There's some heft behind that high kick, especially when there's the weight of gold behind it.

Young Austin Huff, 6, visiting grandparents this week in Blandinsville, could put the Karate Kid of movie fame to shame. Huff recently competed in the Amateur Athletic Union national martial arts championships in Albany, N.Y., and came home with three medals.

Not bad for a kid who's only been studying karate for about a year and a half.

The youngster, who lives in Elizabethtown, Ky., with his parents Staff Sgt. Steven and Miranda (Curry) Huff, has been taking Japanese Shito-ryu classes since he was five and earned his orange belt this spring.

His grandparents are: Chad and Penny Monroe of Blandinsville; David and Linda Huff of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; Greg and Mikey Curry, and Mike and Marge Curry, all of Nashville; Scott McMillan of Macomb; and the late Jack and Edna Dowell of Dallas City.

Austin won second place in the national competition for Kata, which is a physical routine including stances. He also won a second-place national title in Kumita, or fighting. His fourth-place win was for Kobudo, or using a weapon he describes as a long wooden stick.

Austin says he loves studying and competing in karate "because it's fun." When he's faced with an opponent, Austin says he just thinks about his stance and winning.
"I don't get nervous," he said. "Reading makes me nervous. But there's no reading in karate."