Samera puts in more work than everybody else. Her life is a frenzy of mommy chores and ringside action as a boxing judge and mother to three kickboxing girls.

What keeps the Hodge Hill mother going, though, is her faith, not protein powder. Samera proudly challenges stereotypes as a Muslim lady from South Asia, even going so far as to win the England Boxing Awards' Female Coach of the Year.

Despite her desire to keep her children active rather than glued to devices, she faced some barriers in the form of ignorant comments such as 'if you're training, who cooks at home?' or 'your kids don't have a childhood'.

Nevertheless she punches through the prejudice continuing to juggle her coaching career and daughters' active lifestyles. Samera wants to convince more Muslim women that faith and combat can coincide.

Samera Ali, 40, said: "It's not only hard to be a female in this sport but there are also the religious and cultural barriers.

"I started my daughters young as I always wanted them to do extra-curricular activities, not to be at home on devices all the time. They wanted to do kickboxing and as I enrolled them I thought, I want to do this too.

"When I was younger my mum was a single parent and she couldn't afford it. I did mixed sessions and people said, why are you doing that? As when I was younger Muslim Pakistani girls were not allowed to do mixed classes.

"But there wasn't anything available for just females, at my first fight I asked my family to come. Everyone came including my 70-year-old mum with her white chadar (shawl) on and it meant so much to me."

It wasn't easy for Samera who worked full-time and is also Vice Chair of the governing body at Colebourne Primary School. Her daughters Aamina, Maryam, Hawwa and son Dawud meanwhile started kickboxing at USKA Fight Factory.

As her fitness improved and her children found their calling, Samera was determined not to neglect their Islamic studies. The girls will wear kickboxing kits underneath their jubba (robes) as they go between Green Lane Mosque and kickboxing classes.

Samera drives back and forth dropping the girls off whilst attending her own training, before everyone returns home for dinner and bed. It's an exhausting routine that invites a lot of criticism. Samera said: "I as a mother was questioned many times on my parenting, questions such as 'If you're training, who does the cooking at home, your husband?' or 'do you not think your children need a life? They are doing too much' or 'this will affect their education!'

"If they are busy keeping active it will keep them off of social devices, it will help them to become strong females able to protect themselves which is what our religion teaches us to do.

"People think extra-curricular activities affect education. But it helps their academics as my kids get top marks, they train 5-6 days a week so it has a positive affect.

"They are constantly learning moves and combinations so it constantly makes your brain work. During Covid we did sparring at home and they loved it.

"I never push them to compete. But once they make a decision I say don't give it up unless you've given it six months at least.

"That way you know you didn't give up when it got hard." After Covid Samera started studying for her Level 2 and 3 Personal Training, she has since coached at European prep camps and at the England Women's Aspire development program representing her region. Samera is now an official England boxing judge and kickboxing judge.

Aamina and Maryam have both become kickboxing world champions with Maryam being the only hijabi girl representing England at the ICO World championships. She continued: "I try to get other girls inspired so parents can see you can juggle everything.

"I am very headstrong and I believe deen and combat can coincide. It's not just Muslims but South Asian women as we tend to put ourselves last.