Watching This Boy Not Give Up on Breaking a Board With His Foot Made His Mom So Proud

Claudia Swonger is one proud mama after watching her son Phoenix learn one of life's most valuable lessons in his martial arts class: to never give up on yourself. In a now-viral video that Claudia shared on Facebook, Phoenix can be seen standing in front of his sensei, Erik, who is sitting on the floor holding out a wood board for the boy to break with his heel. Phoenix gives the board a few half-hearted kicks, then gets emotional and frustrated over not being able to snap the board in half. And as soon as Phoenix said the words, "I can't," the energy in the room changes.

"Yes, you can do it!" Erik tells Phoenix. As he gives him tips on how to break the board, everyone in the room erupts into a supportive chant of, "Phoenix! Phoenix! Phoenix!" After another few tries, Phoenix finally breaks the board, and his mom couldn't be more proud of her son.

"Phoenix did not have to break the board to advance but he wanted to," Claudia wrote on YouTube. "While it may have been a struggle, with encouragement, instruction, and lots of love, he overcame and advanced." Watch the full video above — I dare you to not get emotional over Phoenix's success.