Asking most elementary school kids to focus is like asking a butterfly to stand still: You never know when they’re going to flutter off to something else.

But focus is one of the key ingredients in Collin and Chloe Barbosa’s recipe for success.

The Barbosas were two of seven local tae kwon do students who competed and among five who won medals in the 2010 U.S. Junior Olympics from June 29 to July 4 in Orlando, Fla.

Collin, 9, collected silver in board breaking, and Chloe, 6, won gold in sparring. The Barbosas have been training for only a year.

Master John Choi, a teacher at the U.S. Tae Kwon Do Martial Arts Academy, or USTMA, in Leesburg, where the Barbosas train, attributes this success to the center’s intensive instruction.

“Our team practices three to four times a week every week,” Choi said. “Even if you haven’t been doing this for a whole year, because of the training that you receive, you move along a lot quicker.”

Choi is in charge of training the team that goes to the national competitions each year.

“Our school wants them to go out and experience something like that,” Choi said. “An event like that is a huge eye-opener for them.”

Collin and Chloe’s father, Steven Barbosa says his children were involved in other sports year-round before they switched to tae kwon do.

Collin competed in football, baseball and swimming, and Chloe participated in swimming and soccer. But now tae kwon do leaves them no time for any other sport.

Seldens Landing Elementary School has a Mardi Gras celebration each year, and at the auction table was a year of tae kwon do instruction at USTMA, Steven Barbosa said. “No one bid on it, and the price was right for us to enroll Collin.”

Shortly afterward, Steven, Collin and Chloe were all enrolled.

“[Tae kwon do is] action-packed, challenges the mind and at this particular facility, it’s almost like a family,” Steven Barbosa said. Higher belts teach the lower belts, and discipline, respect and focus are emphasized, both physically and mentally.

The Barbosas are “two great kids,” Choi said. “Very well-behaved, well-mannered, hard workers. You can learn a lot from two young kids.”

Next year, the U.S. Junior Olympics will be in San Jose, Calif. The Barbosas aren’t sure yet if they want to participate, but they’re looking forward to a possible trip to South Korea, where they can compete internationally.

Three other USTMA students won medals at the U.S. Junior Olympics. Jackson Carawan won both a silver for forms and a bronze for sparring for under age 14. In the 14-to-17 age division, Raymart Hilado and Katrina McCarthy both won gold for sparring.

Devin Hage and Chris Busca, both younger than 14, also competed in the Junior Olympics.