Eight students of Tiger Martial Arts in Freeland earned their junior black belts Sunday, March 18.

Those who received their black belts are Olivia Livingstone, Magnus Christensen, Jack Cussen, Andrew Hilton, Matthew Midkiff, Emma Gossler, Waylan Parsell and Simon Uhl.

To earn a black belt, each student had to study at least four and a half years, complete a three-month shodan journal, log at least 900 pushup and sit ups, log all their katas and kumite daily, read a book on self improvement, take (and pass by at least 80 percent) a 50-question written test on Uechi-Ryu history, complete 1,000 random acts of kindness and complete a community project.

The projects included collecting over 150 books for Maple Ridge Community Center’s library, raising money for a stolen computer at the Pregnancy Clinic in Clinton, collecting over 200 pounds of food for Good Cheer, cleaning three miles of the Putney Trails, cleaning trash along four different roads, earning $100 and donating it to Hearts and Hammers and collecting dog and cat food for WAIF.

To be a black belt means to be balanced in mind, body and spirit, according to Sensei Wendi Barker.

“Respect, confidence, gratitude and courtesy (are) just some of the qualities that define a black belt, and I have been honored to watched these kids grow up into respectful, focused, good kids,” she said.

After being based in Freeland for 13 years, Tiger Martial Arts is moving to the South Whidbey Community Center in April.

“That made the test even more meaningful for the kids, because some of them started as Little Tigers (4 years old) and have grown up at this dojo,” Barker said.