A fun, after school activity has groomed this 15-year-old into an expert athlete in Taekwondo and Sports Martial Arts. As a little tiny tiger, learning how to punch and kick is every kid’s dream. Mikayla Francisco started Taekwondo at five-years-old. As she learned every form, the instructors noticed that Mikayla was able to complete each form at every belt cycle, a tiny tiger, usually can only do half the form. After Mikayla participated in her first World Tournament, she was invited to advance into the Juniors class at six- years-old. She was ready to learn with the other juniors aged two-years-older than herself. Mikayla joined the competition circuit and as a young junior she achieved her first State Champion Title. Mikayla continued to move up the belts, being promoted full rank at every testing cycle and eventually achieved her First-Degree Black belt at eight-years-old.
Amazed at what she has watched on the National competition circuit, Mikayla expressed that she wanted to win a World Champion Title. Mikayla expanded her training to the extreme martial arts which is better known as “all those cool karate moves with all the flips.” Mikayla gravitated to the bo staff as her weapon of choice and to this day is her weapon specialty. The Road to Worlds commenced and the training of this eight-year-old athlete involved more than the after school ‘recreational’ activity that it was once, but a whole team of coaches. Mikayla trained with the taekwondo instructors, a sparring coach, a tumbling coach and a personal trainer. Mikayla only aimed for one World Title in Traditional Form (Kata). But in fact, in her first year at the World’s Championship Tournament 2012, as an eight-year-old Black Belt, Mikayla took home three world titles.
Mikayla emerged with a true heart of an athlete and continued to train. Numerous State and District Titles followed along with 12 more World Titles between 2012-2017. Mikayla’s training performance has even reached the ESPN screen where she has competed three times, with the last one winning the International Sport Karate Association World Title at the U.S. Open.
Recognized for her skills, Mikayla was invited to China in 2017 to perform at the 40th Anniversary of Jackie Chan’s Stunt team – an honor and once-in-a-lifetime experience for this athlete. So, what is in store for this athlete? A Third-Degree Black Belt and 15-time World Champion – yes, martial arts is a very big part of who she is, but it has also taught her to be disciplined and be a constant learner. Mikayla studies independent home high school, with advanced courses. She is looking forward to taking all she has learned from being a ‘karate kid’ to college.
Read the Entire story in our November/December digital issue
