A THREE-TIME world kickboxing champion who trains in Trimsaran is travelling to Spain next week to defend her title — at the tender age of 13

Tennessee Randall, who trains at Gwendraeth Valley Boxing Gym, is representing Wales in the World Kickboxing Council tournament this week in Cadiz, facing opposition from across the globe.

The Coedcae School pupil is part of Wales's eight-strong team — one of the smallest competing — and currently holds the title after winning gold in her weight group at last year's WKC championships. She also won two gold medals at the Womma world titles in August.

Mum Tracy said: "It's unbelievable — you would never think to look at her she's a world champion kickboxer.

"I started sending my two girls to the sessions when Tennessee was seven because she was being bullied a bit and I didn't like it.

"For most kids that start martial arts, it's through being bullied. It's always the same story."

And Tracy, whose husband former Llanelli footballer Leigh was also a kickboxing world champion himself, said Tennessee was not what you might expect from a world-beating fighter.

Disciplined

"She hasn't got a bad bone in her body.

"The thing about martial arts is not about people who are thugs, it's about people that have control and are very disciplined," she said.

Tennessee, who lives in Bynea, Llanelli, and is also captain of her school hockey team, had the chance to compete with dad Leigh when they both represented Wales at last year's championships.

Tracy said: "It was so special to have a father and daughter fighting for Wales.

"I said to Leigh, when you had a little girl I bet you never imagined you would be kickboxing together. She's followed in his footsteps."

Tracy said it was down to her training at the Trimsaran gym that she became strong enough to compete at such a high level.

She also praised Xandao Kickboxing Club in Llanelli, where Tennessee has been going to kickboxing sessions for the last three years.

Tennessee's boxing coach Nigel Haddock, who runs the gym, said he was now trying to get her to take up taekwondo.

"Kickboxing isn't an Olympic sport, but taekwondo is, so we're hoping she will move over to that," he said.

"We are looking at the Olympics after next year.

"She's fantastic — when I'm in the ring with her I have to keep my hands up at all times."

The tournament starts on Tuesday, with the final on Saturday next week.