Age is no barrier in tae kwon do

      Steven Darnell is the shortest kid in his martial arts class.
      He's only 8 years old and under 4 feet tall, but he'll be testing for his junior black belt in martial arts Friday.
      "I like the fighting the best," said Darnell, who takes tae kwon do classes four times a week. "It's not like being a bully. It's like respect."
      Phil Jones, Darnell's instructor and owner of Bob Chaney Karate Studio at 6985 W. Sahara Ave., said the boy is the youngest he's ever tested in his 15-year career.
      To be tested, a child must have completed four years of classes and show adequate skills. He keeps the black belt until he turns 16 and then retests as an adult. Jones gives the test for junior black belts every three months at his studio.
      "Kids come in here for different reasons. Usually their parents make them come," Jones said. "But Steve is very motivated. He's in here four or five times a week. He's never stopped coming. There's a lot of kids that don't stick it out."
      Jones, a sixth degree black belt, teaches tae kwon do to about 40 children, 14 of those are enrolled in his advanced class.
      Some of the children have been attending classes together for most of their childhood. Their parents have even gotten to know each other, while sitting on the mats watching their children spar.
      Richard Farris can remember when his son Ricky and Darnell started classes together.
      "Their gear was heavier than they were. They'd just fall and roll on the ground," he said. "They looked like the Michelin Man."
      Ricky Farris took a few years off from martial arts, so he's not testing for his black belt, but five other students will undergo the test.
      They are Cameron Winer, 9; Shane Jones, 10; Alexander Dimotsantos, 11; and Derek Bratton, 10.
      During the year, the children compete in eight martial arts tournaments held by studios throughout the valley. Jones said next year the studios will hold national tournaments.
      He said many martial arts students do better in school because of the discipline training they receive. That sentiment is echoed by parents watching their children practice.
      "It teaches them discipline and focus," said Darnell's mom, Carol. "We now get `yes, ma'am' and `yes, sir' at home. He has more respect for everyone."
      She said she also enrolled her son in martial arts classes to raise his confidence level. She said she and her husband feared the boy would have low self-esteem because of his small stature.
      "His father thought he'd end up taking a pounding, because he was so small," she said.
      Though the parents rave about the discipline and newfound politeness their boys possess after attending years of martial arts class, the boys say that's nice, but they're there for the fighting.
      "It's the sparring I like the most," Bratton said. "I've been coming here four times a week for four years. I thought about quitting, but I keep thinking about getting my black belt and I keep going."