Emma Haci, better known as Emma Morena, is the first woman in the Balkans to found her own BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) club.
The idea to establish the club arose due to a lack of BJJ clubs in Croatia, and in her hometown of Rijeka, there was only one. Therefore, she decided to open her own club. The journey was difficult, but Emma never thought of giving up, and all the effort eventually paid off.
Besides BJJ, Emma has many hobbies for which she rarely finds time because sports come first for her.
When asked what she would do if she weren't in BJJ, Emma replied that she would stay in some combat sport because she found herself in it, and it fulfills her. She tried team sports, but, as she says, "it wasn't it."
Due to sports, Emma traveled a lot; she visited Brazil, America, Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. The BJJ community is the same everywhere, but training methods differ from country to country.
When entering a fight, Emma always listens to her heart and doesn't over-analyze her opponent, but rather does what she thinks is right in the moment. She always tells her students: "There is nothing he or she knows that you don't know, and in every situation, you can turn something to your advantage."
She highlights the late Leandro Lo and Marcus Buchecha as her idols. Emma most liked that they always brought spectacle and were good people.
Emma, like all other top coaches, can immediately recognize talent, but she emphasizes: "Without hard work, talent means nothing."
Back in 2011, when she started training, there wasn't much knowledge about BJJ. Emma attended many seminars, camps, and academies to expand her knowledge, and today she runs her club according to her own program.
Her favorite move is the wrist lock, but it's not the most effective.
Emma is currently on a break from competing to focus on her students, and she also had a knee injury. However, she plans to continue competing in the near future. Since opening the club, her priorities have changed. She tells us: "If I had to choose now whether I would be a world champion or someone from my club, I would say someone from my club."
When asked what the greatest lesson she has learned about herself so far is, she replied: "I've learned about myself that I am very persistent and that when I set my mind to something, I will achieve it, no matter what it is."
Finally, Emma told us that her fondest memory in her BJJ career was her promotion when she received her black belt.