By Marc McGowan
BERWICK taekwondo star Djai Maynard has pocketed his sixth career gold medal after winning the 46-50 kilogram classification at the recent Victorian Junior Chang Open.
Maynard, 13, was making his state level debut and could not have dreamed for a better result.
“I was excited,” he said. “It was a bit of a shock.”
He won some of his previous gold medals in uncontested bouts, but was able to enter the battlefield this time.
His mother, Jodie, was thrilled by Maynard’s performance and reiterated the surprising nature of his victory.
“I’m over the moon,” she said.
“I knew he could do it. He was the bomb. I think he shocked himself.”
Maynard’s impressive effort has earned him state selection and he will represent Victoria at the national championships at the Adelaide Superdome next month.
It is a just reward for the hard work Maynard has been putting into the sport, after only starting it 18 months ago.
The yellow belt trains six days a week at Bransden’s Taekwondo in Hallam under the tutelage of Andrew Treadwell, and does extra fitness work outside of his taekwondo sessions while maintaining a healthy diet.
The Kambrya College, Berwick, student finds it difficult juggling his taekwondo commitments with school, but is managing to combine both at the current time.
“He’s busting his guts, putting 100 per cent in,” Jodie said.
“He is really enjoying himself and he is only going to get better.”
Maynard’s passion for taekwondo grew from watching the sport on television and Jodie, who has also begun taekwondo, sees many benefits in it.
“It offers self-defence and discipline,” she said.
