YORK, Pa. — Eight-year-old William Kennedy just earned his blue belt.
"I just like doing karate," said Kennedy.
And he's on track to get his black belt within the year at Kim's Karate in York.
"It's about giving me a bunch of confidence," he said.
Once shy and reserved, he's now started a movement by inspiring his friends to try martial arts.
He's even convinced his dad to give it a try!
"He does like to rub it in that he's a higher belt than me," said his father, Rob Kennedy.
Their instructor, International Master Daniel Hyson, has seen their bond continue to grow through the sport firsthand.
"They are a great father and son team," said Hyson. "I would see Will in class and then Rob would be in the back of the room, kind of going through the motions along with William. And then it was just a natural transition for Rob to start taking the classes too."
Over the past three decades, Master Hyson has shared his passion with people of all ages.
"It opens up conversations that you wouldn't typically have and definitely self-defense is something that everybody needs," said Hyson. "I say as long as you have a self, you're going to need to defend it."
And he says karate goes far beyond the physical movement.
"When they get past the challenge or they pass a test or break a board, then they feel like they're able to persevere through something," said Hyson. "And then hopefully that's going to take them further through obstacles that they come across in their life."
Learning lessons, building connections and making memories.
"It's fun to be able to share that relationship with him," said Rob Kennedy.