BLACKBELT GRADING OCOTBER 2007

Saturday October 6th saw the Scottish Tae Kwon-Do Academy’s 2nd Black Belt grading held under the watchful eyes of Academy Chief instructors Charles Boyle 5th degree and senior instructor Gillian Boyle 3rd degree.

the five students underwent three two hour pre-gradings in the lead up to the black belt grading .The grading on the day lasted a grueling 3 ½  hours covering all basics of Tae Kwon-Do. Starting with a half hour warm up, and then leading straight into patterns, sparring basic and advanced line work, then on to pad work self-defence two vs. one sparring, two vs. one self-defence. After two hours the students were then allowed a five minute water break. Then higher grades were back on the floor for more advanced kicking and line work as the black tags looked on 45minutes later all students were back on the floor and were asked to pick ten wooden boards for breaking. Breaking with hands and feet on both sides all students done extremely well to break most of their boards.
Just as the students thought it was over they were then tested on there theory being asked up to ten questions each regarding any part of there training from white to black belt and their own interpretation of certain parts of Korean philosophy.
The students also had to submit a 200 word essay which was a requirement of Grand Master Hee Il Cho president of AIMAA our umbrella organisation who oversees all Black Belt grading guidelines throughout the world. With all 5 students training between 5 and 10 years it was a totally exhausting day, but worth it all in the end.

Pictured below are from left to right Thomas McEwen, Ross Derrick, Instructor Gillian Boyle, Chief Instructor Charles Boyle, James Moran, Jason Cox and Craig McEwan.