A York boy is sharing his love of martial arts with his local community.
YORK, Pa. — Eight-year-old William Kennedy has earned his blue belt.
“I just love doing karate,” Kennedy said.
And he plans to earn his black belt at Kim's Karate in York later this year.
“This gives me a lot of confidence,” he said.
Once shy and reserved, he has now started a campaign to encourage his friends to try martial arts.
He convinced his dad to give it a try!
“He likes to brag that he's in a higher class than me,” his father, Rob Kennedy, said.
Their instructor, International Master Daniel Hyson, has seen firsthand how their bond continues to grow through the sport.
“They're a great father-son team,” Hyson said. “When Will was in class, Rob would just do the formality with William at the back of the classroom, and it was just a natural progression for Rob to start taking classes too.”
For the past 30 years, Rev. Hyson has shared his passion with people of all ages.
“It opens up conversations that we might not normally have. Self-protection is definitely something that everyone needs,” Hyson said. “I think as long as there is a self, there is a need to protect it.”
And he says karate is much more than physical movement.
“When they complete a task, pass a test or break a board, it makes them feel like they've overcome something,” Hyson says, “and hopefully that helps them overcome obstacles in life.”
Lessons are learned, connections are made, and memories are created.
“It's fun to share that relationship with him,” Rob Kennedy said.
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