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When Shannon Donley walked into her first tae kwon do class in 2006, she wasn't sure if she'd be successful.
Clinging to her father's side, she watched as students practiced the martial art, which combines philosophy with self-defense training such as kicks, punches and blocks.
"You walk in and you see everyone yelling," Shannon said.
But the father and daughter from Bethesda decided to take on the classes together and they promised each other that they would stick with it.
"I made a pinky swear with my dad that we would both get our black belts," said Shannon, 9.
Together, they received their black belts during a ceremony with four other students at Positive Impact Martial Arts in Potomac last month.
"What makes it so meaningful for me — it's obvious — is being up here with my daughter at the same time," James Donley said.
The martial art form seeks to instill discipline and focus in its students, according to master instructor Greg Maye, who heads Positive Impact Martial Arts. Students must not only work their way through ranks symbolized by different colored belts — passing a test to demonstrate skills before each promotion — but also undergo leadership training and physical tests before they receive the rank of black belt.
The lessons go hand-in-hand with a focus on leadership, responsibility and giving back to the community, Maye said. "Our saying is that martial arts without philosophy is just street fighting."
Parents and children often practice together, Maye said. "It's one of the few things parents can do with kids where there's really a big bond, because they grow together doing the same thing."
Clay Christian — who is James Donley's cousin — started practicing tae kwon do with son Robert, 13, four months ago and said the classes were a way for him to bond with his son. Now, the two jump rope and spar together at home. The discipline taught in the classes — "They make you do push-ups if you're late," Christian said — are an added benefit.
"It's something we could do together, and it's very structured," Christian said.
For the Donleys, reaching their long-term goal reinforces the bond they've already forged through the martial art.
"Every time when we drive here we hold hands, and every time we drive home we hold hands," Donley said. "On the way here, I said, ‘This is the last time we'll hold hands before we're black belts.'"
