The maxim not to judge a book by its cover could not be more true for 24-year-old Ruth Tanti, whose soft demeanour and petite frame belies her capabilities – as Malta’s first professional female kickboxer.

When you’re in the ring, you can’t be put down if your opponent’s supporters pass demoralising comments

Her promotion from amateur to professional fighting came as a welcome surprise earlier this year.

In 2007, Ms Tanti’s club, the Ying Yang Kickboxing Club, enrolled with the World Kickboxing Network (WKN), the world’s largest organisation for the sport.

Before Christmas, her instructor Noel Mercieca asked her to send him her fighting history file.

“After looking into my history, the WKN decided I deserved to be promoted to the next level. It took me completely by surprise – it still hasn’t quite sunk in.”

The only other professional Maltese kickboxer is Daniel Zahra, who recently appeared in a competition aired on Eurosport.

“That’s a huge achievement,” Ms Tanti said admiringly of her colleague.

“The only other two Maltese athletes who have ever been on Eurosport are Tony Drago and an equestrian.”

Prior to her promotion, Ms Tanti was a champion in the amateur flyweight category (below 53kg in weight). From 2007 to 2012 she held a number of European championship titles.

Being promoted to ‘professional’ does not mean Ms Tanti will be quitting her job at Wasteserv. However, she will need some major lifestyle changes.

Not that Ms Tanti’s schedule isn’t rigorous enough: her typical day involves working from 7am to 4pm. At 6.30pm she goes to the club and trains for a further two hours. When she has an upcoming competition, she trains from Monday to Saturday.

“Once you’re promoted to a professional level, however, you can’t step down the rungs and fight as an amateur again.

“You have to follow a strict diet. I’m a vegetarian so my protein intake does not come from meat. To prepare for an upcoming competition, I would need to train for a month, three times a day.

“I’m very excited for the announcement of my next competition – my opponents will be professionals too and, despite their young age, it definitely won’t be their first professional fight.”

She reminisces about the differences between her childhood and the situation in the sport today.

Back in 1997, when Ms Tanti took up kickboxing, she was just one of a couple of girls practising among a large number of boys.

“When I first began, there were very few girls practising the sport – they would take it up but not pursue it. Nowadays, the number of boys and girls is pretty well-matched. The media didn’t seem to push kickboxing in the past.

“I distinctly recall meeting then Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Jesmond Mugliett regarding a sponsorship scheme and he told me straight to my face that he did not want to promote kickboxing because it’s dangerous.”

Ms Tanti argues that kickboxing is no riskier than other sports.

“To compete, you have to have a certain level of experience. They’re not going to just send you to a competition after a mere two months.

“You’ll also be given the full protective equipment, which consists of a head guard, a mouth guard, a chest guard [for women] and a groin guard [for men], gloves, shin guards and foam boots.

“There is always the risk of hurting yourself, like any other sport. But the risk of injury is really much less than most people presume.”

She also believes practising kickboxing stimulates both the body and the mind.

“When you’re in the ring, you can’t be put down if your opponent’s supporters pass demoralising comments.

“You have to develop a tough shell. Mental strength is as important as physical strength.”

Physical fitness and flexibility are also enhanced. Kickboxers acquire sparring techniques (a form of training common to many combat sports) that they then use on their opponents.

“Although the sport is an individual one, we train as a class so you always have different partners – males and females,” Ms Tanti explains.

So she has sparred against men too?

“Yes, like the rest of the girls. Men are naturally physically stronger so it’s easier for them.

“But men in our club always keep a step back – they respect us,” she laughed.

“I’m looking forward to my next competition and to taking it to the next level.

“Competitions allow me to set myself targets that I strive to achieve. You aim to win but each experience is ultimately part of one big learning curve.”