CAMPION COLLEGE's Tashauna Grannum will be carrying big responsibilities as a teenager, the youngest of the Jamaica female combined martial arts team trio.

At 16, Grannum holds the junior spot on the team to face their Vietnamese counterparts on March 20.

However, the national female tae kwon do champion is the most internationally experienced on the team captained by Sheckema Cunningham and completed by Danielle Chang, both of Future Leaders Karate.

Grannum, who has been practising tae kwon do for 10 years, will be a huge determining factor for her team, as she will be the first fighter out in the junior match.

Should she lose, Vietnam need only draw the remaining two matches to claim victory.

However, the teenager has ruled the local black-belt circuit and is confident she and her team will pull through.

"I think it will be really hard as tae kwon do originated in Asia but I also believe we're ready, well prepared, and should win."

She said the idea of a female combined team should make the sport attractive for girls.

"It's something to look forward to, competing internationally," she said. Not just the guys alone. It should make girls interested instead of doing all those 'girlie' sports, dancing, netball and so on," she said with a chuckle.

McKay has great hopes for Grannum.

"I've been associated with her for many years as her physical and personal coach," he said.

"The exposure she has got from coaches Claude Chin, and Alvin Bernard, who coaches her Olympic-style tae kwon do, should be good for her," McKay pointed out.

"I think that blend has turned her into a complex and fast fighter. With her height and weight, which is formidable for a junior, plus absolutely lightning kicks, particularly off the back leg, if Vietnam hopes to beat Jamaica, they'll have to get past Grannum."