Congratulations to Gavin Towerzey, Isabel Bailey and Georgina Butcher who all successfully graded yesterday for their Black Belts in Karate at Basingstoke's Martial Arts Centre.
Isabel and Georgina took part in a rigerous three hour grading that included demonstrating power and speed against pads in their kicks, punches and strikes, plus self defence applications. They also had to demonstrate a depth of knowledge by showing difference applications / meanings for a single move. They then had to fight 16 fights each including standup fighting, throwing and then groundwork, all prior to demonstrating their katas and forms.
Gavin's grading consisted of both practical applications of his Martial Arts training including self defence techniques against some of the habitual acts of violence, sparring to demonstrate competency whilst being pressure tested by difference opponents. He also had to show theoretical and principle based knowledge including how one's training might change as one gets older and then teaching some techniques based on these ideas to other people being graded. Gavin's test concluded with him demonstrating forms and katas along with a number of applications to moves within his chosen kata before cuminating in some stand up grappling work.
"A Black belt is just the beginning."
Tags: Black Belt, Grading, Karate, Martial Arts Basingstoke
