WOMEN WHO INSPIRE
KICKING UP HER HEELS
Fitness builds strength and confidence
Story and photos by VICKI BENNINGTON
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Dozens of St. Louis-area women are better
equipped to protect themselves, thanks to St.
Peters resident Rebekah Beck.
76
Certified in self-defense, mixed martial arts
and a Muay Thai Sprawl Level 2 Striking
Expert, Rebekah teaches Diva Fit (fitness,
boxing and kickboxing for adult women);
self-defense for women and teenaged girls;
and trains youth in fitness and mixed martial
arts at Andre’s Academy in St. Peters.
The academy was founded by her boyfriend,
two-time World Fighting Alliance world
champion and U.S. Martial Arts Hall of
Famer Jermaine Andre, a pioneer in mixed
martial arts.
In addition to teaching classes (which is a
real workout in itself), the two work out at
least six days a week as a couple.
Now thirty-two, Rebekah decided more than
a decade ago to make a conscious effort to
improve her health. She gave up bad habits
GAZELLE WEST
like smoking, and began to improve her total
fitness and nutritional intake.
“I started working out, and it was funny,
once I dedicated myself mentally, my body
was able to take the workouts,” Rebekah
said. “I felt myself getting healthier.”
She was inspired to improve her fitness level
after meeting Jermaine at one of his mixed
martial arts fights, and the rest, as they say,
is history.
Rebekah moved to the area from her
hometown of Decatur, Illinois, and began
working out with Jermaine, who trained her
intensely for five years, and motivated her to
keep going; keep working at it.
She switched to a vegetable-based diet,
including lots of salads, and generally, a
piece of fish or chicken every day for protein.
“I feel like I still eat ‘normally It’s not what I would
.’
call a drastic diet, but it’s healthy,” she said.
“At first it was about weight loss, but you can
get really frustrated with the scale when you
start working out. Muscle weighs more than
fat, and when you begin building muscles, the
scale may go up before it goes down.”
When Rebekah first started training, she
went from 120 to 138 pounds, and later,
evened out to a steady weight between 130
and 135, wearing a four or six dress size. And
that’s just where she likes it.
“Before, I was actually malnourished and
dehydrated because I smoked and ate badly.
As I became fit, I did gain weight, but I
looked and felt much better,” she said.
“Now, it’s mostly about health. I eat very
little red meat; no soda; no junk food.”
Working out also provides great stress relief,
and builds strength, which is important in
order for women to protect themselves.
Rebekah said it is important to let the idea of
fitness extend beyond the gym.
“It’s not only about what you do in class or