In a remarkable display of talent and dedication, seven-year-old Samyuktha Narayanan from Madurai, India, has been officially certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest Taekwondo instructor. At just seven years and 270 days old, her achievement on August 14, 2024, has made her an inspiration to children across her city and beyond.
Samyuktha’s journey is deeply rooted in her family. She is following in the footsteps of her parents, Shruthy and Narayanan, who run the Madurai Taekwondo Academy and are multiple Guinness World Record holders themselves. Inspired by their certificates hanging on the walls of their home, Samyuktha told Guinness World Records that it was her “goal to achieve a GWR title and hang my certificate on the same wall.”
Her parents are no strangers to record-breaking feats. Her mother, Shruthy, was the first female to set the record for the most full-contact elbow strikes in one minute using alternate elbows, a record that has since been broken. Her father, Narayanan, a renowned coach, holds impressive records including the most flaming concrete blocks broken in 30 seconds (29) and the most marble slabs broken with a single kick (seven). Together, the couple also holds a joint record for the most martial arts kicks by a pair in one minute.
Samyuktha’s journey began at the tender age of three, training under her father. She worked her way through the grading system, earning her black belt from the World Taekwondo Headquarters in Korea after completing extensive training, including a 5-kilometer run. Now, she dedicates two hours a day to her training and also coaches other kids, demonstrating a maturity and discipline far beyond her years. Her passion for the sport has not only put her on the global stage but has also made her a local celebrity, proving that age is no barrier to achieving greatness.
