Sport
15 November, 2025
Teen on top of the world after kickboxing champs
CABOOLTURE local Tayvian Marden-Ryle is on top of the world after winning a kickboxing gold medal at a World Championships event in Brisbane last month.
By Yarin Barrett
CABOOLTURE local Tayvian Marden-Ryle is on top of the world after winning a kickboxing gold medal at a World Championships event in Brisbane last month.
Tayvian, 17, became world champion in unified kickboxing while also taking home a silver medal for Muay Thai.
The International Sport Karaoke Association (ISKA) AMA World Championships took place at Sleeman Sports Centre, Brisbane, in what was the first ever Amateur World Championships for kickboxing and Muay Thai held in Australia.
The Tullawong State High School student said he enjoyed both events but prefers Muay Thai.
“The competition was great, it was really fun,” he said.
“I’m probably going to stick to Muay Thai, I like to throws elbows and knees.”
Tayvian started performing Muay Thai at the age of seven after attending a fight show in Thailand and watching a young boy quickly dispatch of his opponent with just two kicks.
“I looked to Mum and said I want to do the sport,” he said.
“I’ve been doing the sport for about 10 years now in total, and my parents are my biggest supporters.”
Tullawong State High School congratulated their student on his outstanding skill, determination and sportsmanship.
Tayvian will move into professional fighting when he turns 18, which will see less padding and protection during fights.
“I love fighting without any protection, it makes it a little bit more fun and a little bit more exhilarating,” he said.
Tayvian said he started getting serious with martial arts when he was 13 years old.
“I had my first fight then, and then I had my second fight a couple of months later, then I had to change gyms because that coach didn’t see me as a fighter,” he said.
“I moved to Crittenden Muay Thai, my gym has been a very big support, I wouldn’t have had the same opportunities if I was at a different gym, Corey Crittenden is the best coach I’ve ever had.”
Tayvian said his pre-fight routine is a little unusual, but is something he has been doing for the last two years.
“It’s a bit of a weird one, not a lot of fighters do it, I get a pedicure, maybe two days before,” he said.
“My last one I had all my toenails green and gold, and the Queensland titles before that I got my toenails done bright pink, it’s just become a ritual now, when I fight without them done it just doesn’t feel right.”
Tayvian said he gets sometimes emotional the night before a big fight or after a loss.
“I’m a bit scared I won’t do everyone else justice by hopping in that ring and performing my best,” he said.
“I’ve only recently started crying about it now, because I fight for titles and it means a lot if I win, but I know if I put all my effort out there and I still lost, then it’s just the other guy was better than me.”
Tayvian said his long-term goal is to compete in One Championship, Muay Thai’s largest organisation.
“One Championship is Muay Thai’s biggest fight show, that’s what I’m hoping to get to,” he said.
The ISKA AMA 2025 Amateur World Championships for kickboxing and Muay Thai were held in Australia for the first time featuring nearly 300 athletes from 18 nations worldwide.
