović, a pharmacist by profession and the founder of the Jiu-Jitsu club Sakura. Emina’s journey into martial arts began when she was a teenager.
Why martial arts?
“I used to play basketball in elementary school. One day, I was watching a kickboxing class at the gym, and something in me just shifted when I saw those moves and punches. So, I decided to give it a try. I trained in kickboxing for years, and in 2019, I had my first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu session. That’s how it all started.”
When asked what pushed her to advocate for gender equality through sport, Emina says: “I trained in a mixed-gender club, and I started noticing that a lot of women and girls wanted to try martial arts but felt uncomfortable joining because of personal reasons. They all had different concerns and fears, so I wanted to create a space just for them.”
Emina created a supportive, female-focused environment where women could explore martial arts without the fear of stereotypes, judgment, or injury. She believes that women deserve equal opportunities and resources in sport. And while the conversation around equality is gaining traction in the martial arts world, she hopes Bosnia and Herzegovina will soon catch up.
“I used to attend seminars led by male instructors where almost all the participants were men. And I thought – how amazing would it be to see 20 women on the mat, training and learning together? That image stayed with me and became my motivation to organize those kinds of events myself.”
Through her daily work and activism, Emina is helping women claim their rightful place in the world of sports. “In our society, when a woman trains in martial arts, people often ask, ‘Why would you do that?’ I want us to move past that mindset. No one should be questioning a woman’s choice to train in martial arts or pursue any other hobby. We need to accept each other’s choices.”
Before Emina, no all-women seminars in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Judo, led exclusively by women, had ever been held in the Balkans.“We’ve now organized three Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu seminars and one Judo seminar with Larisa Cerić, plus a fifth one with two accomplished female athletes and coaches from Austria and Rijeka, who led an all-day seminar and sparring session in Sarajevo.”
But she admits there are still hurdles:“ From the beginning, we’ve had to push against the stereotype that martial arts aren’t ‘appropriate’ for women. That kind of mindset can be really discouraging for women who are curious but hesitant. Societal expectations about what is ‘feminine’ or ‘appropriate’ can kill motivation and limit support. And like in many places, women’s sports in BiH are still underfunded and undervalued.”
When it comes to gender equality in BiH today, Emina says the reality is disappointing: “Although things are slowly improving, women still face unequal treatment, lack of resources, and often don’t get the recognition they deserve for their achievements in sports. Even when women do the exact same work as men, with the same obligations and responsibilities, they’re still paid less. And I can’t ignore the terrifying rise in gender-based violence and femicide in recent years, along with how poorly survivors are protected. In a society that still clings to rigid gender roles, stepping outside those expectations often means facing rude and even offensive comments.”
Looking ahead, Emina is focused on expanding women’s participation in martial arts. Education and awareness around self-defense are also key priorities.“I don’t make empty promises as a coach. But I can confidently say this: if someone trains regularly and seriously, they’ll develop stronger self-confidence and their ‘NO’ will carry weight. I want to partner with women’s shelters and support organizations to run full-day self-defense seminars and offer free, ongoing training at our club.”
She adds, “Martial arts are not about attacking others. They’re about understanding your strength, knowing your boundaries, and recognizing threats before they escalate. I want to change the narrative that martial arts are violent or ‘too rough’ for women.”
Emina is planning on someday organizing an all-women’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament.
Her message to young people: “Change starts with small steps, and it starts with individuals. That means both the change we make within ourselves and the changes we work toward in our communities. Let’s start working together to build a better society.”
