"Outside the ring I seem like a saint. But inside...the other side comes out."

BarcelonaJudith Carricondo (Sant Fost de Campsentelles, 2005) found herself two years ago entering a packed arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In a country where women have few rights and cannot even vote, she stepped into the ring to fight against the World Combat Gamesa World Martial Arts Championship. "I was surprised by the passion and fanaticism they had for this sport, it was packed. And it was great to be able to show that we can break down barriers, that everyone can compete," explains the fighter known as The Holy

A woman from Vallès wins medals at world championships against rivals from countries with greater tradition and support. A success story born at home. "In my case, family is key," the fighter from Vallès Oriental explains to ARA. "It was all for my uncle, because he decided to open his own gym in Mollet del Vallès. He had already been teaching and competing for some time when he set up his own gym. I went in with my sister and all my cousins ​​to try it out. And look, to this day, we have a physique that, by training as a family, training as a family, training as a family, has won us many awards," she recalls. They all compete representing the family gym, theAttitude Boxing Crew

Judith was very young when she started kickboxing, "a contact sport that works your hands, fists, and legs. And I fight in K1, where you can also use your knees," adds the woman from Vallès, who also practices boxing. But where she truly shines is in kickboxing, with six Spanish championships, three world runner-up titles, and a European bronze medal, which has allowed her to dedicate herself professionally to the sport. "I'm very lucky to have them, who are always there for me. We all help each other as a family," says the fighter, aware that other women don't have it so easy to practice martial arts, as they still encounter many closed doors. "When I was little, I was a very good girl. Very quiet. Many people didn't like the sport I did. So, half-jokingly, my uncle started calling me 'the saint,' since outside the ring I'm still very calm, like a saint. But inside...the other side comes out," she explains.

Carricondo will be one of the featured acts this weekend in a new edition of the Top QueensAn international women's kickboxing tournament will be held at the Germans Margall Municipal Pavilion in Malgrat de Mar. Organized by Top King Training Center and AFE Malgrat, with the support of the Malgrat de Mar City Council, the event will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 7th. This tournament represents a significant step forward, as it is now part of the Enfusion international circuit, one of the most prestigious kickboxing championships. worldwide. In the last year, more than two thousand people came to watch the fights of a sport still relatively unknown to many. "It's very difficult to be a professional. My weight doesn't help either, since I compete in a category with few women. But with perseverance and the support of people like my family, I've made it. I've found sponsors and a supportive environment," she says.

"Some people only see the contact and don't understand the positive aspects of this sport. But luckily, we're seeing these prejudices gradually disappear. And we especially see it when many parents come to sign up their sons and daughters. They tell us it's a very disciplined sport and that it's good for children." the Holy"It has given me values ​​and a work ethic that are good for life," she adds. In fact, many girls have found in this sport a space where they feel better, boost their self-esteem, and sometimes overcome problems like school bullying, as happened to the Catalan wrestler Claudia Perona, who after suffering bullying She has become one of the best fighters of the moment. "I think it can bring many positive things," says Carricondo. According to the Sports Habits in Spain survey conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Sport, only 1.4% of the female population practices martial arts. The figure is double that for men.

"The beautiful thing about this sport is that you keep surprising yourself. I was competing well in Catalan championships, but when they called me up to the national team four years ago, I realized it would be another level. You're never fully aware of what you can truly become," says Carricondo, who seems very optimistic. "Contact sports are growing; more and more people are taking them up," she explains. In fact, she doesn't just compete: "I'm also teaching children. And I also teach girls who are embarrassed to start. Women of all ages. We come across many cases of women who haven't come to do martial arts before because of embarrassment, because of fear of what others will say. We help them so that they feel comfortable."