Family of four earns black belts

***image1***Miles, Cari, Tasha and Kayla Symonds earned their black belt in Tae Kwon Do June 20, under the tutelage of Master Stephen Scott, owner of Kaiserslautern Military Community Martial Arts Academy. 

Approximately two out of every 100 students who begin a martial art achieve black belt status. Four black belts in the same family is rare.

The Symonds family began practicing Tae Kwon Do in 2005. Miles and Cari felt it would be a good family activity and hoped their daughters would learn to defend themselves as they matured. They have since found that Tae Kwon Do offers something for everyone – increased strength, flexibility, self-confidence, discipline and, for their family, a shared passion for a sport they enjoy. 

Tasha, 15, said taking a martial art gets you in shape. She knows she’s not invincible, but says knowing Tae Kwon Do makes her feel like she can defend herself better. For Kayla, 13, doing Tae Kwon Do as a family is good because they help each other overcome weaknesses they wouldn’t be able to do by themselves. Miles and Cari appreciate the discipline and values Master Scott and other KMCMAA instructors help instill in their daughters while learning Tae Kwon Do.

The Symonds’ family motto is, “The family that fights together, stays together!”

(Courtesy of Kaiserslautern Military Community Martial Arts Academy)