Karyll Bennett-Robinson - file photos

THE success of Jamaica's female combined martial arts team, three international victories from as many outings, in addition to captain Sheckema Cunningham's historic individual bronze medal at March's International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) world championship, has sparked Karyll Bennett-Robinson to embark on a mission.

Twenty-two-year-old Bennett-Robinson will travel with other members of the combined team, male and female, to Saturday's Red Tiger International in Philadelphia as an independent fighter with individual sponsorship.

Bennett-Robinson, formerly of Zendo Karate and in her first year with Rising Sun Academy, is intent on accumulating points this year to qualify for the 2012 female combined team. Her mission to qualify will also take her to July's US Open in Florida.

She started her quest by placing third at the Taekwondo Open in March and is looking forward to enhanced competition in Philadelphia.

"I think it (a female team) is brilliant. There aren't many female black belts locally. The idea of a female combined team didn't emerge until after the male team. I think it's a good opportunity for other females interested to put themselves out there and do what it takes to make it," she pointed out.

It will be her first time at the Red Tiger International but she knows what it takes to fight at big US tournaments, having medalled at last year's US Open.

"I've never attended one but I expect it to be challenging, considering it's one of the highest-ranking competitions," she said.

Bennett-Robinson's quest to make the female combined team is actually a delayed one. The team was originally conceptualised as an Under-21 unit but her unavailability resulted in those plans being scrapped and selection opened to older athletes such as Cunningham, who has matured into Jamaica's top female fighter.

Jason McKay

Bennett-Robinson hopes to follow in Cunningham's footsteps. She is already seeing the benefits of training with the team.

"In this, we're moved from being martial artists to being athletes. The training is a different, a combination of techniques, punching, kicking and fitness, so we will be able to adequately perform when fighting," she explained.

Fighting at 135lb, Bennett-Robinson will be up against stiff competition. However, combined female team coach Jason McKay believes she will be able to cope.

"She has the right attitude and is willing to learn," he said. "She has been training with us this year as an invitee and I think, over the summer, when she is in camp and less hampered by schoolwork, we will see her best performance. I think she will represent well at the Red Tiger," McKay added.