26/07/2026
Some moments remind you exactly why you do what you do.
Last Sunday, Sophie King became the first female Black Belt in the history of QingLiu Martial Arts.
Sophie first stepped onto our mats in 2019 at just four and a half years old. Since then, she has grown into an exceptional martial artist, an outstanding Junior Leader, and a role model for every young student who follows in her footsteps.
Her Black Belt grading demanded absolutely everything she had.
For more than three relentless hours, Sophie demonstrated every aspect of our curriculum: 16 Mizongquan Taolu from memory, Judo throws and groundwork, gruelling strength tests, a 100-metre fireman’s carry with a training partner who outweighed her, and 15 minutes of full-contact, bone-on-bone conditioning.
Then came the hardest test of all.
Already physically exhausted, Sophie stepped onto the mat for a continuous Judo line-up against seven fresh opponents, each determined to push her to her absolute limit. There was no rest. No easy round. Every exchange demanded courage, composure, and determination.
When her body was telling her to stop, she chose to keep going.
That is what a Black Belt is.
Not just technical ability, but resilience. Not just skill, but character. The willingness to keep fighting when every part of you wants to quit.
By earning her Black Belt, Sophie didn’t just achieve a personal milestone—she became the first female Black Belt in QingLiu history, proving to every girl who walks through our doors that there are no limits on what can be achieved through hard work, humility, and perseverance.
Watching Sophie grow from a young Dragon into the martial artist and leader she is today has been one of the greatest privileges of my life as her Shifu. To tie her very first Black Belt around her waist was a moment I will never forget.
Congratulations, Sophie. You didn’t just make history—you earned every single step of it. Your journey is only just beginning. 🥋🖤
