Interview with Rocío Sánchez Estepa (Professional Athlete – Spain)
You already know that this space is dedicated to interviews with entrepreneurs and successful “personalities” who have a lot to say and contribute. Also in this case, and believe me when I tell you that any professional athlete, whatever discipline they practice, can teach us lessons about life, sacrifice and respect.
The values that sport instills are eternal. They do not fade. They will live with you like another surname until the end of your days. Rocío Sánchez Estepa is a clear example. Young, female and a karateka (I recommend that you do not mess with her!). Her youth (25 years old) is a fallacy compared to her way of thinking and acting. Correct, friendly, serious about her studies and sport. A resounding “role model” for those younger people who are fighting for sporting goals or dreams.
Her smile has more impact than japan telegram data any of her blows on the tatami. She has very clear ideas and thanks to this, her behaviour outside and inside the competition makes you forget about her medals collected around the world and only remember that she is a dreamer. The medals hang around her neck, but she prefers to hang friendships, wisdom, anecdotes from her trips and training camps that make her better. But not a better athlete, but a better person…
But what I tell you matters little, I want you to read it, to discover it, to even feel it…It was a pleasure for me to interview her. It was a pending subject that she had. I know her family personally, so perhaps I was “not very” surprised by her poise and her poise. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…
rocio_sanchez_estepa_karateFirst of all, thank you for making room for me among so many important people. Well, Rocío is a girl who started practicing karate when she was only 4 years old. Following in my brother's footsteps, since my mother put me in the dance hall, but I always ended up on the tatami with him. Having a clear idea of what my goal was, to be a World Champion like my brother was, I began to fight for my dreams.
I met Gloria Casanova, the female figure who guides my steps, for me the best competitor in the history of Spain (in female kumite), and she is currently the assistant coach. I think she gives me that extra energy in the championships to always keep fighting until the end.
And with all this, I have managed to win quite a few international medals, although not all I would like, and I hope there are still more to come.
In addition, I am studying my second degree (I hope to finish it in December/January next year) and I teach karate classes in 2 schools in Vicálvaro, Madrid.
2- How long have you been practicing this sport? What values does a martial art provide?
I have been practicing karate since I was 4 years old, I have been competing in kumite since I was 12 years old, I joined the national cadet team when I was 16, and the absolute team when I was 21 years old.
The values they provide are discipline, respect, camaraderie, teamwork, humility, effort, improvement, perseverance, struggle... Competition also teaches you to "know how to lose" , and I put it in quotation marks because in reality you never like to lose, but it can be better or worse.
3- Tell me, what is Rocío Sánchez's daily life like?
rocio_sanchez_estepa_karateThe truth is that it is simple, but sometimes I don't have enough time. In the mornings I do my physical training, guided by Ana Ferrero (my physical trainer), I do university work and I study (depending on the day, either English or a university subject).
And in the afternoons, I teach classes from Monday to Thursday at two schools in my neighborhood, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Mondays when I finish teaching, I go to the CAR (High Performance Center) to have a session with Obdulia Tejón, a sports psychologist, and then go home to study or continue with my university work.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, I go to my karate club (Karate Antonio Machado) to train as soon as I finish school. I help my coach with the middle grades class from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., or I schedule classes for my little ones. And I train from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
When I get home, which is usually around 10:00 pm, you know… between changing clothes, talking (there are always new “battles” to talk about)…and doing the 30 km to my house, I don’t have time for much else. Shower, dinner… finish what I have left, then sleep.