Tearful little boy, cheered on by karate classmates, rallies to break board – and the internet’s hearts
- Heart-warming viral video shows crying youngster struggling to break wooden plank with repeated kicks
- But he perseveres and succeeds as martial arts class erupts with joy
If at first you don’t succeed, try again, goes the adage – but it’s probably never been so adorably shown in the history of the internet as with a video of a young martial arts student in Florida.
The video of a boy named Phoenix and his attempts to kick a wooden board in half has gone viral on social media, with hearts melting and tears flowing.
Erik Gianini, manager at Bobby Dixon’s American Martial Arts Academy in Orlando, tries to coach young Phoenix but the boy just can’t break the plank despite repeated kicks.
In between each failed attempt, the other kids give words of encouragement. But soon Phoenix begins to cry, and rubs tears from his eyes, so the classmates start chanting his name and pounding the mats in encouragement.
Phoenix doesn’t give up and keeps coming back for more. Geed up by his friends, he finally breaks through the board with his heel and the whole class mobs him in celebration.
The boy’s mother posted the video to Facebook earlier this month and it has already spread across social media.
