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IRMO, SC (WACH) - A Midlands boy is trying to kick up support for a plan to keep other children his age on the straight and narrow.

Ethan, a student at Irmo's Leaphart Elementary School, has wanted to be a martial arts master since he was three years old. He finally got his chance a few months ago when he started taking karate classes.

"It's something I always wanted to do," he said. "I always wanted to learn how to defend myself."

When the second-grader started taking karate classes he had just moved to the area. His grades, particularly in math, weren't very good and his mother says neither was his attitude at school, leading to several disciplinary measures. But, that all changed when he came to East/West Karate in Irmo, including an improvement in his grades.

"It helps me focus. It helps me become a good leader," he said of his karate training. "It helps me become a good friend."

Now Ethan wants to share that with someone who might not have the money or resources to experience the same thing. After seeing a television show about charity work, he asked his mother if he could help other children take karate classes with him.

"When he comes to me and says Mommy I want to do something for another child before my birthday and give them a gift on my birthday and I"m taking him to karate and teaching him to do the right thing, I can't look at him and say sorry we can't afford it," said his mother Rose St. Louis.

So with some help, Ethan is planning to have garage sales, and collect donations from the community to raise the cash for a karate scholarship.

His instructor, Jerry Prince describes Ethan as a "model student,"and like his mother, points out the boy's new found maturity came after the seven-year-old was immersed in the highly disciplined world of martial arts, where it's less about the physical damage you can cause, and more about the personal transformation you can make.

"We're not just about the kicks and punches. We're about helping the community," said Prince. "We're about you getting better in school. We're about you getting that confidence to be anything you want to be as you grow up."

In addition to teaching Ethan about being more accountable and focused, Prince is also kicking in some cash to help out the Irmo boy's scholarship efforts, by matching whatever dollar figure he raises for the scholarship fund.

"Who knows how many kids I might get," said Ethan. "I may even get a lot of kids."

He's hoping the community can help him do that. Ethan and his mother have already secured donations from several donors. They are asking people to clear out their garages, basements, and attics of items they no longer need and give them to their charitable efforts. There is a garage sale set for March 24. They are also accepting monetary donations.

Ethan and his support team are also picking up the items people donate. Those pick-ups are scheduled for the next few weeks on February 25 and March 11. For more information call 803-661-9616.