BELT GRADING: the last one of 2014 is December 13th :)

[R. Devane]

This is your 4 week courtesy call

*register your interest
*train hard
*get those tips
*achieve that new belt colour

simples

[Deleted]

Very well done to everyone who graded at the weekend, here's my take on how the grade panned out.

Well it was a small enough grade which worked to some people's advantage or disadvantage, whatever way you want to look at it. With that said everyone that were going for the grade were ready and prepared properly by their instructors which was great to see. There were three Yellow belts in all and they all did fantastic. We literally flew through them, they were both grand in the air and on the pads and no issues were seen for them in preparation for the grade or on the day. With there being no Orange belts, two of my students, Jessica and Darren had the job of going through the Orange belt and they were fine. When it came to the Purple belt they breezed through it with both of them passing a tough Purple belt grade with kick set 3 being done both in the air and on the pads. Fitness is key when it comes to this belt and they were pushed all the way but came out the other side with a new Purple belt, well done to both.

Next came Mark and Gary who were going for 1st Brown and Black Belt. They went through the previous belts and when it came to 1st Brown Mark did do well and got through the stuff both in the air and on the bag which I was delighted to see, he got a good break afterwards with the sparring being held once we were finished with Gary and his Black belt. when it came to Gary he was nervous but once he got in the flow he did extremely well. It's never easy grading on your own and he dealt with it very well and once it came to his own stuff and the actual Black belt he got through everything effectively. After doing the Black belt on the bag, he got a mini break and that's when we got ready for the sparring.

On came the sparring, which is never easy, but totally rewarding. The sparring is unfair, especially when it is against Black belt instructors but the two lads came through it and got it done. It was tough, as it is supposed to be and it is a test of spirit which is the main thing to have when your dealt with a situation like sparring two and sometimes three people. There are clips on our youtube channel which you can see from the link below, again well done to everyone who graded.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAA4G_AI5sc&list=UU0pWF-GQC_M0z-jkIlZwwsA

Here's a full list of everyone who graded:

Yellow Belt
Alan Healy
Ciara Dunphy
Katie Teevan

Purple Belt
Darren Hardiman
Jessica Campbell-Wyse

1st Brown
Mark Lane

Black Belt
Gary Byrne

[R. Devane]

www.martialartsinc.com/latest-events/dec-grade-2014.html

did you check out here yet to see some great pictures of the grade?