SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Three San Antonio sisters are taking their martial arts skills to the world stage this fall, representing Crew USA at a global competitors in Thonon-Les-Bains, France.

Mercy, Maia and Moriah Juarez will journey to France in October after qualifying to compete within the Worldwide Fight Group match. The competitors will mark the second consecutive 12 months the sisters have represented america on the occasion.

For the Juarez sisters, martial arts is greater than a sport — it’s a household affair.

“It began off with me at first. After which, with the fervour that got here out of it, she [Maia] began. After which she [Moriah] began. After which my dad, he began doing jujitsu. After which my mother did. So it simply form of grew all of us collectively,” Mercy stated.

Mercy, 17, Maia, 12, and Moriah, 11, have every educated in martial arts for greater than six years. They’re the youngsters of Johnathan Juarez-Cruz, a Detective on the Metropolis of Kerrville, and Emma Juarez, an Military Veteran and VA Clinic Supervisor. 

The sisters practice 5 to seven days every week and compete in a number of disciplines, together with Goju-Ryu, one of many 5 main martial arts types.

Certainly one of their coach, Clarissa DeHoyos, who additionally owns Kaizen Elite Coaching together with her husband, stated the sisters have discovered classes that stretch nicely past competitors.

“Martial arts is not nearly kicking and punching,” DeHoyos stated. “That is only a sub a part of what it offers us, but it surely offers us, like I stated, the boldness, that self-discipline, integrity, the indomitable spirit — like all these different issues that I feel we as a folks, society want with the intention to obtain all our targets and desires outdoors of the mat.”

DeHoyos stated the sisters are fierce rivals who’ve additionally change into position fashions for youthful athletes.

“They wish to educate and supply that assist for them as a result of they’ve gone fairly far of their levels of martial arts,” DeHoyos stated. “They need to have the ability to be like, hey, we have performed it. We wish to show you how to obtain the very same factor or extra.”

For the sisters, competing alongside one another makes the chance much more significant.

“It feels thrilling and stunning that I am about to enter one other nation supporting my very own nation,” Maia stated.

Mercy stated she is happy with what the sisters have completed.

“I am very happy with what I might accomplish and what we might accomplish as a household and as myself,” she stated.

And Moriah has one clear aim for the journey.

“I am excited to go there and to win,” she stated.

The sisters are scheduled to go away for France on Oct. 11. The competitors begins Oct. 14. 

Those that wish to assist their journey can donate to assist cowl membership and journey bills.