Cary Girl, 6, Headed to Tae Kwon Do World Championship

Apex, N.C. — A Cary girl is headed to Arkansas to compete in the Tae Kwon Do World Championship.

At just 6-years-old, Marzia Josephson is already a second-degree black belt – the same level as her 32-year-old father, David Josephson.

“It is great, a lot of fun, especially to have something like that you can do with your kids anywhere,” Josephson said.

Marzia began taking Tae Kwon Do one week after her third birthday. Since then, she has been racking up belts and trophies. Black is the highest belt in tae kwon do, and there are several degrees of that rank.

She left Wednesday for Little Rock, Ark., and the Songahm World Championship, which features about 10,000 competitors. She will compete Thursday in the 7-and-under division.

“I’m a little nervous, and I’m looking forward to it,” Marzia said.

Instructor Alex Changho said Marzia is the youngest black belt he has at the Vision Martial Arts school where they train.

“She is so intense. But at the same time, you see her and she’s your regular little girl,” Changho said.

Once the world championship is over, Marzia can focus on her next dream: becoming a karate instructor when she grows up.

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Latest Comments

>susjomiller, respect is not one of the tenets. For your >reading pleasure, they are....courtesy, integrity, self->control, perserverance and indominable spirit. > > >MelTKD That's in YOUR school. In this school respect IS one of the tenets (I'm a student there too). This school has different tenets and goals, using your school/tradition as a "standard" is invalid.

And by the way, "Respect is not what you know, it's what you do."

She's rated by ATA. Quit whinning.

I find it amazing that this young lady's accomplishment is so very threatening to you.

jerryjosephson
June 22, 2007 11:37 a.m.

To all who deride her status as a 2nd Degree BB, I suggest you discuss your differences with her instructor, Mr Changho, who also appeared in the piece.

I'd advise you approach him with a great deal of respect though, he's currently testing for his 5th degree in AR.

jerryjosephson
June 22, 2007 11:10 a.m.

jonp63 - what does that have to do with the story

redgate23
June 21, 2007 4:32 p.m.

Looks like my daughter. Never judge a book by its cover criminals. Big things can come in small packages.

the alliance
June 21, 2007 4:31 p.m.

meltkd, exactly. Very well said, thank you.