The Future Is Now: How 13-Year-Old Bailey Scott Is Redefining the Next Generation of Combat Sports

Bailey Scott

The Future Is Now: How 13-Year-Old Bailey Scott Is Redefining the Next Generation of Combat Sports

In the vibrant coastal town of Destin, Florida, there’s a storm brewing not of crashing waves, but of fierce strikes, relentless training and world-class competition. At just 13 years old, Bailey Scott has become one of the most exciting young martial artists in the country. With an elite resume, unstoppable determination, and a vision for the future of sport karate, kickboxing and MMA, Bailey isn’t just climbing the ranks, she’s blazing a new trail.

Bailey is a three-time NASKA World Champion, a two-time World Games gold medalist and World Champion and a WAKO World Championship competitor who represented Team USA on the global stage in Budapest, Hungary. She holds an undefeated MMA record (1-0), is sponsored by Adidas and 1stPhorm, and recently competed in the Junior Olympics, winning a Silver Medal in Kumite. If that is not enough, she recently received her second Black Belt in Goju-Ryu under Sensei’s Robert Young and Maria Fursava, Jr Black Belt, but a second Black Belt at the age of 13.

But what makes Bailey stand out isn’t just her titles or her 38k Instagram followers, it’s the new direction she represents for youth martial arts.

A Fighter Without Borders

Bailey doesn’t train in a traditional dojo. In fact, she doesn’t even have one.

Instead, she has transformed her home and father’s office into a high-performance virtual training zone, connecting with elite coaches and teammates across the country and around the globe. Using Zoom and Google Meet, Bailey logs in daily for private sessions with some of the best minds in combat sports. Her training coaches and mentors include World Champions Kevin Walker, Sean Stefanic, a striking coach in Kentucky; Connor Roberts, a tactical fighter from Florida and Anton Isakau, a Belarusian technician known for his elite-level IQ in jujitsu and kickboxing.

“Bailey is a testament to how dedication and technology are reshaping the martial arts world,” says her coach, Kevin Walker, a well-respected figure in American sport karate. “She’s never let the absence of a physical school stop her. If anything, it’s made her more driven, more focused. I’ve seen her grow through the screen into one of the most complete youth fighters I’ve ever coached.”

Team AKA and the Main Stage Moment

Bailey is also a proud member of Team AKA, one of the most prestigious youth martial arts teams in the nation. Alongside her teammates, she’s not only racked up gold medals but unforgettable moments on some of the sport’s biggest stages.

One such moment came at The Battle of Atlanta, one of the oldest and most legendary karate tournaments in the world. Under the lights at the main stage night show, Bailey and her teammate took home first place in Team Sparring, electrifying the audience with their precision, teamwork, and passion.

“That moment felt like everything clicked,” Bailey says. “Standing on that stage with my teammate, hearing the crowd—it reminded me why I love this sport.”

Bailey’s love isn’t just for winning—it’s for evolving. She represents a new era of female fighters who are unafraid to challenge norms, break boundaries, and do things their own way.

Following Legends, Creating Legacy

Bailey is keenly aware of the female fighters who’ve paved the way for her generation—icons in sport karate, kickboxing, and MMA who fought for recognition, equity, and respect in a male-dominated arena.

“I look up to the women who came before me,” she says. “They opened the doors. Now it’s my job to walk through—and hold that door open for the next girl coming behind me.”

And she’s not waiting for adulthood to begin that mission. With her infectious energy, humble confidence, and powerhouse skill set, Bailey is already inspiring younger martial artists across the globe through her social media, sponsorship visibility, and online training presence.

“She’s not just building a resume—she’s building a movement,” Coach Walker adds. “And it’s only just begun.”

The Power of Online Training

Bailey’s rise also signals a paradigm shift in how athletes train, especially in youth martial arts. While traditional gyms and dojos remain valuable, digital platforms like Zoom and Google Meet are democratizing access to elite coaching. With consistency, discipline, and the right team behind her, Bailey has shown that geography is no longer a limitation—it’s an opportunity.

“She’s literally training with top-level coaches from three different states and two continents, all from our living room or my office,” says her father, who manages her schedule and makes sure the tech stays running. “It’s changed everything for her.”

This model of online training is reshaping what’s possible for young athletes, especially those without access to large training centers or full-time martial arts schools.

A Fighter with Vision

What’s next for Bailey Scott?

In the immediate future: the Junior Olympics in Houston, where she will once again represent her region in Kumite fighting. But Bailey has her sights set far beyond the podium.

Her goal? Karate Combat. Then the UFC.

“I want to start in Karate Combat and earn my name there. Then I want to fight in the UFC,” she says with a smile that mixes humility with grit. “I love striking. I love learning. I love proving people wrong.”

With her well-rounded skill set—including point fighting, kickboxing, kumite and jujitsu—Bailey is on the perfect trajectory to follow that dream. Her early MMA debut, a victorious 1-0 record, was just a taste of what’s to come.

The Bigger Picture

Bailey Scott is more than a fighter. She’s a symbol of what youth martial arts can be when passion meets innovation. She’s proof that you don’t need four walls and a mat to become great—you need heart, drive, vision, and a great Wi-Fi connection.

She’s showing that the future of combat sports is not just about championships—it’s about adaptability, creativity, and connection.

And she’s not doing it alone.

Behind her are teammates, coaches, sponsors, and a growing legion of young female fighters who are watching her lead—and getting ready to follow.

Final Round: Eyes on the Future

With the Junior Olympics in Houston just a few weeks ago, Bailey is sharpening her tools, logging into her sessions, reviewing her fight footage and grinding through workouts that would challenge athletes twice her age.

“She’s a savage—but a smiling one,” Coach Walker laughs. “She’s everything you’d want the next generation to be.”

As for Bailey, she keeps it simple:"Every time I step on the mat, I’m fighting for every young girl who dreams of doing this too. I’m proof it’s possible."

From Destin to Houston, Budapest to the Battle of Atlanta to Canada, the story of Bailey Scott is just beginning.

And if you listen closely, you’ll hear the future of martial arts—one Zoom session at a time.