Young taekwondo competitor with autism garners huge online following

An 11-year-old Utah boy who documents his passion for taekwondo on Instagram is proving both a hit with users, and an inspiration to parents and kids alike.

Ethan Fineshriber, diagnosed with autism at age three, initially had difficulty socialising and making friends.

"He had no interest in interacting with his peers and was content spending hours in his room alone building stuff," mother Mara Fineshriber told TODAY US.

"As his mum, you can imagine how much this killed me."

Ms Fineshriber said it was only four years later, after introducing her son to a local school that specialises in the Korean martial art of taekwondo, that things began to change.

Rather than resenting his mother for forcing him to leave his room, Ethan threw himself into his newfound passion.

After three years of training, Ethan went onto compete in a American Taekwondo Association World Championship competition in Arkansas, where he won the top title.

Ethan’s interest in taekwondo also saw him making strides in other fields.

"When I started doing taekwondo, not only did I become more athletic, but it helped me make friends and become more social," Ethan told TODAY.

"[My taekwondo teachers] taught me life lessons like how to be nice to people and show respect to others so they'll want to be my friend.

“I’m very grateful to them for that."

Ethan has shared his journey via his official Instagram account, which already has almost 4000 followers, among them peers and parents of children with autism.

Many have commented on Ethan’s photos and video tutorials to congratulate him for his achievements.

"So so so talented man! Keep it up!” reads one comment by user noahkaievanswicks.

“I have an eight-year-old son who I would like to inspire to learn martial arts, in hopes [of helping] help with his [high-functioning] autism,” reads another by lis_9334I.

“Thank you. You’re an inspiration!”