As well as raising two children and saving lives as an emergency medical technician, Chelmsford local Kerry Masarati has made a name for herself as a champion cagefighter.
Kerry beat the British female 65kg title holder and won the K1 championships in Colchester on points after five two-minute rounds.
K1 is a mixture of the Thai combat sport Muay Thai and kickboxing and includes a range of knee movements, kicks and punches, but no elbows are allowed.
Kerry is based at the Tower Hamlets ambulance station where she has been working as an emergency medical technician for the past five years.
She said: “I only had ten days to prepare as I was replacing someone who dropped out. I really didn’t know which way it would go – it was a very close fight.”
Kerry is currently a semi-professional martial artist, but if she wins her next fight in February she will become a professional fighter.
She has been kickboxing since she was very young and has competed on both national and international levels. She only started practicing mixed martial arts last year.
She added: “It’s a small scene for women – quite a few train in it, but not many compete.
“It’s a buzz, it gives me confidence and I find that people also respect me because I’m one of only a few women who do it.
“Colleagues seem quite fascinated by what I do, as I’m not your stereotypical cage fighter.”