THEY’RE barely into junior school.
But Joel Moorhouse, seven, and Ethan Garside, eight, have already hit a martial arts milestone.
Joel, from Longwood, and Ethan, from Golcar, have already achieved their black belts in karate.
The pair were among six youngsters, from Black Belt Academy, to achieve first dan in the Japanese fighting art.
And Joel’s brother Aaron Moorhouse, 14, went even higher achieving his second dan black belt alongside Luc Baskeyfield-Bride, 15, from Marsden.
Karate students work through coloured belts by passing gradings (practical exams) until they reach their first dan (grade) black belt.
Pupils can then train up to their tenth dan but this is rarely achieved and only a tiny handful of 10th dans exist in the world.
Of Joel and Ethan, who have been training at Black Belt Academy for three years, instructor Simon Jasper said: “It’s not a regular thing for someone that age to keep going.
“They have shown a commitment to getting it and they are always here.
“I hope these young people will go onto to take their second dan.”
