Nicola Barke features an incredible arsenal of weapons, and a perfect nickname in “The Burmese Python.”
Barke, who transitions to taekwondo from ballet, competes for World Lethwei Championship. She signed with the promotion in early 2019 and has quickly risen to the top.
A world champion at the ITF World Championships, Barke became the WKO British champion with a victory in a four-woman tournament. She owns a 90-percent win percentage since leaving the world of ballet behind for her new career, which is vastly different but just as exciting.
“It is a very ruthless, aggressive sport,” Barke said. “But at the end of the day, we’ve trained for this and prepared for this. We know what we’ve signed up for and that’s what makes it exciting.”
In recently released rankings for the WLC, Barke slides in at No. 2 in the women’s division behind only Souris Manfredi.
“I’m even impressed myself,” she said on the ranking. “Let’s just take a moment to appreciate how far we’ve truly come! From being terrible at ballet to top ranked in the world of bare knuckle Burmese boxing, which allows headbutts, throws, punches, knees, kicks and elbows.
“Sure, I’ve lost before but remember moments like this, your successes along the way and thank yourself for having the grit, determination, resilience and will power to keep trying! You never know what you can achieve if you quit.”
Barke’s mother is a native of Mynamar, which has quickly made the British fighter a fan favorite.
“It has always been a goal of mine to compete in lethwei, and I am so grateful to World Lethwei Championship for giving me this opportunity to experience lethwei in person,” she said. “I will prove myself and become world lethwei champion!”
Back in October at World Lethwei Championship 10: Fearless Tigers, Barke scored a decision victory vs. Bianka Balajt in the co-main event. She swept the scorecards that night inside the Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium in Mandalay, Myanmar.
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