Nicola Maria Barke

Nicola Barke (born on August 21, 1993) is a British-born martial artist of Myanmar. She is a three-sport champion: Taekwondo World Champion, Lethwei Ranked World Number 2 and British Kickboxing Champion.
== Early life ==
Nicola was born in Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom and has one younger sister. Her mother was born in Yangon (Rangon), Myanmar (Burma) and her father is of Italian descent. Nicola was born with Narcolepsy, a rare long-term brain condition that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep at inappropriate times. Despite being suffering with Narcolepsy throughout her childhood, she eventually grew out of this.
She was a keen ballet dancer and competed at the British Arts Awards with her dance group, Jayne Marie Dancing School (JMDS), where she secured Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.
Growing up Nicola aspired to become a doctor and undertook a Biomedical Science degree at the University of West England, Bristol. She graduated with a a first class honours degree.
== Martial Arts Career ==
=== Team ===
* 2021 - Present: Essex Fight Academy, Essex, Terry Steward
* 2019 - 2020: Golden Team, Leeds, Padraic McDonagh
* 2014 - 2019: Storm Gym, Luton, Amir Subasic
* 2011 - 2013: Thornbury TKD, Bristol, Vaughan Buxton
* 2009 - 2011: Berkhamsted TKD, Hertfordshire, Tom Brennan
=== Taekwondo ===
Nicola started Taekwondo in 2009 and quickly moved through the ranks, achieving her 1st Degree Black Belt in 2012. She later went on to achieve her 2nd Degree Black Belt. After winning the World Championships in 2012, Nicola applied for the Great Britain "Fighting Chance" scheme, with a view to compete and qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, sustained a foot injury and was deemed too liable to injury. This marked the end of her Taekwondo career and the beginning of her next chapter in martial arts.
Taekwondo Titles Won	Taekwondo Titles Won	Taekwondo Titles Won 	Taekwondo Titles Won	Taekwondo Titles Won	Taekwondo Titles Won
 	Year 	Title 	Weight Division 	Location 	Tournament Fight
Win 	2013 	English Champion 	65kg 	Reading, England 	Yes
Win 	2012 	World Champion 	60kg 	Ottawa, Canada 	Yes
Win 	2012 	Welsh Champion 	60kg 	Cardiff, Wales 	Yes
Win 	2011 	Scottish Champion 	60kg 	Glasgow, Scotland 	Yes
Win 	2011 	English Champion 	60kg 	Reading, England 	Yes
Win 	2011 	British Champion 	60kg 	Oxford, England 	Yes
Win 	2011 	Mediterranean Champion	60kg 	Naples, Italy 	No
Win 	2011 	Welsh Champion 	60kg 	Cardiff, Wales 	Yes
Win 	2010 	British Champion 	60kg 	Oxford, England 	Yes
Win 	2009 	British Chamoion 	60kg 	Oxford, England 	Yes
=== Professional: Lethwei (Burmese Boxing), Kickboxing and K-1 ===
Nicola is the first female from the UK to ever compete in Lethwei on World Lethwei Championship which is also viewable on Amazon Prime
 	Martial Art 	Title 	Opponent 	Weight	Promotion 	Location
Win 	Unanimous Decison 	 	 	 	 	
Bianka Bajalti 	63kg 	World Lethwei Championship 	Mandalay, Myanmar 	 	 	
Win 	Unanimous Decision	WKO British Kickboxing Title	Claire Clements 	64kg 	Super Fight Series	Brentwood, England
Loss 	Split Decision 	 	 	 	 	
Katie Rand 	63kg 	Muay Thai Grand Prix 	Indigo O2, England	 	 	
Win 	Unanimous Decision	 	 	 	 	
Jo Price 	60kg 	Super Fight Series 	York Hall, Englad 	 	 	
Win 	Unanimous Decision	 	 	 	 	
Hannah Turner 	60kg 	Super Fight Series 	York Hall, England	 	 	
Win 	Unanimous Decision	 	 	 	 	
Zhang Ye 	60kg 	EM Legend 	Chengdu, China 	 	 	
Win 	Unanimous Decision	 	 	 	 	
Michaela Varela 	65kg 	 	 	 	 	
Albufeira, Portugal	 	 	 	 	 	
=== Professional: Boxing ===
Nicola has recently started training in pure Boxing under the watchful eye of Terry Steward and anticipating her Professional debut in 2021.
== Modelling Career ==
Nicola is currently represented by Atmosphere Faces and has featured in:
Commercial Appearances	Commercial Appearances	Commercial Appearances 	Commercial Appearances 	Commercial Appearances	Commercial Appearances
Year 	Company 	Advert 	Role 	Agency 	
2020 	Balenciaga 	New Zen Shoes 	Athlete - in yellow shoes	Holly Cullen 	
2020 	Sports Direct 	Christmas 2020 	Boxer - in red hand wraps	Atmosphere Faces 	
2018 	HSBC 	In the ring with a Kickboxer Banker	Lead 	HSBC 	
== Championships and accomplishments ==
* Taekwondo World Champion 
*Olympic GB Taekwondo Selections 
*Lethwei (Burmese Boxing) World Ranked #2 
*First UK Female to compete in Lethwei 
*British Kickboxing Champion 
*British Ballet Champion 
Category:1993 births
Category:British martial artists