EG karate kid takes title

Gian-Michael Palmisciano won the Junior Olympic Taekwondo Championship in the 8595 weight class, recently in Tampa, Florida

TAMPA. Fla. - East Greenwich native eleven-year-old Gian-Michael Palmisciano took home the Junior Olympic Taekwondo Championship in 'the 85-95 weight class.

The event was held from July 2-7 in the Tampa Convention Center and Palmisciano won a gold medal in the green belt sparring division at the 1st United States Taekwondo Union.

For Palmisciano the sport of taekwondo is still new to him as he started in September and is already a Junior Olympic champ and he remembers just what got him interested in the sport.

"I went and watched two other kids train and saw the real cool kicks and how it will be a good sport for me. because I have EHD," said Palmisciano.

After he got done watching the others training he then had to pass the test giving by master Sayed Najem to join the team.

"We connected everyday for almost a year now and I teach him techniques that only certain people could use. He really suspired me just how fast he catches on," said trainer Sayed Najem.

Najem knows just how good Palmisciano could be and why he can be as good as he believes.

"If he really puts his mind into it he will be a world champion, because he's got all the tools for it. The most important tool is heart and Gian has so much heart that I believe there will be a time where he will scare a lot of fighters away," said Najem.

Not only is Palmisciano still learning and...