Blog by: Margarita Azaria
“I’ve been to every state in the US and I’ve been to England and Wales and later this year. I’m going to Dublin Ireland,” said Junior Destinee Hays about all the places she has gone to in order to compete in the martial arts of Judo, Jujitsu and Mixed Martial Arts.
Hays has been competing in Jujitsu for three and a half years, Judo for 2 years, and MMA for 7 months after Karate became boring for her.
Hays said, “Don’t get me wrong it’s a cool sport, it just wasn’t challenging enough for me. From ages five to seven I did Karate and won first place every time.”
Hays quit Karate and did different sports for some time. In eighth grade, Hay’s sister got into Jujitsu. Not being interested at the time to join Jujitsu, she later went to her sister’s tournament and watched the older girls fighting.
Hays said, “They weren’t pulling hair or spitting at each other, they were actually fighting.”
“I saw one girl there, her name is Rounda Rousey, she’s also the #1 in the world in UFC, and ever since that day it’s been my goal to fight her one day,” Hays said.
Hays began Jujitsu, but she was still not challenged enough so she went to Judo, where there were more girls to compete against. Next, Hays got into MMA on chasing, as Hays called it, “My Ronda Rousey dream.”
Training with all guys, Hays practices 6 days a week for two to three hours and has weights at school every other day. This is necessary because Hays competes at least four to five times nationally and three to four times regionally and or state. She has also competed at world’s.
“Competing is thrilling. It makes me think about my goals and dreams and how far I’m going,” Hays said. “I usually compete against six to nine people in my bracket, and I’ve placed one or two in every competition I’ve been in. “
Earning top places in all her competitions gives Hayes opportunities to travel. Not only does she have the opportunity to travel, but she also gets to travel for with no cost to her.
“I don’t pay for trips outside of the US because I am on the national team. So the national judo people pay for everything, but if it’s in the US I have to get sponsors and raise money for those trips,” Hays said. “If I place first to third at national tournaments I get money for my club or for my next tournament.”
Hays seems to enjoy these arts, not only as a fun sport, but also because she gets so much out of it.
“I learn how to defend myself, how to control my anger, I learned how to focus on what’s important,” Hays said. “I now have life goals, such a fighting Ronda and going to the 2020 Olympics.”
If Hays keeps on training and on winning national tournaments she believes she will be on the Olympic team.