Sayaka Pereira. “I practice yoga while driving”:

"Mediamax Sport” continues "Sports Beauty of the Week” series.

“When I see some big guys, I dream about how good I would feel if I could throw the guy with perfect momentum and techniques”.

Sayaka Pereira

This week’s beauty is professional in several areas at the same time. She astonishes her audience with her fire shows, acrobatic performances, belly dancing, martial arts and performances including various weapons.

Sayaka Pereira has performed in shows and private events organized by stars such as Shakira, Pink, Britney Spears, Sting, Aretha Franklin, Nicolle and Rupert Murdoch. 

She is an accountant and speaks five languages, plays the piano and pursues her happiness.

While talking to us Sayaka used to utter several Armenian words, which she learned during trainings at “Hayastan” (Armenia) Academy of Martial Arts. Thus, who knows, Armenian might be her sixth language one day. :)



-Martial arts, weapons, dance, fire, sports. Sayaka, how is it possible to be professional in all these spheres?

-How?  Because I LOVE what I do!!!  There is absolutely no limit as there is always some room to improve skills, techniques, mental awareness, physical strength and flexibility!!!  So I just keep training and training throughout my life. (Smiling)

I started taking a modern dance class, when I was 4 as my mother wanted me to have good posture.  When I was 7 years old, I was almost kidnapped.  Luckily I was able to run away – I bit them, screamed loudly and did some powerful “grand battement” that I learned from my dance class (I didn’t know how to kick at that time :).  However, this made me realize that there are no supermen in this world and that I need to be strong mentally and physically to protect myself and my loved ones.

Immediately after that, I started to attend martial arts classes – Karate & Judo with some Muay Thai influences, because my first sensei had some Muay Thai background.

When I first moved to the U.S., I was performing dance and martial arts separately.  I was enjoying people’s reaction when they found out I was not just a dancer, but also a trained martial artist.  One day I was booked with some fire dancers and they gave me their fire sword to try – since then I started mixing some martial arts in my dance performances! 



-After this kind of work schedule do you ever have time for rest?

-To be honest, that has been really challenging!!!  But we only have one body… I always try to listen to my body, make sure that I would not push myself too much that I would get injured.  I do make sure that I sleep well and eat well! 

-Let’s continue the row of surprising questions. You know 5 different languages!!! Why do you think it is important for a person to know more than 2 languages? 

-It really helps me think from different perspectives. It also helps me understand different cultures and opens up my mind. (Smiling).



-Sayaka, what is your nickname in the ring?

-I have not been fighting in recent years, but when I used to compete, they used to call me “Scorpion” as I was pretty flexible.

-So what does Scorpion Sayaka dream about?

-I live in my dream, do what I love to do – dancing, martial arts, yoga, gymnastics, eating great food, spending time with good friends, cooking, being healthy, and flying (skydiving, helicopter, hang-gliding, etc)!  I do want to improve my financial situation of course, so that I don’t have to worry about my basic needs (food, shelter, bills, etc). I want to buy a nice house with Japanese style bathroom in Australia for my mother.  We lost our house when I was 16, so it means a lot for my mother to have her own house.



-Does sport take up your daily life or do you practice it in solely the gymnasium?

-I unconsciously train outside of gym, too.  Dancing when I am shopping, stretching while I am waiting my turn in the supermarket, yoga while I am driving. Once my leg was stuck behind my head and the police stopped me and almost gave me a ticket …

I choose my pants based on how high I can kick… I had to make sure that the ceiling in my apartment was high enough to practice my staff and spear before I moved in… (Laughing).



-You train in Hayastan MMA Academy? Can you share your thoughts about Sensei Gokor Chivichian and Armenian fighters (Sevak Magakian, Karo Parisyan, Manny Gamburian and others)?

-They are absolutely amazing!!!  I am SO happy and blessed to be trained by them!!!  They are such hard workers, really humble, and great energy!!!  And I like how they push me really hard and constantly give me such positive energy. 

Since I am still new to MMA, I sometimes get frustrated as I fix one thing and forget the other, or I do the technique right then forget to breathe.  But they believe in their students and everyone in that gym trains really hard. I especially love that they always keep their sense of humor. The school is very well maintained, and they take pride in the cleanliness.  The school also has the most amazing facilities - full gym, showers, even guestrooms for out of town students. If you are serious about training and growth in Martial Arts, I highly recommend this school.



-So you have regular connections with Armenians there.

-Since I belly dance, I have been working with many Armenians.  I always have really good experience with them. They are very honest, hard working, and value real friendship. And I do love Armenian food!!!  I would love to visit there and learn more about Armenia.

-What’s the worst injury you’ve got in the ring? 

-My front tooth got cracked. :)

-What’s the worst injury you have inflicted on anyone? 



-Elbow dislocation. (It was an accident).

-Sayaka, we expect to hear some beauty tips from you.

- Eat well, sleep well… and be happy!!!  Stress and jealousy are the worst enemy for our beauty.  Life is too short to be negative or talk negative.  When you feel down, put your hand on your heart, this is your life clock ticking, which will stop one day. Take a deep breath and close your eyes.  When you open your eyes, you are ready to do what you love to do in your life!!! (Smiling).

-Does the busy sports schedule affect your personal life?



-My life is pretty much all personal.  The dream man will be the one who understands and helps me fly. We must fly together so we can go higher and faster. I will not accept men, who will put me in the cage and lock the door.  

-Sayaka, congratulations! I would like to inform you that this week you are named Mediamax Sport’s “Sport Beauty of the week”.

-Thanks a lot! Hope everyone is doing what they LOVE to do in their life and let them be happy and healthy. 

Sayaka Pereira was interviewed by Narine Daneghyan.