They are women who practice MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), a combat sport often criticized for its dangerousness and violence, a discipline usually invested by men.
The MMA Girls Combat Club is a women’s section installed in Nantes (France) since 2019 and led by Tevi Say, a pioneer of this sport in France. In this club, the non-mixity allows each one to take the plunge and gain confidence in their abilities. Many came to learn how to defend themselves but quickly realized that they could also attack. Experiencing combat, with the freedom of action that this discipline offers, enables them to express who they are.
As an MMA practitioner myself for several years, I photograph my sparring partners during training, in the hope that these portraits will reveal a part of their inner truth.
