Parramatta / Toongabbie Grading – 22nd August 2011

Parramatta / Toongabbie Grading – 22^nd August 2011

On Monday 22^nd August 2011 a grading was held at North Parramatta Public School for students of Parramatta and Toongabbie Il Shim Taekwon-Do classes. The grading was conducted by Master Daher, with assistance from a number of Black Belts.

A total of 36 students went for grading. Three 1^st Kups were also assessed for their progress towards their Black Belt grading.

It was a great evening and well attended by parents and friends of those students that were grading.

The grading started with six white belts, the youngest being Stephanie Thornton (5), along with three other 6 year old students and two slightly older students. It was very pleasing to see such young students being able to execute fundamental technique and complete the four-direction punch and four direction combination patterns. As well as passing their grading and obtaining their yellow stripe the young students got a lot of smiles and support from those watching.

We then moved on to Master Daher’s “team” of White Belt Yellow Stripes. Master Daher has been working hard with this group of young students and he was very pleased with their progress. These students were able to perform all of their patterns and fundamental techniques, and also able to answer questions about length and width of stances and weight distribution. The students also demonstrated their flexibility, with most students able to do the splits all the way to the floor!

Master Daher then called up the group of Yellow Belt White Stripes. The students performed well in their patterns and fundamental techniques but most were unable to answer questions about their stances… Master Daher expressed his disappointment that the students couldn’t explain the length/width and weight distribution of walking and L stances (as he had explained this to them on a number of occasions). Master Daher then advised the students that he would re-assess them in a week’s time and if they were unable to answer the questions they would fail their grading.

Ms Aimee Mitchell-Clark did very well in achieving a double-promotion from 10^th to 8^th Kup. Congratulations Aimee!

The grading progressed smoothly, running through 8^th-5^th Kups. All of these students performed well. Master Daher was particularly focussed on ensuring students properly utilised breathing and sine wave while doing their patterns, and that students understood the purpose of their movements. Master Daher commented that students must understand the purpose of each attacking and defending movement in their patterns or they will find it difficult to execute the technique properly with the necessary speed and power.

During a short break Mr Michael Jasser ( 1^st Dan) and Mr Allan Azad (1^st Dan) provided the audience with an impressive sparring demonstration.

In the senior coloured belts, Alex Harkness and Luke Tyson passed their gradings and were promoted to 3^rd Kup (Blue Belt Red Stripe), and Dylan Azad was promoted to 2^nd Kup (Red Belt). Well done Alex, Luke and Dylan.

Three 1^st Kups were then put through their paces and assessed by Master Daher in their progress towards their Black Belt grading. Master Daher was pleased with their progress and provided feedback as to where the students needed to focus their attention in order to be prepared for their Black Belt grading. Master Daher indicated that if the students put continued effort into their training they may be ready for their Black Belt grading by December.

All in all it was a great event and wonderful to see so many students pass their grading and achieve promotion to their next belt.

Thank you to the Black Belts that assisted during the grading: Mr Michael Jasser, Mr Alan Azad, Ms Marlee Tyson and Mr Jayden Massoud.

I look forward to our next grading on Monday 12^th December, 2011.

Nathan Tyson (2nd Dan)