FORDLAND, Mo. (AP) – A 6-year-old taekwondo student in south-central Missouri is fighting for an injured teammate he’s never met.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that Lucas “The Tiger” Glover outranks most of his classmates at G+G Martial Arts in Fordland. He leads the gym in prayer, and makes sure to include one for 16-year-old Julia Shipp.

Shipp broke several bones and suffered a traumatic brain injury Oct. 13 when she was hit by an allegedly drunken driver.

The teenager from Kentucky now uses a wheelchair to get around.

Both belong to Team Heartland, a national team of taekwondo fighters. Though Lucas doesn’t personally know Shipp, he’s fighting for her in his training to soon become a black belt.

Shipp says she will give Lucas a big hug if she ever meets him.