On Friday, Nov. 13, 19 students at DMW Martial Arts in Snoqualmie passed their final test to earn their black belts.

Some of the students had been training for more than seven years and endured six months of rigorous training which culminated in a grand celebration.

“Earning the rank of black belt is probably one of the hardest things they’ve ever done. What it represents is the ability to overcome and believe that through persistence and hard work you can no doubt achieve great things.” said Mr. Cartan, the chief instructor at the school.

Black belt recipients included Aaron Mumford, Aahir and Shohini Ghosh, Alison and Andrew Caswell, Angel See, Avery Slaught, Colin and Ryan Turner, Melissa Sullivan, Jessi Lelas, Jon Anstey, Kenny Russel, Max Ashbridge, Max Corneil, Misa Kalvelage, Sergei Pogrebnyak, Tate Jones and William Bourgault.