Morris Plains Kid Wins National Taekwondo Championship Medal

The hard work and practice of 7-year-old Daniel Shao paid off when he took home the bronze medal in a National Taekwondo Championship in Chicago.

In the first week of July, Shao, who attends Littleton Elementary School in Morris Plains, competed against 7,000 other children in his first competition.

The USA Taekwondo National Championship ran from Wednesday, July 3, to Monday, July 8, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Shao has been doing Taekwondo for about a year and a half, said his mother Sandy Chu. To prepare for the competition, Daniel has been practicing for six hours every Saturday and Sunday since February, she added.

In addition, he also plays piano, does art drawings and participates in a variety of sports.

Shao participated in sparring and breaking boards at the Championship, but it was his poomsae that earned him the bronze medal. Poomsae is a form of Tawkwondo where someone follows specific movements against an imaginary opponent.

“We were all happy because it was his first time so we didn't go in with any expectations,” said Chu. “He worked hard for it so he was very happy.”

Shao said he was very nervous going into the competition but was very happy when he won the medal. His favorite part was breaking the boards, which he did firmly, he said.

Chu is not only proud that he earned the medal, she is also glad he is learning valuable skills he may need later in life.

Shao's masters always tell him not to use his skills outside of the school, but only if it is necessary and only for defense, something Daniel takes very seriously.

“He can use it on a personal level and also in case something happens he, is able to defend himself,” she said. “It's helping him get stronger and he is able to use it in an emergency situation.”

Shao is not worried about using his skills outside of the classroom, he just finds it fun to practice, he said.