By Matilda M, Year 11 Journalist Lead

The October half term is a great time to relax, meet up with friends or even study for upcoming exams, however Baani G in Year 9 was invited to represent the United Kingdom in the 16th world Taekkyeon competition, 2025 – an international Mixed Martial Arts competition in Korea during the half term, and I have been able to interview her, so she can share her thoughts and insight on the competition and Taekkyeon. It was very interesting to be able to hear all about the competition, and her passion for her sport.

What are you most looking forward to during the competition?

I am looking forward to meeting new people who also share interest in Mixed Martial Arts, and who have travelled globally to attend the competition. I am also looking forward to gaining experience and from the actual competitions themselves, as I will be able to use my experience and technique against other very strong competitors. The competition consists of 3 days of training and 3 days of actual competitions. The tournaments include 2 minute sparring matches, and I am hoping to benefit from the training in Korea so I will be able to perform to my best possible standard during the matches.

What are you most looking forward to during your time in Korea?

I am looking forward to being fully immersed in Korean culture for 10 days. I will be staying in Seoul for some of my time there, and I’m curious to find out more about the lifestyle in Korea. I am also so happy to be able to eat Korean food for 10 days, it will be amazing. However, I am not looking forward to the flight over there though, as it is quite long!

When and why did you start MMA?

I started when I was 5, mainly from my parents’ encouragement. It started just as a sort of hobby or activity alongside my other hobbies. However, as I started growing up, I began taking it more and more seriously and found it was something that would be a great part of my life. Now I train 3 times a week and have dedicated so much time and effort to my sport, and I’m so grateful my dedication and skill have been recognised.

Why do you love MMA?

I’ve continued with mixed martial arts because I feel it is very different to any other type of sport I take part in, in the sense that it is quite niche and not many people do it. I also think that it is a very technical sport that has built my resilience and strength, and I have made so many friends along the way.

How did you get on in Korea?

After three half days of training, with all of the rest of the competitors, it was time for competition day. There were two categories of fight. The first one was only takedown, where you had to make your opponent touch ground for a point. First to three points won. The second category of fight was kicking and takedown, where a kick to the head would also win you a point. In the first category, I lost my last fight by one point, and won a silver medal. In the second category, I won my first fight, and lost the second, winning bronze.

This trip was a great experience, and meeting people from all over the world was extremely eye-opening and interesting. I would love to go back again next year.

We look forward to following Baani’s journey in MMA in the future and celebrating her dedication, skill, and passion for her sport.