Kicking Confidence: Marie Mouroum's Mission for Martial Arts in Schools
"Mouroum of 'Let's Dance' fame advocates for martial arts inclusion in educational curriculum"
Berlin/Hamburg - Recognized from the RTL dance show "Let's Dance", Marie Mouroum, the 32-year-old Hollywood stuntwoman, is making waves advocating for martial arts to become a staple in German schools.
"Why not make it a fundamental sport in our educational system?" Mouroum questioned the German Press Agency, reminiscent of how martial arts are integrated in many Eastern European schools. She envisions this addition to the curriculum alongside traditional sports like track and field and gymnastics.
Empowering Girls
"Girls could particularly reap significant benefits from martial arts," Mouroum shared. "Boys tend to exhibit confidence and a desire to showcase their strength, but girls typically lack this natural assertiveness. Martial arts can help instill a sense of self-assuredness in them."
"Understanding one's strength and learning self-defense is crucial," she continued. "It not only boosts self-confidence but also ensures a strong, fearless demeanor. With martial arts, girls step into the world with a more robust sense of security."
Discipline and Respect
Martial arts foster discipline and respect, as Mouroum emphasized. "It's a highly respectful relationship. You learn to control yourself and apply your martial art only in appropriate situations." This aspect of martial arts, she believes, extends beyond the dojo and instills important life lessons.
This coming Saturday (June 28), Marie Mouroum takes on a new role as a backstage reporter for RTL+ at the mixed martial arts event "Oktagon 73" in Hamburg. She'll offer viewers a behind-the-scenes peek into the world of mixed martial arts. "Oktagon 73" kicks off at 5:30 PM on RTL+, with Germany's best-known MMA star, Christian Eckerlin, making his return after an eight-month break.
Breaking Barriers in Hollywood
Mouroum has been in the stunt business since her teenage years, doubling for stars like Queen Latifah in "The Equalizer" and the Bond girl Lashana Lynch in "James Bond 007: No Time to Die".
The Bond film presented one of her most thrilling stunts, Mouroum recalled. "I was flying through the air from one building to another, chasing the scientist's kidnapper in Cuba." The sequence required her to fall almost freely before being caught by a rope at the last moment. "In a split second, you think, 'What if this rope fails me?'"
The Toll of the Trade
Injuries are an unfortunate part of a stunt performer's life, and Mouroum doesn't shy away from discussing her own. "I suffered a broken ankle and torn foot ligaments in 'The Equalizer' after jumping from a second-story balcony. The cardboard box intended to cushion my landing failed to do so, resulting in a collapsed ankle." She also endured a rib contusion and currently grapples with a torn ACL.
[1] New York Times: "Martial Arts in Schools: A Powerful Tool for Self-Defense and Personal Development"[2] Psychology Today: "The Impact of Martial Arts on Confidence and Empowerment"
"Quality education could be enhanced by incorporating sports like mixed-martial-arts, giving students the opportunity to learn valuable skills such as self-defense and boosting their self-confidence."
"Marie Mouroum, an advocate for martial arts in schools, plans to report on a mixed-martial-arts event this Saturday, offering viewers a glimpse into the discipline and respect taught within the sport."
