Meet Samyuktha Narayanan, 7-year-old girl who is youngest Taekwondo instructor
What's the story
Samyuktha Narayanan, a seven-year-old from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, has entered history as the world's youngest Taekwondo instructor. She accomplished the incredible milestone on August 14, 2024.
Samyuktha's parents, Shruthy and Narayanan, are both martial artists and Guinness World Record holders themselves.
They run the Madurai Taekwondo Academy, where Samyuktha started training at only three under her father's supervision.
Family legacy
Samyuktha's parents are also Guinness World Record holders
Samyuktha's parents have several records in martial arts. Shruthy was earlier the record holder for most full-contact elbow strikes in one minute using alternate elbows (211).
Narayanan has several records to his name, including most flaming concrete blocks broken in 30 seconds (29) and most marble slabs broken with a single kick (seven).
In 2020, they set a joint record for most martial arts kicks by a pair in one minute (154, mixed).
Training regimen
Samyuktha's journey to becoming an instructor
Samyuktha trains for two hours daily. She begins her day training at the dojo with her fellow students, goes home to finish her homework, and then returns for evening coaching from her father.
"I feel proud of myself standing as an instructor before kids of my age," she said. "Sometimes I also learn from them."
Her black belt was issued by the World Taekwondo Headquarters in Korea.
Role model
Samyuktha's inspiration and future aspirations
"My father and mother are my biggest inspirations," Samyuktha told Guinness World Records.
"I used to admire [their] Guinness World Records certificates hanging on the walls in our home."
She said she wanted to earn a GWR title and hang her certificate on the same wall as her parents' records.
"After I achieved my GWR title, I received appreciations from my friends, family and teachers. My photos and videos were published...I felt like a star in my city," she said.