PHILIPPINE national karate team member Junna Tsukii announced on Wednesday that she will move to the realm of mixed martial arts (MMA).

Tsukii said she wanted to set out for a "new challenge" after being active in karate for 26 years.

"I have decided to graduate from being an active karate player for 26 years and move on to MMA," she wrote in Japanese on her Instagram handle.

"The stage will change, but I will try my best to make it exciting with all of you, so I would appreciate your continued warm support," she added.

She said that at age 32, Tsukii said she wanted to apply more in her life and to do more with everyone.

"Of course I have a lot of pain, but I want to keep pushing forward believing that there is a story that only I can draw," she wrote.

Her maiden fight as a new MMA player will take place on August 31 in Japan during the Deep Summer Festival against Ruka Sakamoto.