It has only been a few months since eight-year-old martial arts prodigy Diyahjae DeShield donned the white robe of a karate student — and already he sports an orange belt.

Kyoshi John Richards at the Zen-Shin Martial Arts Academy told the boy’s family that he had watched Diyahjae from the start, and believed him “a specially gifted child in this sport”, according to his aunt, Denise Samuels.

“Diyahjae is the only Bermudian at the karate school and he takes great pride in being dressed immaculately,” said his grandmother, Shirlene Raynor, one of the many family members backing the youngster who attends Featherstone Primary School in Birmingham.

“He is looking tough and sporty.”

Proud mother Tishauna Raynor and great-grandmother Noella Raynor are also with Diyahjae in the UK, where the youngster’s first competition was held in October — and he came first in kick-boxing, winning against students who were “belts higher than me”, he said.

Diyahjae takes classes at Erdington Karate School, where he is trained by sensei Pansy Wright.

“My mom wanted me to do something after school, so I joined, and it’s really fun to do,” Diyahjae said.

On December 18 he took his first grading — and was the only student to get the top grade, known as super distinction, when he was bestowed the orange belt.

“It seems like once he goes into the building, he becomes a totally different person,” his grandmother told The Royal Gazette.

Karate focuses children, his family said, to which Diyahjae is testament.

“His sensei will ensure that he goes far,” Mrs Raynor said. “She says he’s a natural artist in karate.

“Hopefully he will be going into international competition. When karate comes an Olympic sport, we’ll be starting him up.”