John Bedore bows before he enters the training hall. As Sergei Kosyanenko follows him in, he does the same. There is reverence in bowing before entering the dojang, to respect and honor the space.

Erin Barr is a remarkable nine-year-old who has excelled in Tae Kwon Do, the Korean art of foot and open hand fighting. Recently, she was awarded the first-degree black belt — a significant event in ...