(March 28, 2025) When Samyuktha Narayanan lands a powerful punch or executes a flying side kick with precision — her swift and sharp Taekwondo moves prove she’s got nerves of steel. The seven year old’s agility, focus, strength, timing and body control make her a rockstar of the martial art. At the age of seven, she has become the world’s youngest taekwondo player, setting a Guinness World Record as the youngest instructor ever. “Every kid should learn taekwondo. It boosts confidence, keeps us fit and teaches discipline. For girls, it’s a must,” insists Samyuktha Narayan, in a chat with Global Indian.
Not only has she mastered every move in her training, but she also earned her black belt from the World Taekwondo Headquarters in Korea.
Samyuktha Narayanan
Hailing from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Samyuktha stunned the world by setting the Guinness world record as the “youngest taekwondo instructor ever.” Her exceptional taekwondo skills make her a promising taekwondo player for India. “My father asked me whether I can give it (Guinness world records) a try. I said yes instantly and intensified my practice,” she says.
From Black Belt Training to Guinness World Record: Mastering Poomsae and Inspiring Through Teaching
To earn the record, says Samyuktha, one must complete the full Taekwondo poomsae (syllabus), which includes blocks, punches, kicks and self defence demonstration. Importantly, one must be able to teach others.
“As I had already practiced everything for my black belt training, it was easy for me. I have seen my father teach Taekwondo and I just followed his lead,” smiles the taekwondo star, who now trains a batch of children aged 5 to 6.
Her taekwondo moves and training were recorded and uploaded on the Guinness world record website. “My father told me not to expect anything and just keep trying. The Guinness team reviewed all my videos and named me the world’s youngest taekwondo instructor by November 2024,” says an excited Samyuktha, who has also won medals at district, state, and national championships.
In a recent post, the Guinness World Records wrote, “Seven-year-old girl makes history as the youngest Taekwondo instructor ever aged just seven years and 270 days old! Samyuktha Narayanan is an inspiration to fellow kids in Madurai, India, encouraging them to engage in sports!”
When she found out about her achievement, Samyuktha couldn’t hide her excitement. “I was super thrilled when I came to know about my achievement. I started dancing,” laughs the taekwondo star.
Family Legacy at Madurai Taekwondo Academy: Early Training, Guinness Records & a Korean Black Belt
Samyuktha’s parents – Shruthy and Narayanan – run the Madurai Taekwondo Academy, where she honed her skills from an early age. “Our academy is just above our house and my parents are my taekwondo teachers and biggest inspirations. I started going to the academy when I was two-years old,” says Samyuktha, who keenly watched the taekwondo trainees kicking the target pad. The sound it produced, fascinated her.
Shruthy previously held the record for the most full-contact elbow strikes in one minute using alternate elbows (211). Narayanan, on the other hand, boasts multiple records, including most flaming concrete blocks broken in 30 seconds (29) and most marble slabs broken with a single kick (seven). In 2020, Shruthy and Narayanan also set a joint record for the most martial arts kicks by a pair in one minute (154, mixed).
Samyuktha Narayanan with her parents
“My father is a holder of 34 Guinness world records and my mother has two titles. Their certificates are displayed on a wall in my home. I wanted my certificate there as well,” says the taekwondo champ, whose journey into Guinness world record started soon after the World Taekwondo Headquarters in Korea issued her black belt in August 2024.
From the First Punch to Unwavering Determination: A Madurai Journey
Samyuktha would often ask her father to hold the target pad for her and enjoyed swinging her leg to reach the pad. By the time she turned three, Samyuktha was already joining other trainees in workouts that included running, jumping and doing squats. Seeing the spark in his daughter, Narayanan began training her regularly.
“The first move I learnt was to punch,” recalls the young taekwondo star, a grade three student at Mahatma School in Madurai, who also loves science and math.
Despite suffering injuries during her training, Samyuktha never gives up. “I give my body rest until I’m completely healed, and then I start training again,” says the Madurai-born girl.
A Day in the Life: Balancing Early Training, School, and Healthy Habits
Samyuktha rises at 5:30 am every day and immediately begins her taekwondo training, which lasts until 7:30 am. After training, she heads to school. “I set aside days for cardio, strength, and stretching exercises, along with daily practice of taekwondo kicks,” she says of her routine.
Once school is over at 4 pm, she completes her homework and then enjoys playtime with her neighborhood friends. By 7 pm, the world’s youngest taekwondo instructor is back at the academy, teaching a group of eight young students warm-ups, workouts, and basic kicks. “I make them do warm ups, some workouts and teach them basic kicks,” informs Samyuktha, who is back home by 8:30 pm, enjoys dinner with her parents, and then calls it a day
Does the seven year old follow a specific diet? “There is no specific diet, it’s just normal home food. I don’t eat junk or packed foods, soft drinks are a strict no for me,” says the taekwondo sensation, who relishes snacks made by her mother.
A Young Taekwondo Star’s Path to Olympic Glory and Guinness Records
Samyuktha also has a love for dance. “I’ve been practicing western dance for over a year and have won prizes in competitions,” she shares. With her mother being a Bharatnatyam dancer, it’s no surprise that creativity runs in the family. She also enjoys spending time with her two-year-old brother, Dhruvan.
Looking ahead, Samyuktha is determined to further her taekwondo journey. “I want to practice more and participate in many championships. My goal is to win an Olympic medal for our country,” she says, firmly believing that taekwondo can change lives. She is also setting her sights on achieving another Guinness World Record in the fitness category.
Scaling Peaks and Breaking Records
The taekwondo star doesn’t watch TV and loves going on treks with her father. She has climbed Meesapulimala—the second highest peak in the Western Ghats—as well as the Chokramudi and Bose peaks in Kerala, among several others in Tamil Nadu.
When it comes to taekwondo, she believes there’s still a lot to learn. “I have a lot to learn,” she says, looking forward to coaching people of all ages in the future.
Samyuktha Narayanan is a true example of the Global Indian spirit. Hailing from Madurai, she has already broken world records and inspired many with her hard work and discipline. Balancing school, training, and teaching, she shows that with focus and determination, young Indians can achieve great things. As she looks forward to challenges like the Olympics and new Guinness records, her journey reminds us all of India’s bright future on the global stage.
