Amal Amjahid

Amal Amjahid was born on October 28, 1995, in Brussels, Belgium, to a family of Moroccan heritage. Growing up in Brussels, she faced bullying from peers due to her small stature — a challenge that, rather than discouraging her, became the catalyst for a lifelong commitment to martial arts. Driven by a desire for confidence and self-defense, she explored karate, judo, taekwondo, and boxing before finding the discipline that would define her life.

It was jiu-jitsu, discovered at the age of 7, that resonated most deeply. From her first sessions on the mat, she found a discipline that aligned with both her physical attributes and her competitive instincts. Her sole instructor throughout this journey has been Khalid Houry, who would later become her stepfather — a relationship that has shaped every dimension of her development as a martial artist.

Amjahid's path through the belt ranks stands apart from that of most elite competitors: she trained exclusively in Belgium, never relocating abroad in search of higher-profile environments. Under the consistent guidance of Khalid Houry at the C.E.N.S. Academy in Brussels, she developed into one of Europe's most formidable grapplers without ever leaving home.

A World-Class Brown Belt

By 2018, Amjahid had earned a reputation as one of the toughest brown belts in the world. That year, visa complications prevented her from competing at the IBJJF World Championship — a frustrating setback that did little to diminish her global standing. She responded with dominant performances elsewhere, capturing gold at the UAEJJF Grand Slam Tokyo and the IBJJF Copenhagen Open, reaffirming her elite status on the international stage.

Black Belt Promotion and International Recognition

On June 30, 2018, Khalid Houry promoted Amjahid to black belt, formalizing the culmination of years of dedicated work. She also expanded her competitive credentials through the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF), earning world champion status under ju-jutsu newaza rules — a testament to the technical depth that C.E.N.S. Academy had instilled throughout her development.

Amjahid competes in the Peso Pena division (58.5 kg / 129 lbs), yet she regularly tests herself beyond her natural weight class by entering open weight divisions. More remarkably, she has competed in both female and male competition brackets — a rare distinction that speaks to an extraordinary level of technique, confidence, and physical capability.

A Career Built on Consistency

This willingness to face all comers has defined her career across multiple belt levels. At blue belt, she claimed gold at the IBJJF World Championship in 2013. Through purple and brown belt, she maintained a consistent podium presence at major IBJJF and UAEJJF events, earning multiple European Open titles and reaching the IBJJF World Championship final at brown belt in 2017. After her black belt promotion in 2018, she continued her winning ways, capturing gold at the 2019 IBJJF European Open and earning silver at the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro in 2019.

Her record across weight categories, belt levels, and gender brackets reflects a competitive durability and technical versatility that few athletes at any level can match.

Amjahid's ambitions extend well beyond the competition mat. She pursues a Bachelor in Education alongside her athletic career, treating academic achievement and sporting excellence as complementary rather than competing priorities. This dual commitment reflects a broader philosophy: that jiu-jitsu serves as a vehicle for personal development and social uplift.

Building the Next Generation Through Sport

As a manager of the C.E.N.S. Academy in Brussels, Amjahid works to ensure that the same environment that shaped her remains accessible to the young people in her neighborhood. Her goal is to promote education through sport, using the discipline and community of jiu-jitsu to create meaningful pathways for youth who may face the same adversity she once did.

Having overcome bullying and hardship through martial arts, Amjahid is philosophically committed to being a role model for the next generation. Her career embodies a vision of BJJ not merely as a competitive sport, but as a transformative force — one that builds confidence, provides direction, and empowers communities from the ground up.