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.