Vancouver karate kid thrilled his sport included in 2020 Tokyo Olympics

A a boy, Khyber Barnett wasteased for hisprowess at karate. It was considered a "nerd sport," Barnett, 17,said.

Today, the Vancouver karate kid is ranked Number 1 in Canada and eighth in the world in his junior division.

And he's prettycertain no one is laughing at his passionfor karatenot after Wednesday's announcement from the International Olympic Committee thatkarate will be included at the 2020Tokyo Games

"When I was in elementary school, I was bullied for doing karate," Barnett said.

"But now, I don't think anyone will try that again."

Five new Olympic sports

Karate is among five new summer sports to be included in the Tokyo games. The IOC also gave the nod to skateboarding, sports climbing, surfing and baseball/softball.

The news thrilledkarate lovers like Barnett.

"I was very excited of course," Barnett said. "Everyone in the karate community was massively excited."

Barnett hopes karate's Olympic inclusionwill spur a nation-wide resurgencein the sport, which he said taught him valuable lessons in self-control, focus and "understanding your own body."

Barnett has travelled the globe competing in tournaments.At the end of August, he heads to the Junior Pan Am Games in Ecuador.

Now, his sights are set on the Tokyo Olympics.

Champion-producing dojo

His fellow athletes at the Vancouver dojowhere he's trained since age eightare optimistic too.

KimeruShotokan Karate, located nearSouthwest Marine Drive andMain Street, has produced a string of national and international karate champions.

Its main instructor, Brian James, whose own Olympic dreams were thwarted decades ago,thinks Barnett has a good shot at the Olympics.

"If he stays healthy andtrains hard, why not."

James, who was born in South Africa, was a top judo athlete but couldn't compete because his apartheid-riven country was banned from the Olympics.

He had been planning to retire soon, but the news his athletes could quality for the Olympics has spurred him to keep coaching.

"Knowing that my students have a very high chance,it gives me the inspiration to continue instead of retiring."

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