Six-year-old Natalia, awarded as the athlete of the month, recently gained fame when her coach promoted her to the next level in martial arts. The video where her coach places the yellow belt around her neck, congratulates her for her achievements, and pulls her chin down has gone viral with thousands of views. This movement inspired many users on TikTok to replicate it, creating a dangerous challenge that could lead to injuries if performed incorrectly.
According to Dimitris Papadopoulos, Natalia’s coach and owner of the gym, this process is traditional in martial arts but should only be done by professionals. ‘It’s really dangerous,’ he emphasized, adding that such actions should occur exclusively in a controlled gym environment.
Natalia’s mother captured the moment during training. Now, beyond being an exceptional athlete, Natalia has become famous at school, with many children approaching her after seeing her TikTok success. Martial arts experts stress the importance of practicing under professional supervision and discourage youth from attempting moves seen online without proper guidance.