[custom_adv] They may not be able to drive in the Kingdom yet, but Saudi Arabian women sure can fight like a girl. And there is one woman in particular who is leading this movement, 39 year old Halah Al Hamrani who owns a private gym in Jeddah called Flagboxing. She is considered to be the first female kickboxing and boxing trainer in Saudi Arabia. [custom_adv] In this conservative kingdom, many sports are typically seen as male-dominated, but Halah is determined to change that narrative. [custom_adv] In an interview with the Saudi Gazette, the leading English-only paper in the country based out of Jeddah, she shared her story with the publication in the hope that it will inspire other women to focus on fitness, despite negative associations surrounding women who play sports. [custom_adv] Halah’s relationship with sports and the fitness industry began at the age of 12 when she started practicing karate. An American couple living in Jeddah later introduced her to Jiu Jitsu, which she ended up teaching and earning a black belt in. [custom_adv] She has been practicing Muay Thai for 12 years and kickboxing for 7 years, and is also trained to teach Crossfit. Is there anything this woman cannot do?! [custom_adv] Her background is not the type of narrative we are used to hearing about women from Saudi Arabia, but it is important that the media share these stories with the world. Halah says she was lucky to grow up with a supportive family and recognizes the importance of strong female role models in a girl’s life. [custom_adv] Generally, sports are not considered an important part of a woman’s upbringing, and women in Saudi Arabia are not encouraged to pursue a career in sports. Times have changed, and women of all ages are more active today. [custom_adv] “They are realizing that fitness is a crucial aspect of a healthy lifestyle… I see the positive impact it has on nearly every facet of their lives…With hard work and perseverance women can have the same ambitions and can attain the same goals that men strive to achieve in sports,” she said in the feature published both online and in print on International Women’s Day.