Charlie Bale, 9, is set to become the youngest ever martial artist from Red Dragon Martial Arts in Moreton Bay, Queensland to compete at the US Open World Championships.

Charlie, who currently holds five Queensland state titles and two world titles, will be travelling to Disney World in Orlando, Florida this July to compete at the championships.

The U.S. Open International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) World Martial Arts Championships are the pinnacle event for ISKA, with the Morayfield-based Red Dragon Martial Arts having sent only four competitors to these championships previously.

Charlie joined Red Dragon Martial Arts at five years old and says the thought of being a ninja is what initially attracted him to martial arts.

“I enjoy that you get to use cool weapons,” he says.

“You [also] get to learn cool tricks like backflips.”

When asked how he was feeling about going to the world championships, Charlie says he is “a little bit” nervous but “super excited” to compete.

Red Dragon Martial Arts owner and head coach Sifu Brett Fenton says Charlie’s success has come through his dedication to training and passion for winning.

“He has an elite athlete mindset which is unusual in a nine-year-old,” he says.

“I give him homework … and he just does it.

“He never has to be asked twice.

“That is a unique skill in a kid.”

Mr Fenton, who opened Red Dragon Martial Arts in 1997, says Charlie’s achievements have “exceeded expectations”.

“We have had a few nine-year-olds … that have won national and world titles, and he is definitely up there with those elite competitors,” he says.

“The biggest part of a young child having so much success at an early age is getting them to continue that and improve through their teens … without [them] burning out.”