Karyn Real started practising the Korean martial art of taekwondo in 2007 and began competing in 2010.

Real won her first major international medal at the 2018 World Poomsae Championships in Lima, where she claimed a bronze medal in the junior's individual traditional poomsae competition.

[3] At the 2019 Pan American Games held in Lima, Real won a bronze medal in the women's individual competition and, as part of the mixed team (consisting of five team members, at least two men and two women), reached first place in the seniors' freestyle competition.

[4] Real participated in the 2022 World Championships in Goyang and reached fifth place in the women's Recognized Poomsae competition (ages 18 to 30).

[7] At the 2023 World Beach Championships in Chuncheon, she and Ryan Real won the gold medal in the pair's traditional poomsae competition.