SKCE Black & Brown Belt Course & Dan Grading – 8th May 2011

                                                 

Congratulations to all who graded on the 8th of May!

1. SHODAN PASSES
   

2. Children
   

3. Jack Martyn-Hillier
   

4. Kyosuke Ozeki
   

5. Liam Doig
   

6. Parhom Esmaeili
   

7. Jakub Wardak
   

8. Milton Justinshuthakaran
   

9. Rohan Gandhi
   

10. Kelsie Hutchinson
    

11. Bradley Ratchford
    

12. Sofia Mia Di Paola
    

13. Jodie Hailie Evangelista
    

14. Maran Gowreeswaran
    

15. Jonas Neary
    

16. Monica Georgeva
    

17. Katie Wettasinghe-López
    

18. Oceanne Umekwe
    

19. Enzo Nascimento Goncalves Da Cunha
    

20. 
    

21. Adults
    

22. Cecile Roquain
    

23. Jason Murray
    

24. Bellamy Forde
    

25. Masoud Sediqi
    

26. John Chamberlain
    

27. Mark Howard
    

28. Karim Bouarsa
    

29. Gary Fassioms
    

30. 
    

31. 
    

32. NIDAN PASS
    

33. Yasmine Tetsola
    

34. 
    

35. SANDAN PASS
    

36. Carl Tetsola
    

On Sunday 8th May, SKCE held its Spring Black & Brown Belt Course and Grading at Ashmole School, Southgate, London.  From 10 o’clock in the morning 155 karateka started to arrive, many eager to start training, many looking nervous as they prepared for the afternoon’s Dan grading that they had worked so hard for.

After a brief warm up, training got underway in two groups, the brown belts in one and the Dan grades in the other.  The one and a half hour training was split into two relentless sessions led by our 6th Dan Senseis.  Kihon was led by Sensei Peter Welsh and Kata and Kumite was led by Senseis Eric Pich and Mark Tetsola.  These sessions concentrated on the important and essential points those grading were going to be required to demonstrate, a perfect way to warm up and prepare for the afternoon’s challenge.  We all benefitted hugely from the instruction by such high caliber and senior instructors, regardless of whether we were grading or not, and especially being taught by different Senseis, not just the ones we are use to. 

After the morning’s training and obligatory course photograph, there was a 40 minute lunch break and the hall was set up for the grading.  Three areas (Kihon, Kata and Kumite) each with three senior Senseis examining, all of whom had to be satisfied.  Over 50 karateka, despite all the nerves and butterflies, went through a very tough grading, everyone displaying how far their karate had developed during their many years of training.  Once everyone had gone through each area, those who had passed so far were invited to perform a final Kata in front of a panel of six Senseis.  This final Kata was the Senseis’ choice, a Heian Kata or Tekki Shodan for those grading for Shodan and a required black belt Kata for those grading for Nidan and Sandan.

The standard was very high and sadly for those individuals, some did not achieve it.  The result was an ecstatic group with 27 new Shodans, 1 Nidan, 1 Sandan and all those who did not achieve their goal this time, received invaluable individual feedback.

With an exceptionally speedy turnaround, the certificates were written and all that was left to do was present these certificates to and congratulate all those who passed.  All new Shodans were also presented with shiny new black belts.

For me personally, it was a wonderful day with some excellent karate on display.  SKCE has a very high standard, which is one of the organisation’s key strengths.  But, those who I was most impressed by were our very youngest karateka.  There were some 8 year olds who showed great spirit, precise technique and remarkable discipline.  SKCE’s future is very bright indeed.

Well done to all those who graded and to SKCE for another excellent Course and Grading.

by Janita Tan